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Libya live blog: U.S., allies launch missiles against Gadhafi forces
The latest developments on the situation in Libya, where the government declared a cease-fire Friday after the United Nations voted to impose a no-fly zone in response to weeks of bloody clashes between forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and rebels. Read our complete story and check out our full coverage on unrest in the Arab world. Also, don't miss a gripping, high-resolution gallery of images from Libya.
[9:50 p.m. ET, 3:50 a.m. in Libya] A woman in Tripoli says she was awoken this morning by a loud explosion from a nearby military base.
After being shaken from her sleep around 2:20 a.m., she said she heard gunfire and went to the roof of her building to observe.
"Then I heard the second explosion," she said. She saw fire rising up from the direction of Mitiga Airport, formerly known as the U.S. Wheelus Air Base.
She also said that people continue to live in fear of Gadhafi. "They're afraid to come out because when they do, he attacked them very, very severely," she says. "This is putting terror in all neighborhoods."
[9:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 a.m. in Libya] State TV in Libya reported early Sunday that 48 people were killed and 150 injured in coalition airstrikes. CNN was not immediately able to independently confirm the report.
[9:20 p.m. ET, 3:20 a.m. in Libya] Britain's Royal Air Force the RAF has launched Stormshadow missiles from a number of Tornado GR4 fast jets as part of a series of coordinated coalition strikes against Libya, the Ministry of Defense said.
"We made clear that if Gaddafi did not comply with the UN Security Council Resolution 1973, it would be enforced through military action. Our Armed Forces have therefore participated in a co-ordinated international coalition strike against key military installations," defense secretary Liam Fox said in a statement.
"The fast jets flew 3,000 miles from RAF Marham and back making this the longest range bombing mission conducted by the RAF since the Falklands conflict," he said. "HMS Westminster is off the coast of Libya and HMS Cumberland is in the region ready to support operations. Typhoon aircraft are also standing by to provide support."
[9:10 p.m. ET, 3:10 a.m. in Libya] Benghazi remains eerily quiet but tense after a day of fights between Gadhafi supporters and opposition fighters, CNN's Arwa Damon reports.
Anti-Gadhafi forces in Benghazi were buoyed by the international intervention but still expect more to come from Gadhafi.
"This is not yet a victory for them. They expect Gadhafi forces to carry something out again, they do not think this is over," she said. "People do not take Gadhafi's threats lightly. They have learned from four decades of his rule. They expect him to plan some kind of maneuver."
[8:45 p.m. ET, 2:45 a.m. in Libya] It is now mostly quiet in Tripoli, just minutes after sustained anti-aircraft gunfire, Robertson reports.
[8:33 p.m. ET, 2:33 a.m. in Libya] Heavy anti-aircraft gunfire can be heard in Tripoli, CNN's Nic Robertson reported.
Robertson said anti-aircraft gunfire also was heard a few hours ago, but it is now more intense. The current round followed a couple of loud explosions, Robertson reported from Tripoli.
[8:26 p.m. ET, 2:26 a.m. in Libya] The Department of State has issued a statement reminding media organizations that no U.S. officials remain in Libya, limiting its ability to provide assistance to U.S. citizens or other employees of U.S.-based news organizations. The State Department continues to advise against travel to Libya and urges U.S. citizens already in Libya to depart immediately.
[7:41 p.m. ET, 1:41 a.m. in Libya] After delaying his trip to Russian, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been keeping a close eye on the situation in Libya, a Pentagon spokesman said.
"Secretary Gates has been in near constant contact with the Joint Staff as planning for Operation Odyssey Dawn has evolved. He has conducted multiple individual and conference with National Security Adviser Donilon and President Obama. And, of course, he continues to receive a steady flow of operational and intelligence information," spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
[6:20 p.m. ET, 12:20 a.m. in Libya] A defiant Moammar Gadhafi says missile strikes launched Saturday night are grounds for a "crusade war" and vowed to fight back.
"The Libyan people will fight against this aggression. All you people of the Islamic nations and Africa. And all you people in Latin America, and asia to stand with the Libyan people in its fight agaist this aggression," he said.
"France has carried an aggression against Libya. The security council and the international community has a responsibility to do what it takes about this aggression against the sovereign state."
