Canada sending F-18's to help enforce UN resolution on Libya

[JBoy]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/canadian-jets-to-help-enforce-no-fly-zone-over-libya/article1945738/

The Canadian government is dispatching six CF-18 fighter jets to help enforce the United Nations’ no-fly zone above Libya, The Globe and Mail has learned.

The aircraft could leave as early as Friday to join the assembling international force and will be based out of southern Europe. About 120 to 200 support staff will be sent to help them.

Not since the Taliban was ousted from power in Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 has the UN Security Council authorized military intervention, this time to save Benghazi from the advancing columns of Libyan forces loyal to the despotic and ruthless Moammar Gadhafi.

U.S., French and British warplanes were expected to launch initial combat patrols overnight, operating from bases in Cyprus, Sicily and – perhaps – Egypt. Canada will send six CF-18s, last in action in 1999 as they bombed Serb positions to protect the Albanians of Kosovo.

[snagglepuss]

1. They also signed the Resolution2Protect so if other signatories are

acting they'd have a hard time backing out. The more countries that are involved the better.

[JBoy]

2. Technically it's the Security Council that has the authority to pass such a resolution

and Canada's not a member of the Security Council (thanks, Steven Harper for botching that effort!), so it didn't "sign" anything in this case. Obviously though, by committing resources, Canada supports the decision.

[snagglepuss]

5. My understanding is that Canada was member of the 2005 World Summit

and signed R2P it therefore obligated to take decisive action:


3. Principle Three focuses on the responsibility of international community to take timely and decisive action to prevent and halt mass atrocities when a State is manifestly failing to protect its populations.<7>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_World_Summit

[BrightKnight]

3. If something isn't done fast everyone is going to be lining up to kiss Gadafi's ass. - n/t

[krispos42]

4. I was going to joke "wow, both of them?"

After seeing that they're sending exactly 6, somehow it wasn't quite so funny anymore.

[JBoy]

6. Six is a fairly significant contribution, as far as Canada's concerned.

To put this contribution into perspective, we contributed 26 to the first Gulf War, and 18 to the effort in Yugoslavia.

The current active fleet is about 80.

[krispos42]

8. Yeah, that's what I mean!

:D

[applegrove]

7. In Canada we are about to spend 30 Billion dollars on bying F-35 jets.

'The Harper Government' said it would cost half that much because they are generally full of ****!

[krispos42]

9. Just be glad you didn't buy F-22s! n/t

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

:thumbsup: