Libyan Rebels Predict Victory by Month's End

Well, it's not like they're going to say they expect to lose in a few weeks.

Those plucky Libyan rebels are claiming that they'll have overtaken Tripoli by the end of August, as they've cut off the two main roads to the Libyan capital and are mounting forces around the city's outskirts. Moammar Gadhafi, though, has repeatedly said that he would only ever leave Libya in a coffin, and taking a town of 4,000 like Brega is nothing compared to fighting for a city of some 1.5 million, many of whom are still Gadhafi supporters. Regardless, the rebels have now solidified gains to the east, west, and south of Tripoli in recent days, and have cut off a supply of oil to Tripoli from the city of Zawiyah. While there are reports that the rebel's Transitional National Council is to sit down with representatives of the Gadhafi regime in Tunisia to hammer out a peace deal, the TNC has denied any such diplomatic talks are in the works. The TNC leadership has also pledged to hand over power to an elected legislative assembly within eight months of Gadhafi's ouster. What these guys lack in weapons, or basic military know-how, they sure make up for in swagger.