[6:01 p.m. ET, 12:01 a.m. in Libya] Hours after coalition forces launched the first wave of attacks against his military forces, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi said his people will fight back against undeserved "naked aggression."
Libyan state TV broadcast Gadhafi's response, which included a call for people to take arms in the "war zone."
[5:45 p.m. ET, 11:45 p.m. in Libya] Moammar Gadhafi is due to make an address soon, according to media reports citing Libyan TV.
[5:36 p.m. ET, 11:36 p.m. in Libya] Russia reacted "with regret" Saturday to the start of international military action in Libya, urging an end to violence on all sides.
It said the United Nations resolution that authorized the use of force had been "hastily adopted."
"We again urge all Libyan sides, as well as the participants of the military operation, to do everything they can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians and to ensure a speedy cease-fire and an end to violence," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
[5:04 p.m. ET, 11:04 p.m. in Libya] Armed police are gathering outside government buildings in Tripoli and the streets are mostly clear of the revelers that had gathered earlier Saturday evening, CNN's Nic Robertson said.
Earlier, people were playing music and dancing in the street outside Gadhafi's palace compound in an apparent show of celebration, Roberston said. The missile strikes were inaudible over the music and revelry, he said.
[5:04 p.m. ET, 11:04 p.m. in Libya] Coalition strikes were launched despite a government-initiated cease-fire and "major reforms in economic and organizational contexts," a Libyan government spokesman says.
"The claim that this aggression is for the protection of civilians is contradicted by what has really happened on the ground tonight."
[5:04 p.m. ET, 11:04 p.m. in Libya] President Obama is planning for the U.S. portion of the military action in Libya to only last for a few days, according to a senior administration official.
"In terms of the heavy kinetic portion of this military action, the president envisions it as lasting days, not weeks," said the senior official. "After that we'll take more of a supporting role."
[4:58 p.m. ET, 10:58 p.m. in Libya] Air attacks on several locations in Tripoli and Misrata have caused "real harm" to civilians, a Libyan government spokesman said Saturday.
"I am very sorry and saddened that my country is facing a barbaric and armed attack," the spokesman said, adding that "this aggression will not weaken our spirits."
[4:28 p.m. ET, 10:28 p.m. in Libya] More than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from U.S and British ships and submarines, striking more than 20 integrated air defense systems and air defense facilities ashore, a Joint Chiefs of Staff official said Saturday.
The goals of "Operation Odyssey Dawn" are to prevent further attacks on Libyan citizens and opposition groups and to degrade the capability of Moammar Gadhafi's forces to resist a no-fly zone, Vice Admiral William E. Gortney Director said.
The strikes were carefully coordinated based on an assessment of whether the targets posed a direct threat to coalition pilots or to the people of Libya, he said.
"This is an international military effort urged by the Libyan people themselves and other Arab nations," Gortney said, noting that U.S. military forces are on the "leadership edge" of the operation.
"This is just the first phase of what will likely be a multi-phase designed to enforce the U.N. Security Council resolution."
[4:10 p.m. ET, 10:10 p.m. in Libya] U.S. President Barack Obama said military action in Libya is not an outcome the United States had sought.
"The use of force is not our first choice, and it is not a choice I make lightly," he said in an audio message from Brazil. "But we cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy and his forces step up their assault."
He also said the United States will not deploy any U.S. troops on the ground on Libya. Obama emphasized that the United States was acting as part of a broad coalition of U.S. allies to enforce the U.N. Security Council resolution, and not unilaterally.
"The writ of the international community must be enforced," he said. "We are answering the calls of a threatened people and we are acting in the interests of the United States and the world."
[3:55 p.m. ET, 9:55 p.m. in Libya] The U.S. military has launched its first missiles in Libya against Moammar Gadhafi's forces in the western part of the country, a senior Defense Department official said Saturday.
U.S. Tomahawk missiles landed in the area around Tripoli and Misrata, the official said, adding that the action was taken after Gadhafi failed to comply with a cease-fire.
The first part of the multi-phase approach will be to degrade air defenses, CNN's Chris Lawrence reports, citing the Defense Department official. Most of the first strikes will be concentrated around Tripoli and Misrata, specifically to take out his air defenses. Ground forces will be targeted as well because they carry capability to shoot down planes, the official said.
[3:44 p.m. ET, 9:44 p.m. in Libya] British Prime Minister David Cameron said military action was necessary to enforce the cease-fire and prevent Moammar Gadhafi from attacking his people.
"What we are doing is necessary, it is legal and it is right," he said. "I believe we should not stand aside while this dictator murders his own people."
[2:32 p.m. ET, 8:32 p.m. in Libya] A U.S. defense official said the United States is poised to launch cruise missiles from warships in the Mediterranean Sea, and that these strikes would target Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses. The United States is prepared to "defend its allies flying over Libyan airspace and enforce the no-fly zone," the official said.
[1:15 p.m. ET, 7:15 p.m. in Libya] French planes fired on a Libyan military vehicle Saturday evening, according to the French Defense Ministry.
[12:43 p.m. ET, 6:43 p.m. in Libya] The United States is standing with its allies and partners in enforcing the U.N. resolution on Libya, and it is also behind the Libyan people, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday. "We will stand with the people of Libya and we will not waiver (in our effort) to protect them," she said.
[12:39 p.m. ET, 6:39 p.m. in Libya] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the Arab League's stance on Libya, saying it "changed the diplomatic landscape." The group last week approved the establishment of a no-fly zone in Libya.
[12:36 p.m. ET, 6:36 p.m. in Libya] The Libyan government "has lost all legitimacy," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday, adding that the international community is right to enforce immediately the United Nations resolution. "Further delay will only put more civilians at risk," she said in Paris.
[12:34 p.m. ET, 6:34 p.m. in Libya] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that despite talk of a cease-fire from Libya, Moammar Gadhafi "continues to defy the world." "His attacks on civilians go on," she told reporters Saturday.
[11:04 a.m. ET, 5:04 p.m. in Libya] The French air force is opposing any aggression by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi against the population of rebel-held Benghazi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday. "As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town," Sarkozy said. "Our French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks."
[10:58 a.m. ET, 4:58 p.m. in Libya] Countries attending a meeting in Paris sent Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi a warning, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday.
"If there is not an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of the forces that have been attacking civilian populations in the last few weeks, our countries will have recourse to military means," Sarkozy said. Sarkozy said the warning was endorsed by all participants at the Paris summit.
Libya's population "must not be deprived of its rights by violence and terror," Sarkozy said. "There is still time for Colonel Gadhafi to avoid the worst, by complying immediately and unreservedly with all the demands of the international community. The doors of diplomacy will open once again when the aggression stops."
[10:51 a.m. ET, 4:51 p.m. in Libya] U.S., European and Arab leaders met Saturday at a last-minute Paris meeting on Libya. "There is minute-by-minute consultation between the United States and the militaries of other countries that are considering their support of action" under a U.N. resolution authorizing the use of force, a senior State Department official told reporters.
[10:40 a.m. ET, 4:40 p.m. in Libya] A French official confirms that French fighter jets are flying over Libya.
[9:55 a.m. ET, 3:55 p.m. in Libya] Moammar Gadhafi's military forces pushed into the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Saturday. Artillery rounds landed inside the city, and pro-Gadhafi tanks rolled into the town firing rounds, witnesses said. Plumes of smoke rose in Benghazi as civilians said buildings came under small arms fire.
[7:35 a.m. ET, 1:35 p.m. in Libya] Oil production has been dropping and Libya wants foreign and Libyan employees to go back to the oil fields, Libyan oil minister Shukri Ghanem told reporters Saturday.
[6:19 a.m. ET Saturday, 12:19 p.m. in Libya] Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's government on Saturday sent harsh messages to leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "You have no right ever to intervene in our internal affairs," said a letter read by Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim. The letter also said the government would never fire "a single bullet" against its citizens. Gadhafi's government continued to blame the conflict in Libya on al Qaeda.
[6:05 a.m. ET Saturday, 12:05 p.m. in Libya] A CNN team saw tanks belonging to forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi enter Benghazi on Saturday, and observed rebel tanks moving to confront them. Tank, mortar and artillery fire echoed across the city, interspersed with sustained bursts of small arms fire. Plumes of smoke could been seen rising above Benghazi.
