Why is it so hard to believe that they would be wearing flip-flops? Under-equipped fighters is nothing new. Here's a photo of a barefoot Khmer Rouge fighter with an RPG, at the fall of Phnom Penh.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mYN-WF164gg/T40tDKWNLDI/AAAAAAAAas...

Have you never seen the picture of the guy with an assault rifle, wearing gardening gloves, a life vest, and sneakers?

http://borderland-beat-forum.924382.n3.nabble.com/file/n4027...

When George Washington led 12,000 men into winter camp at Valley Forge, 2/3 had no shoes. In December. In Pennsylvania.

At least Libya was probably warm enough for flip-flops.