Well, with the UK and Canada preparing to fight, who will take control of the air-war? I think it will be a loose coalition, as I am not aware of anything that would trigger a NATO response. The Arab states have plenty of aircraft in the vicinity, and the US has cruise missiles in the Med. My hunch is that the first strike will be a missile strike, following the Gulf war "Shock and awe" pattern. This is time for the west to get some payback for past grievencies like Lockerbie I think. This is going to be a seriously complicated matter, so a clear C&C structure will be necessary. This link gives an idea of the task in hand as seen by the Pentagon and others http://t.co/yfiBQrg. BBC news is saying the air-war may start in "hours", but is that really feasable? France might be in a position to send in its Mirages anytime, but who will command the airspace? We don't want to be shooting each other down, so we can't go in willy-nilly.
BBC reports Urgent action needed before "Arab spring is over" Airstrikes could start in hours...http://bbc.in/eDlbHH *Edit: Newspaper analysis with some handy links: http://ind.pn/g2Lfco
It would be economical to jump-start the revolutionary ground forces, by coordinating closely with their reactions to limit civilian casualties, and to escort in advance, to soften a pathway to Tripoli for those local freedom patriots. Airstrikes, surface to air, unmanned drones. Clear the skies. Pop Kadoofy's cork.
Two things here: First, the term "Air War" is both a misnomer and misleading - it's actually the establishment of a "No-Fly Zone" and there would be no missile strikes or a "shock and awe" component. Simply the shooting down of any of Libya's planes that enter the restricted zone. That's the extent of what the UN has agreed upon. Second, any and all enforcement of the No-fly zone would most certainly be well-coordinated by all nations involved in enforcing the action.
It's only a misnomer in that its called a no-fly-zone, active military strikes on a foreign power are to all intents and purposes an act of war. "any means necessary" would seem to broaden the remit somewhat.
Agreed. But my point is that the military action authorized by the U.N. is limited to ONLY keeping Libya's planes out of restricted airspace. It does NOT authorize any of the following: Chasing said planes if they leave the zone; attacks on ground installations; attacks on planes on the ground; of firing missiles at ground targets in OR outside the zone.
No, That's not my reading of it. They will, in my opinion, take out air defences, C&C centres, HQ buildings and troop concentrations and armour.
No, in Iraq we bombed a lot of civilian infrastructure too. Like power plants, phone switching centers, and sewage treatment plants. I do believe we knew exactly what they were, too. Useless, dumb, and probably illegal.
More billions going to be spent and after all is said and done who's going to be in charge? Will it be a better place as Iraq is, sarcastic remark there, or will it turn out that those in charge will be worse than who's there now? Germany won't be sending help this time, they can't afford it and see the same thing I do, that it won't really do much to help others with a civil war because it just turns out to have the same problems that we have had before with those who are in charge now. The only difference is new people will be getting the money from the oil rather than those who do now. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I think Iraq was a forced situation. I think the current revolutions are more from the people and will stand the test of time better than the Iraq situation has been. I hope so at least...
Well, it looks like the threat alone was enough to make him back down. I wonder if he'll send up a jet to test the resolve of the strike-force.
REUTERSFLASH ReutersBreakingNews U.S. envoy to U.N: Gaddafi to face "swift and sure consequences including military action" if fails to implement ceasefire According to reports, Libya is already in contravention of UN resolution. I can't believe we're sending all this hardware only to say, "ok, you're being good.." Not gonna happen. The only question is when? 12 hrs, 24? not long now, I think.
Except this time the rebels are still in the fight, and perhaps we will not allow the helicopters to continue to fly, as George H. W. Bush did with Saddam.
You should know by now, I have very good sources! My sources also tell me that the air war will start tomorrow "within Hours" of the Paris summit.
"Tomorrow we will have a summit in Paris with all the major participants in the operations and in the diplomatic effort. So I think it would be a good moment to send the last signal," the French ambassador to the United Nations told BBC''s Newsnight. "So I guess that after this summit, I think that in the coming hours, I think we will go to launch the military intervention," Ambassador Gerard Araud said. ~ Al Jazeera