[4:35 a.m. ET Saturday, 10:35 a.m. in Libya] CNN journalists observed tanks moving north from 5 kilometers south of Benghazi and other tanks moving through the western part of the city. It is not known which side the tanks belonged to. The journalists also saw tank and artillery rounds land inside the city.
[3:56 a.m. ET Saturday, 9:56 a.m. in Libya] A fighter jet was shot down and burst into flames Saturday in the area of Benghazi. Meanwhile, explosions could be heard in the city, which has been a stronghold for rebels opposing Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. It was not immediately clear who the fighter jet belonged to. Rebels have vowed to defend Benghazi to the death.
On Friday, the Libyan government said it was abiding by a cease-fire, but witnesses have said violence from pro-Gadhafi forces has continued.
[12:23 a.m. ET Saturday, 6:23 a.m. in Libya] Agence France-Presse reported airstrikes and explosions Saturday morning in an area southwest of Benghazi. CNN had not independently confirmed the report.
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Thought we weren't going into libya , in any case I am glad we have , just do it fast so we don't get stuck there for to long. Oh and to Gadhafi how every your name is spelled FU
OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE UNEDUCATED ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION....What has this country done to the US....Nothing at all, just like Iraq, Nothing. The Elite want to control all of the worlds oil, you think $4 gas is bad wait till the US pays what Europe pays over $7 a gallon. I was a Marine in Italy in 2000 and say then as an educated member of society that the US was headed this way and their only way to get their is by controlling more oil. You will be the one in the long run getting the FU, if those who want the oil get it. And if you think they will stop there you are dumber than I thought.
I agree. And this is not about oil...we don't get oil from Libya. The U.S. has agreed to help patrol the no-fly zone. The French and British will do the actual bombing. Oh, and I was a Marine in 1991 in Iraq, and if anyone thinks it's all about oil, they need to remove the plank from their own eye first.
What did he do to us? You mean besides kill all those Americans on Panam 103?
Are you serious....why did we go to the Iraqi war in 91 you dumb brain....oil! Only after Iraqi moved into Kuwait and was threaten oil fields......you are one of those dumb enlisted I guess...LOL! It is all about oil, if we care SO MUCH about people who are oppressed we would be all over the Africa, are we? NO! Why did the US have troops guard oil fields in both wars, I tell you why that was the reason why we are there dummy. And check your facts we get 3% of our oil from Libya, if you read any journal or watched multiiple news outlets you would have heard that several times. Why did the price of gas go up here then.....uhhhh, we get all though a small percent we get oil from Libya period. And the US government both times we fought Iraqi was lead by who? A BUSH, oh wait they are oil men right and I think so is Chaney, and Rumsfelt....WOW! Guess it is about oil isn't it, why don't we have our troops on our borders stop illegal entry into the US if it is all about tourist like they want you idiots to believe. YOU remove the blinds that have been painted on your eye and get educated for yourself and stop listening to your own prejudice and you will see it clearly. Powerful people want more power and that means they need all the oil they can get...PERIOD! If you believe its not about oil look at the price of fuel since we invaded Iraqi, which I was sadly apart of, prices went from $1.56 to over $3.00 in a matter of weeks oh and by the way we are pumping like crazy from both ends, the oil fields and the citizens pockets. Wise up! IF we cared about anyone who invades another country we need to all back off the US land and turn it over to the Indians, it is rightfully theirs. IF you believe in it, then grab your belongs in move, after all this land was invaded for what reason? Huh resources just as they are being invaded in the Middle East, resources.
talking about tired of lies yeah the pam-am bombing the bombing of our embessy's go tell your redderick to the families of those people and see if your able to walk home after saying that to there faces we would love to see how far you get face to face saying hes done nothing to us.................
@ Tired of lies , there is no reason to be soo cruel to me. I am all for EVERYONE'S freedom. This may not be about that but at least all will be free to be as they wish. You aren't a very nice person and in my book that counts more than anything else. Sorry to upset you so.
Kissy-kissy with arab nationals. Next, Hillary needs to fly to Moscow and suck up to Putin. Do these people know ANYTHING?
well bill did have monica lmfaorofffffff why cant hillery have a lil putin .................................
Interesting how quickly the world decides that intervention is the only course of action when the ruler of a country starts using artillery on his own towns because there are people there who object to his leadership. Oh, hang on, that's only in countries with oil. How much have you seen in the news about Gbagbo shelling towns in the Ivory Coast, because his opposition is based in them? Hardly features, yet more people are going to die there by his hand and very little will be said as no-one is terribly interested in his country's resources.
It's a sad indictment of our society that 'altruism' is only seen when there is a benefit to us.
Hi Jeremy
I think you point is valid – I also think however that one has to consider actions regarding the potential destabilising effect. Libya (indeed the whole region with larger military – say Egypt and Iran for instance – have a far greater threat value that the IC and others.
It’s actually that simple. The response is in relation to perceived threat hence the actions in Iraq but not in East Timor or many other acts of genocide? It is all about perceived threat and stability
Libya has been seen as a rouge state rather than a destabilising state, indeed over recent years its image has been improving. The response here therefore is in recognition that the events there can and maybe would trigger a much wider and more dangerous scenario.
I don’t like the coalition interference but there seems to be little option if we are to try at least safeguard the population from what will no doubt be genocide and also the potential for a wider spread of war. On the make-up of the force, I note a few Arab callers. I had agreed totally, but would now like to point out that both the UAE and Qatar have committed 36 fighter aircraft to the fight. Our commanders may chose not to use them for operational reasons – but we should not condemn the Arab world’s inaction en mass.
Once he is overthrown will we offer the same protection and concern to the soldiers & families loyal to Gadaffi (and those forced to be loyal) or will we stand by and watch a reverse genocide? I hope our leaders are considering that....
The French are great when it comes to bombing small unorginized countries. Where were they in the second world war? I'll tell you where: Hiding in their basements. They jumped on the oppurtunity to beat up this small country in the middle of a civil war as a way of increasing their position and prestige in the western world.
It is said that the French-made white flags' sales are down 90% since WWII. Their motto is "Wine, women, and song." Except...have you seen their women??? Uck!
Where were they in the second world war? I'll tell you where: Hiding in their basements...
Come on Kevin. Do at least some search before saying that. French army has been destroyed by superior tactics from Nazi. French lost 100.000 men in less than 40 days. But I am sure you have good words to describe that... cowards may be? The fact is that French General took wrong decison, weeks after weeks. How a population without army can fight a 3 millions Nazy army with armored divisions? You would have done much better for sure... By the way French and British do have very good reasons to fight current Lybia leader. This guys shoot down two civilian aircraft 20 years ago... and they never forget that. Is petrol also a reason. Could be and so what? What I see is that past the world is (too) slowly moving to the right direction. More free end educated people is good for mankind. Either it is done by interest or democracy at least situation is much better than 80 or 50 years ago. People are much more educated now and even Saudi Arabia will be a more respectable country in 20 or more years. We can not look at words with our very limited vison based on months or years but on decades. I just hope that casualties will be minimum on both side.
Kevin, did you just wake up this am., & turn on your TV to see what has been going on for weeks now, are you aware of what " Gadhafi " has been doing to his own Ppl. ?? CNN should not allow him to vent his anger at the U.N. they should block all his incoming messages.
Does this excuse for a " MAN ", know the defination of Barbaric mean, actually he should, he has acquired the practice for the last 40 yrs. plus, well, he found out today he is not ( Mr. Untouchable ), I could go on & on, he is slaughtering these Ppl. on a daily basis, I thoroughly agree with these U.N. stepping in, late, but better late than never......
IT IS SIMPLE ALL ABOUT OIL!!!! NO OTHER REASON BUT OIL. GADDAFI SAID IT HIMSELF WEEKS AGO THIS IS THE WEST CAUSING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY WONT MY OIL. FOLKS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO DEMAND THAT NOT ONE US SOLIDER STEP ONE FOOT INTO THIS COUNTRY. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, A FORMER MARINE AND LOSING FRIENDS TO THE OIL COMPANIES LIES, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE HALIBURTON OIL PIPES THAT WHERE RUN JUST HOURS AFTER THE US INVADED IRAQ. LIES....LIES...LIES.
