Transitional Council Failing to Secure Weapons - Stockpiles of Surface-to-Air Missiles, Other Arms

[EFerrari]

Transitional Council Failing to Secure Weapons - Stockpiles of Surface-to-Air Missiles, Other Arms Found Unguarded

Misrata — Vast amounts of unsecured explosive weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, remain unguarded in the area around Sirte, Libya, Human Rights Watch said today. The National Transitional Council (NTC), Libya's transitional government, has promised for months that it would secure weapons facilities.

Two unguarded sites near Sirte inspected by Human Rights Watch on October 22, 2011, contained surface-to-air missiles, tank and mortar rounds, large numbers of munitions, and thousands of guided and unguided aerial weapons.

"For months we have been warning the NTC and NATO about the dangers posed by these vast stockpiles of unguarded weapons, and the urgent need to secure them," said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch. "Surface-to-air missiles can take down civilian aircraft, and the explosive weapons can be converted easily into the car bombs and IEDs that have killed thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The US government has a team of experts on the ground in Libya helping the NTC locate missing surface-to-air missiles. Fourteen contractors are in Libya and 50 more are being sent, Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro told the media on October 14. On October 18, the US pledged US $40 million to help Libya "secure and destroy dangerous stockpiles of weapons." Canada has pledged CA$10 million (US $9.97 million) for this effort.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201110250033.html

[Fumesucker]

1. US military made the same mistake in Iraq..

I recall that warehouse full of explosives that was left unguarded for a long period of time over which it was emptied by Allah knows who.

[bainz]

2. The US government has a team of experts on the ground in Libya

Experts. LOL. That's what we call them now.

[Amonester]

3. Glad to learn they're there to destroy weapons, and not people.

Unless some people there already stole them and refuse to give them back.

Once a new Libyan army will be set up (every country has one), maybe it's gonna be their #1 problem to solve.

[msongs]

4. or they are there to secure the weapons so they can be used later to destroy people. nt

[Amonester]

5. Could be.

Could be not.

I hope the latter.

Other solutions?