U.S. Launches Cruise Missiles Against Qaddafi's Air Defenses

[Amerigo Vespucci]

U.S. Launches Cruise Missiles Against Qaddafi's Air Defenses

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/19/france-fires-libyan-military-vehicle/



March 19: A rafale jet fighter seen shortly after take off at the military base of Saint Dizier, eastern France.

The U.S. Navy fires the first U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan leader's Muammar al-Qaddafi's air defenses Saturday, Fox News has learned.

The U.S. military strikes clear the way for European and other planes to enforce a no-fly zone designed to ground Qaddafi's air force and cripple his ability to inflict further violence on rebels, U.S. officials said.

Hours after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton attended an international conference in Paris that endorsed military action against Qaddafi, the U.S. was poised to kick off its attacks on Libyan air defense missile and radar sites along the Mediterranean coast to protect no-fly zone pilots from the threat of getting shot down.

"We have every reason to fear that left unchecked, Qaddafi will commit unspeakable atrocities," Clinton said.

[meow mix]

1. good to hear

[Poll_Blind]

2. Tens of millions of dollars flying out of U.S. pockets at Mach 5!

What a sight! At at least $500,000 a shot, I can see the Benjamins drifting over North Africa from the spent exhaust as Freedom clears its throat.

PB

[leftstreet]

5. BLASPHEMER !!!111

[lonestarnot]

13. Can we at least land one on Megrahi's head?

[Poll_Blind]

16. That'll cost ya TRIPLE with a minimum purchase of 2 dozen Tomahawks!

But Freedom is a steal at twice the price, no?

PB

[lonestarnot]

22. Snort.

[slackmaster]

28. It's old inventory, money we spent years or decades ago

Those missiles do have a shelf life.

[Union Scribe]

30. And no one makes money if they can't make fresh ones

[slackmaster]

31. Fresh ones are going to be bought regardless of what happens to the old stock

Our elected leaders hard at work, spending our money.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Oh, joy! Another war! And, some really cool videos to watch.

How about a chorus of "God Bless America" and some cool generals and admirals to tell us how swell it all is?

[David__77]

4. This is a terrible crime.

The US will definitely pay for this in terms of blowback.

[Maine_Nurse]

7. Some people just need a good killin' to fix what ails them.

[MineralMan]

6. I have very mixed feelings on all of this. I want to see the people

of Libya govern themselves, but we screw up just about everything we do in that part of the world. I'm not optimistic about this. I'm pretty opposed to all direct action in the Middle East. We don't understand the cultures or societies there, and seem to make a mess of everything we start there.

[lonestarnot]

10. As well as do many of us.

[Aerows]

8. "Iran" is probably going to "attack" one of our allies

in the middle of this, so there is an excuse to invade Iran.

I'm sorry I'm cynical, but I've seen this play out too many times already.

[lonestarnot]

9. How much does 1 tomahawk cost?

[Aerows]

11. Certainly more than teachers salaries for one public school

Remember, though - it's okay to spend money for killing, it isn't okay to spend money for education or health care. For war, we have infinite wealth.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. The "Kerry is a baby killer" argument...

...during the 2004 election there was a massive push, especially in churches, to paint a picture of John Kerry as "pro abortion" (rather than "pro choice," which is more accurate, and not the same thing at all).

The line "elect a candidate who respects the rights of the unborn" was repeated over and over and over, in churches across America, like mine (so much for separation of church and state).

And on DU at the time, there was the very wise observation that George W. Bush respected the rights of the unborn, at least until it was time for them to suit up and become cannon fodder in one of his wars.

Wars solve nothing. Wars produce cadavers. That's it.

Right, Edwin? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk

[Codeine]

17. Individual unit cost for a Tomahawk is a nudge over half a million.

There's a bunch of very expensive ancillary targeting and launch equipment as well, but the missile and payload is listed as $569,000.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. Just looked it up since I guessed in another thread

I wasn't too far off. I said, $570k the Navy sais $569K. However this appears to be the cost in '99. Who knows what it is today? :shrug:

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=1300&ct=2

[lonestarnot]

27. The remnants of one hitting the Kadaffy compound was made in 2006.

Somebody's healthcare exploded in mere seconds.

[lonestarnot]

29. So at 125 using 99 numbers $71, 125,000.00 just for cruisers alone, not to mention manpower, fuel,

etc. We're just fucking doomed.

[lonestarnot]

32. Fast Eddie just said 1 1/2 million on today's market 1.5 mil * 125, what's that?

[old mark]

12. K&R.

[Contrary1]

15. Hoping against hope that civilian causalities are light.

[Dash87]

18. Give it ten years. These "freedom fighters" will be attacking us, and we'll wonder why.

This country will never learn. :(

[Zynx]

24. Maybe so, but compared to sitting on our dead ass when people fighting against

a dictatorship, I'll take the risk.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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

[MineralMan]

26. Punished by whom? And who will be punished?

You're not clear at all in your post.

[tabasco]

21. I hope they shoot one up Muammar's ass!

It's about time!

[roamer65]

25. Right on!

[BlueJac]

23. Just another battle we want to fight.........

there is not a damn thing that goes on that we don't have a hand in! We love this kind of shit! We will be spreading freedom soon.

[Baclava]

33. Cruise missles are OK for some targets - but we're using B-2's and their 2000 lb JDAMs too

B-2 bombers return to Whiteman Air Force Base after striking targets over Libya

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Missouri - Three Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 Spirit bombers returned to Whiteman Air Force Base after striking targets in support of the international response which is enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.



The B-2s landed at Whiteman after a more than 25-hour mission in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

The bombers employed 45 guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions, each weighing 2,000 pounds, against hardened aircraft shelters in Libya.

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/B-2-bombers-return-to-Whiteman-Air-Force-Base-after-striking-targets-over-Libya-