Well, we all know that Ghadafi and other arabs never lie. Never, no....no.
well, we all know that US never lies. No no no
yes we do know about the oil lines and how did you think we were going to pay for iraq we knew but now we get free oil until the dept is paid however what was the answer letting saddam kill more people he killed over 400,000 since he started his lil wars with ku and the lil iran war he had not to mention the mustard gas he was using on innocents in the southern villages you cannot let a leader kill his own people like that just for fun it wasent like they were trying to overthrow him he just didnt like them total difference between the 2 .. here you have a terrorists running a country using other terror groups to help him now oil ha we havent got oil form them in the last 8 months if your in the milatary which i doubt you would know this via ships logs as you saw in iraq, there no secret most of the oil in libya is taken by china and the russians hence there obstain vote in the u.n. they do want this also but incase gadoofy comes out of it they can not risk loosing there assetts in the reigon by voteing go on this issue.......
Saudi Arabia will be the next nation invaded by France. Lybia does not have enough oil to satisfy the French. How many citizens of Lybia that die by American missles and French bombs does not appear to mean anything. Save the world, stop the invasion, Your oil rich country may be next.
What are you some kind of muzzie lover? Jon Smythe....yeah, right.
You are so right....IF they get their way they will invade every Arab nation and whip out entire populations if they can. Ask the Indians that lived in the Americas, oh wait not enough of them to have a voice. How is that, that country was fine weeks ago and then all of a sudden a US backed uprising is what happened.
FYI:
The French get approximately 60% of their energy from their own nuclear powered plants... the small amount of oil that they need can easily be purchased from a wide variety of other sources.
Finally, I suspect that President Oblahma allowed the French to strike the first blow: (1) because we, the USA did NOT want to be up front on this one (2) because Sarko is in real trouble in France.. his popularity is at about 20%!
Yep, that's definitely a Russian MiG heading nose-first for terra firma. Russia will sell its junk to any country not a democracy. Now, knock out Ghadafi's other five jets and all ten of his tanks and one dozen howitzers, and it's all over.
The world is watching! the reteric and blah blah about innocent civilian lives at stake is a farce. I do have sympathy and hope for the civilians and wish them no harm. The reason for U.N. action has nothing to do with them at all. If this were true the U. N. would be this agressive against other regimes now engaged in the torture,murder and ethnic cleasing across the world. this is about the health and welfare of the global economy and is an example of those who have something the rest of the world wants and needs then action is warranted. But if it is a poor country with no major supply for the world then the killing of those civilians is considered none of our concern. I just wish the U.N. stood for value of life rather than value of commodities.
Thank you djk....so true, the UN is a business machine, period! That don't care about human life suffering, and the greed of the wicked will over take those that even stand with them. They have found problems with every Arab or oil rich nation leader that is not a puppet and tried to over turn them, all in the name of oil. When will the world get tired of this and stand up against these lying greedy bumbs. How can oil companies post billions in profits and the price of oil be as high as they are, GREED! This is the Europeans taking over the Americas in modern times, except this time they have bigger Armies, High Tech Weapons and the lying media to support them. Sameful
"Obama emphasized that the United States was acting as part of a broad coalition of U.S. allies and that it was not a unilateral decision."
No, you self-centered inbreds. The United States is acting as part of a broad coalition of world powers. Nobody cares who your allies are. You weren't even the driving force behind this action. France was. Deal with it.
LOL, inbreds? Perhaps the most genetically diverse geographical region? And of COURSE this was emphasized to the US people. First, it is directly to assuage domestic fears we may act without support, even implying in this case we are not just non-aggressors, but non-initiators. Second, if you are talking to neighbor, of COURSE you describe a location in terms of shared geography, and unqualified "main street" refers to your local town – it's compression you arrogant frenchie!
>implying that I'm French.
I thought you were trying to prove that you weren't inbreds?
But I guess that point was also undermined by your bizarre failure to understand the objection. There is no sense in which "coalition of world powers" does not drive home the fact that it is a coalition of world powers. The absurd underlining of "US" in every statement only serves to do the exact opposite of what you claim it does.
> implying you aren't an arrogant frenchie while referring to "you inbreds" etc., ad nauseam
surrrrre...
you know, if you want one example to put lie to your implication of the uniqueness of US hubris, look no further than yourself.
p.s. yeah, I'd deny being french, too. 🙂
When do we STOP being the world's police? Libya owes Lockheed Martin nearly $60M for aircraft they built in the 90's but never paid or took possession of. Trust me – we will never see that money now. How many "wars" or "conflicts" can our military handle? When do we start CARING about what is happening in our own country? This is not to say that I do not feel for the Libyan people but would they help us if we were in the same situation? Would the Afghan people help us? Would the Iraqi's? Would the people in Africa? Just because we are a "world-power" does not mean we have to show that power everytime we don't like who is in power.
