U.N. Approves Military Action in Libya to Halt Qaddafi Attacks

[Purveyor]

Source: NYTIMES

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council approved a measure on Thursday authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians from harm at the hands of forces loyal to Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi.

The measure allows not only a no-fly zone but effectively any measures short of a ground invasion to halt attacks that might result in civilian fatalities. It comes as Colonel Qaddafi warned residents of Benghazi, Libya, the rebel capital, that an attack was imminent and promised lenient treatment for those who offered no resistance.

“We are coming tonight,” Colonel Qaddafi said. “You will come out from inside. Prepare yourselves from tonight. We will find you in your closets.”

Speaking on a call-in radio show, he promised amnesty for those “who throw their weapons away” but “no mercy or compassion” for those who fight. Explosions were heard in Benghazi early Friday, unnerving residents there, Agence-France Presse reported.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/africa/18nations.html

[louis-t]

1. Anyone who thinks qaddafi will be lenient

with those who lay down their weapons, hasn't been paying attention.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. The resolution was approved with 10 votes. China, Russia, Germany, India and Brazil abstained.

The Guardian reported that USA, Britain, France and several Arab countries, will join forces to throw a protective ring around the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi within hours of the vote.<243> Reuters reported that Italian defense minister Ignazio La Russa announced that Italy will serve as base for any military action against Libya.<244>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2011_Libyan_uprising#17_March

[Matilda]

6. Not surprising that China and Russia don't want to give support to rebels,

but what's the problem with the other countries?

[totodeinhere]

22. Of course because those two countries are worried about their own internal insurrections.

Most of the others don't have those worries, and I suspect Lebanon voted for at at Iran's behest.

[JanDutchy]

18. The British 8th Army under General Montgomery and Air Marshal Cunningham prepares for battle in Liby

The reason behind Germany's policy: Critical Past?

The British 8th Army under General Montgomery and Air Marshal Cunningham prepares for battle in Libya, Egypt

The British 8th Army prepares for 7th battle of Libya in the sands of Egypt. General Montgomery and Air Marshal Cunningham in Egypt. Troops unload supplies from trucks. Soldiers load, fire machine guns and tanks. Fleet of United States aircraft take off from open ground. Soldiers drop bombs over enemy targets. Explosions on the ground. Troops advance with tanks. German prisoners held. Dead soldiers.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675043457_British-8th-Army_General-Montgomery_Air-Marshal-Cunningham_American-aircraft-bombing

[Lars77]

29. I wonder if Germany could do anything without war references coming up on DU. nt

[naaman fletcher]

3. OK now, how about Saudi Arabia and Bahrian?

Oh, you mean this isn't really about protect the rights of civilians?

[Poll_Blind]

13. Read my mind. Obviously THOSE guys are terra-wrists or somethin' cause they're goin' against the...

...kingdoms/dictators we favor.

PB

[joshcryer]

24. Have they used tanks, jets, helicoptors, and heavy arty against the protesters there?

Oh, no? They haven't? Oh OK.

[ButterflyBlood]

34. Or maybe going against the one actually using air support

I have yet to hear of Bahrain or Saudi Arabia using the air force to bomb protesters.

[joshcryer]

38. People CONTINUE to demean the Libyan revolutionaries. No other ME conflict compares.

None.

[Baclava]

4. France should be leading the attacks. They sold Gaddafi the Mirage fighter jets he's using.

[Matilda]

5. I hope it won't be too late.

And nobody should believe any of Gaddafi's promises - the biggest
worry now is what will happen to any identified protesters.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. UN approves no-fly zone over Libya

Source: AP

NITED NATIONS – The U.N. Security Council has approved a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from attacks by Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

The vote late Thursday was 10-0 with five abstentions, including Russia and China.

The United States, France and Britain pushed for speedy approval because Gadhafi's forces are advancing toward opposition-held Benghazi. The Libyan leader vowed Thursday night to oust the rebels from their eastern stronghold.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/libya_diplomacy

[Kennah]

8. Off we go, into the wild, blue, yonder ...

[Baclava]

9. Sounds like France and Britain will be sending in the first wave

UN IMPOSES LIBYA NO-FLY ZONE, MASS CELEBRATION IN THE STREETS OF BENGHAZI

[on point]

This is important evolution in International law

I do not think that governments, be they Rwanda, Saddam's / Reagan's Iraq, Gaddafi's Libya, Hitler's Germany, or a looming US repug government should be able to repress their people in violation of their human rights. But international law, under the UN charter, has precluded governments from interfering in other countries' internal affairs for very good, peace keeping reasons.

