Obama OKs use of armed drone aircraft in Libya

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: Charlotte Observer

WASHINGTON Pentagon chief Robert Gates says President Barack Obama has approved the use of armed Predator drone aircraft in Libya.

Gates told a Pentagon news conference that the Predator is an example of the unique U.S. military capabilities that Obama is willing to contribute to a coalition military campaign in Libya, while other countries enforce a no-fly zone.

Marine Gen. James Cartwright, speaking alongside Gates, said the first Predator mission was scheduled for Thursday but it was scratched due to poor weather. Cartwright said the Predators allow low-level precision attacks on Libyan government forces.


Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/21/2240253/obama-oks-use-of-armed-drone-aircraft.html

[mike_c]

1. unrec-- not the OP, but the policy....

More crimes against humanity.

[The Northerner]

34. indeed nt

[maddezmom]

2. here is a link, please update your OP

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/21/2240253/obama-oks-use-of-armed-drone-aircraft.html

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. thanks! nt

[maddezmom]

5. you're welcome

:)

[tishaLA]

3. Very disappointed

it's just a stupid policy. I understand the desire for regime change, but this is a terrible way to go about it and will undoubtedly lead to horrendous consequences.

[EFerrari]

11. Can you hear the weddings canceling all over Libya?

[Baclava]

6. Ants on the ground - watch out ! - no white Toyota pick-up trucks will be safe

I'll give the war 5 years, not 10.

[BobbyBoring]

7. When will we learn

Money for another war? Where's that coming from?

[atreides1]

10. From the Obama/Ryan budget paln

Who the hell knows...they seem to find money for constant wars...but they can't find any for the hungry, the homeless, or the disabled!!!:grr:

[FiveGoodMen]

8. Coming soon to an American city near you

count on it

[neoralme]

14. That is exactly what is going to happen. People simply blow my

mind. Why do they think Bush reversed the Posse Comitatus Act. When Social Security and Medicare are stripped and people get really angry and have nothing left, they will become dangerous. And they will NOT be writing their worthless congresspeople anymore. They will be revolting. And the troops will be allowed in because of the Posse Comitatus reversal. And when there is too many revolts or too much troop resistance to quelling the revolts, the drones will come in, the nameless, remorseless drones. We are being finessed daily. Led to slaughter like little lambs.

[dipsydoodle]

20. Yes - avoid proximity to tall buildings

and men carrying box cutters.

It was antiicpated that the risk of blow back from Iraq and Afghanistan would last through to c. 2030. Add a few more years on for this.

[GeorgeGist]

9. The weapon of choice ...

for killing innocent women and children.

[EFerrari]

12. Brookings Institute: Drones kill civilians over combatants, 10-1.

snip

Critics correctly find many problems with this program, most of all the number of civilian casualties the strikes have incurred. Sourcing on civilian deaths is weak and the numbers are often exaggerated, but more than 600 civilians are likely to have died from the attacks. That number suggests that for every militant killed, 10 or so civilians also died.

http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/0714_targeted_killings_byman.aspx?p=1

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[earthlite]

13. More blood for oil

will it ever end?

[EFerrari]

16. The first time I heard that phrase in the run up to Iraq

I thought it was over the top.

Man, was I ever wrong.

[Arctic Dave]

15. "no fly zone" sure has morphed very quickly hasn't it.

Were is the screeching monkey brigade that called me a hater for saying Obama would escalate this now?

[Caustic Logic]

39. You called it too?

And we have the same avatar.

No fly = we might have to shoot your planes down to protect people = we might have to that with our jets = we need to destroy your air defense systems = we now control your air space and will fly in it, and destroy your ground forces and people (mostly military, but still people).

I admit I'm a bit surprised with the ferocity and speed of the "missoion creep" and dismayed at the unwillingness of more neutral parties to do thing to stop it. But the opportunity like this, Feb 17 2011, couldn't be passed up by any Western elites. The main targets: nationalized oil, central bank, underground river aquifer thing (which country owns 40% of all privatized water supplies?).

Keep it real.

[Fuddnik]

17. "To improve precision".

Again?

[dipsydoodle]

18. U.S. drones kill 957 civilian Pakistanis in 2010: report

SLAMABAD, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan issued its annual report on Thursday stating that American Drone strikes killed 957 innocent people in Pakistan in 2010.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-04/14/c_13829287.htm

That's about 3 a day. Presumably the Libyan ones are to get the score higher.

[dipsydoodle]

19. BBC News link

Armed US Predator drones are set to carry out missions in Libya, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said.

Mr Gates said their use had been authorised by President Barack Obama and would give "precision capability" to the military operation.

US drones are already used to target militants along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13166441

[Octafish]

22. Gates: US to use Predator drones in Libya

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama has approved the use of armed Predator drones in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.

Gates suggested that the unmanned Predator missions may have already begun. He said he believed that the first flights were launched Thursday but were called back due to poor weather.

"The president has said that where we have some unique capabilities, he is willing to use those," Gates said. "And I think that today may in fact have been their first mission."

Gates said the Predator drones offer a "modest contribution" to NATO efforts to support rebels fighting embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces there, though Gadhafi is not a specific target.

CONTINUED...

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/21/libya.drones/?hpt=T2

---

It's the least we can do, Bob.

[elocs]

23. Well, at least the civilian population will be safe now. n/t

[EFerrari]

24. Our drones will see to that! Ask Afghans. n/t

[IcyPeas]

32. ask the Pakistanis too

[Octafish]

28. Wonder if Xe/Blackwater will run 'em?

Good money in that.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

25. What took so long? nt

[Octafish]

30. They were on back-order.

It's not like times are tough for the Pentagon or anyone that matters.

[Keith Bee]

26. No ground troops?

Then I'm okay with this. Qaddafi has killed Americans, unlike Saddam (prior to our invasions).

[Octafish]

31. No one should hurt another, but when it comes to wholesale killing, no one touches the USA.

We got three wars going, plus options on dozens more.

"Money trumps peace. Uh,...sometimes." -- George W Bush, Feb. 14, 2007

[Caustic Logic]

43. Lockerbie?

Joke. It's only true on paper.

[Baclava]

27. They should set up a website so any keyboard commando can fly these things.

Armchairs full of warfighter wannabees just itchin' to get their hands bloody and fight on the rebels side.

Call PS3

[Octafish]

29. That reminds me: It's time for boots on the ground,

And chickenhawks should be the first to hit it running.

[and-justice-for-all]

33. Fuck that, how about the tactic of mind your damn business...

they need to be left to work their internal issues out on their own. STOP THE MEDDLING!

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProudDad]

41. WTF is Gates the sec'def anyway???

The country thought it voted for an anti-war democrat...

[jakeXT]

42. He was to the right of Bush and McCain during the campaign

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/feb/21/john-mccain/a-distortion-of-what-obama-said/

[50000feet]

35. Bombs away.

Here's some perspective for ya all:

http://www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net/print/Epochal%20Tectonic%20Shift.pdf (pdf download)

William Engdahl, pretty much on point so far as I can perceive.

[dipsydoodle]

36. Associated : US drone missiles kill 25 people in Pakistan tribal area home

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x939552

Keep your heads down Libyans.

[ProudDad]

40. QUAGMIRE III

Way to go, Mr. pResident...

Return the Prize!!!

[Devil_Fish]

44. +1.

:puke:

[tabasco]

45. Good idea.

Send one up Muammar's asshole for payback on the passenger plane he blew up.

[ReggieVeggie]

46. war...apparently it's good for something