No ground troops only sas and speacial forces to help train the rebels get it right.... ground troops if needed will come via egypt which has massed a few tanks and troops by the border just incase........
I'm perfectly happy not being the 'driving force' for a change. Support them, yes. Bear the brunt of the attack and world-wide vitriol, no thanks.
What a ridiculous waste.
Hello!
What is it about a "No-Fly Zone" that a French pilot takes out a tank !! A Flying Tank?? I don't think so.
It's good for the French to finally enter a war with an expectation to win. But I predict that when their (now/) 25% Muslim population gets up in arms about France beating up on another mo-head, they will riot and France will, as usual, retreat (or maybe surrender Paris again).
BTW the issue re the "No-Fly Zone" will not keep the tanks and troops away from the dissidents – nor should they – this is a civil war and needs to be kept in that context, or else give up the pretense and invade Libya. No one should want to do it, but it's likely a civil war will fail as Mo-head Ghadafi can hire all the thugs and ex-miliatry from Egypt or D+Suda or wherever to try to crush the dissidents. He will eventually fail, but unless osme higher powere (No, it won't be France) intervenes he' and his sons and hangers on will muddle on for months unless someone takes him out from inside. That's where the opposition should be concentrating waxing this guys indie the Green Zone.
To the Libyan people, get yourself orgabized and get an international speaker to put forward your views. what you want and what you need. The world will respond, but you need to find an outlet and a speaker for all organized Libyan opposition.
best rxx, ima_nemisis
lemme help in this ok why well pan-am the embassy bombings now who hes is hireing well since over half of his milatary is fighting with the rebels now he has made a pact with the terrorists groups in his country for a safe haven and no more haressment if they help him regain control of his country his milatary is now mostly al-quada and other terror groups he has got to help him if he wins or even is allowed to regain control this would leave terrorists groups to had at anything anywhere with a home to go to when things get tough now ask yourself do you really want a terrorists safehaven in libya or anywhere in the world ........ i didnt think so........
The resolution gave coalition forces the right to protect civilians. What do you think a tank rolling into an enemy city is going to do, hand out tea and crumpets? No, the pilot did the right thing and we should support the French anti ground effort, the last thing we want is for Ghadafi to massacre Bengazi.
You've fallen behind in following the news. We've moved far beyond simply "no-fly-zone" to a multipart demand, including a cease-fire (against Libyan rebels) and withdrawal from cities recently re-taken under control of gov't. forces. It's clear that the goal is the removal of Gaddafi from office. That implies the dissolution of Libyan government military forces, intelligence agencies and the like. Good-bye, Gaddafi. It's been real.
France, the UK and Canada are fronting things for the Yanks, they are enforcing a no fly zone, which is really an all out Aerial bombardment of the country as everything that posses "a threat" to aircraft has to be taken out which is probably going to include loads of innocent civilians or "collateral damage" as they call it, that is ok of course.. as its better for them to be killed by allied bombs.
I think the yanks have to pull the strings behind the scenes here because of the obvious double standards, because only a few days ago their allies the Saudis sent their troops in to bahrain to "assist" another dictator who is doing the same thing as gadafi, so they will do everything behind the scenes and let the French take the credit, this way they can't be accused of double standards...
When they do dispose of gadafi, of course the western Oil companies will provide "support" to help them rebuild their old industry..
actually the russians and chinese will be pulling the oil strings as they get there oil from there and have billions in investments in there oil industry "we dont" as far as damages well yup we have however been placeing friendly beacons on the rebels artilery and tanks we have had awax plains in the air marking targets airports hidden heleports and tanks/troops we do have the sas and specail forces on the ground there to train the rebels a little better and also trying to find out exactly where gadoofy's loaction is for one nice cruise missle with his name on it "and it really does have his name painted on it"
as far as bahrain the only ones supporting the protesters are iranians go there ask around i just left there 2 weeks ago and everyone there will tell you the same thing there iranian backed thugs trying for a hostile take over of a good country to make another islamic state........