America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels

[devils chaplain]

Source: The Independent

Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.

Washington's request is in line with other US military co-operation with the Saudis. The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban.

But the Saudis remain the only US Arab ally strategically placed and capable of furnishing weapons to the guerrillas of Libya. Their assistance would allow Washington to disclaim any military involvement in the supply chain – even though the arms would be American and paid for by the Saudis.

The Saudis have been told that opponents of Gaddafi need anti-tank rockets and mortars as a first priority to hold off attacks by Gaddafi's armour, and ground-to-air missiles to .shoot down his fighter-bombers

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html

[pinboy3niner]

1. Interesting military analysis of U.S. options in the NYT

Thom Shanker asses what action the U.S. could take. For example:

Even without firing a shot, a relatively passive operation using signal-jamming aircraft in international airspace could muddle Libyan government communications with military units. Administration officials said Sunday that preparations for such an operation were under way.


Military Analysis
U.S. Weighs Options, on Air and Sea
More plus interactive map of how the rebellion is unfolding, day by day:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/world/middleeast/07military.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[tabatha]

2. Well, it is not secret anymore, if there ever was such a plan.

I think if there were, the Guardian and not the Independent would have published it.

[AndyTiedye]

3. The Guerillas We Were Supporting in Afghanistan in the '80s WERE the Taliban

The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban

Those guerillas WERE the Taliban.

[DeSwiss]

4. Exactly.

- The Taliban weren't our chagrin, they were our invention.

[jakeXT]

5. If the plan is to set the whole Greater Middle East ablaze, it might work

We had the rumors of Abdulah's heart attack just recently I wonder what that was all about...

Oil Futures Rise Sharply on Rumors of Saudi King Abdullah's Death
http://www.huliq.com/3257/oil-futures-rise-sharply-rumors-saudi-king-abdullahs-death

If the Saudi population knows they are doing this(buying weapons from the US and sending them to Libya), I wonder if that would enrage them more.


Either way Russia and China have lost a lot in Libya and with a civil war it's not going to be better in the quick run. What will happen to the living standard of Libya's people is clearly down, the question is by how much. Loss of work, because of foreigners left.
Sanctions, No-Fly zone, sabotage of oil production etc ??

Italian, Russian and Chinese investments hit by Libya crisis
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x555470

[no_hypocrisy]

6. My guess is to arm them before another country does.

Like Russia, China, etc. and to maintain more influence when the dust settles.

[timo]

7. this is a bad idea!!

passing out guns without background checks? and full autos too no doubt...WTF?? does anybody else think this is a bad idea?
passing out a bunch of rock n rolla to people we dont even really know? yet here in the states we pick away at the right to bear arms??
perfect example of how broken the machine really is!!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. "I'm not sure 'secret' means what you think it means." - I. Montoya