However, there needs to a mechanism where the International community and law can declare a country to be in violation of human rights and therefore subject to intervention.

The countries of the world have resisted this. This step is an important evolution in that it has now created a mechanism and a precedent for this.

Prior to this act I could not support establishing a no fly zone as it was a violation of international law. Now it is not. So I hope they get one going as quick as possible.

I also hope the US is not the prime mover in this as we have been severely strained by an illegal war (Iraq), and a war that has long dragged past its legal purpose (Afghanistan). The US also needs to rid itself of the notion that it is the policeman of the world and support the notion that the International community, under the UN, with proper resources and political backing is the right party to enforce these things.

[Stuart G]

10. Doesn't "Military Action...Mean...WAR?

..or am I reading this wrong...The UN against Lybia...I ask other to explain..thanks

[DeadEyeDyck]

11. yep - war

I predict we will activate the draft if we go into war in Lybia. Our active duty troops are over expended and we need some fresh young meat.

"Oh it's one, two, three what are we fighting for?"

[amandabeech]

14. Apparently no one gives a damn. They can't remember Vietnam.

But it's still

"Five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates . . ."

In conclusion, "Whoopee, we're all gonna die."

[denem]

28. No ground war.

The resolution specifically rules out foreign troops on the ground.. Given Secretary Gates comments, the US doesn't want a thing to do with another ground war.

[amandabeech]

37. We'll see how it turns out.

Please forgive me if my experience precludes full confidence in the U.S. government when comes to mission creep.

[neoralme]

12. Maybe start of WW3. With the US so divided in military strength,

it may be time for someone to make a move.

[Socal31]

16. We aren't invading anyone, nobody is going to "Make a move."

Air assests are already in the region.


I can't believe we are being dragged into another war we can't afford. This is terrible.

[neoralme]

17. I hope you're right, Socal31. I also am Socal: Long Beach. I hope

I'm not already glowing from Japanese plumes if something starts. I'm going to talk people tonight from other boards and see what they think. It just seems to be this is some kind of a vector developing.

[ButterflyBlood]

35. WW3? Who the hell is going to back Gadaffi?

His friends right now consist of a short list of some other tinpot regimes like Zimbabwe and Belarus which I have a tough time seeing posing any sort of threat to any country participating in this. The only major countries that might have a problem could've stopped it and they didn't (China and Russia.) And even if they change their mind China and Russia won't be using military action to save Gadaffi. The guy is alone. The only thing his few friends can do is grant him asylum.

[neoralme]

36. I hope you're right. Things around the world are very fractious.

[BenzoDia]

15. Who's footing the bill for this one?

[DeadEyeDyck]

26. look in the mirror n/t

[Baclava]

19. US readying plans to enforce Libya no-fly zone

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration was readying plans to enforce a no-fly zone in Libya with the help of Arab countries, officials said Thursday as the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize the move.

These officials, who spoke after a closed-door briefing in Congress, said they expected the attempt to ground Moammar Gadhafi's air force could begin by Sunday or Monday. The effort likely would involve jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft.

The disclosures came as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in Tunisia that a no-fly zone would include "certain actions taken to protect the planes and the pilots, including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems."

The details of any military action were unclear, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told Congress in public testimony it would take as much as a week to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_LIBYA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-03-17-19-26-36

[roamer65]

20. Start bombing Qadhafi forces now!

Bomb, bomb, bomb until that bastard is dead.

[totodeinhere]

21. Let France and Britain do it, but I hope we stay out of it. We have enough on our plate right now.

n/t

[Phoonzang]

23. It's too late, but I hope they give Gadaffi's forces a little what for...before the end. nt

[wick]

25. forgot who helped us? back in the day

[denem]

27. No foreign troops on the ground - This is specifically forbidden

by the resolution.

To the US and others, it's one thing to go without a security council resolution, it quite another go against a resolution. In fact give Secretary Gates comments, the US may have positively supported, if not authored this provision.

[Turborama]

30. The full draft (8 Page PDF)

Available to dowmload as a PDF http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/03/17/draft.resolution.on.libya.pdf?hpt=T1">here










Also posted in GD here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x677397

[Lars77]

31. UN Security council backs air strikes on Libya - Live now

Source: The Guardian

• UN security council expected to pass Libya resolution
• US and Britain support air strikes to protect civilians
• Gaddafi declares: 'There will be no mercy' in Benghazi
• Qatar and UAE governments may add forces

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/17/libya-united-nations-air-strikes-live

[dipsydoodle]

32. I thought

an arms embargo's was an arms embargo. Or was that only by Europe ?

[Lars77]

33. More info here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/17/libya-un-security-council-air