Intel: Rebels divided, NATO flying 'too high', Gadhafi in control

[jakeXT]

WASHINGTON — Despite heavy Western missile fire, the regime of Libyan Col. Moammar Gadhafi remains firmly in control of large parts of the North African state.

Western intelligence sources said the NATO no-fly zone has failed to stop Gadhafi's forces from advancing against the rebel movement. They said the Libyan military, after initial setbacks, has adapted to NATO air patrols and bombing missions.

"The Libyans are getting help from the Chinese and Russians on how to fight even with the planes overhead," an intelligence source assigned to monitor Libya said. "So far, these planes are flying too high to make a significant difference in ground combat."

On March 30, Gadhafi troops employed Russian-origin main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and rockets to repel a rebel advance and capture Ras Lanouf, Sider as well as other oil towns. The rebels said NATO, which on March 27 assumed formal responsibility for the mission from the United States, provided no combat air support during the battle.

....

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2011/me_libya0368_03_31.asp

Are they getting some kind of data from Russia/China or am I missing something?

[David__77]

1. They're not supposed to make a difference in "ground combat" except to protect non-combatants.

The goal of the NATO intervention under UN auspices is not to facilitate the victory of one side or the other but rather to ensure than civilian populations are not targeted by the fighting.

[jakeXT]

3. And I have a bridge to sell nt

[David__77]

4. I said it because that's how it reads, but I know it's not true.

They're whining because the Gaddafi soldiers aren't jumping out in the open with uniforms on.

[Distant Observer]

5. Unfortunately the British have already acknowledge that as a con to get

their toe into War

[David__77]

6. Where do they acknowledge this?

I would like to know, even if they only implicitly said so.

[The Magistrate]

2. Not A Reliable Source, Sir

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/about.asp





The Internet community is a cooperative arena. Going it alone is not an option. The following World Tribune.com content partners have both contributed articles and columns and have helped alert the worldwide web to its exclusive reports:


DrudgeReport.com Middle East Newsline GertzFile.com
Breitbart.com The Washington Times Hoover Institution
NewsMax.com Geostrategy-Direct.com Hudson Institute
WorldNetDaily.com East-Asia-Intel.com Int. Strat. Studies Assoc.

[sad sally]

7. Oh my gosh, are the Communists on the US scare list again?

[sabrina 1]

8. Someone is pushing for an invasion!

NFZ already morphed into shooting troops on the ground and we now know that the CIA has been on the ground for a while and most likely British and other Intel ops.

Now they are talking about arming the rebels, whoever they are at this point, and sending in Mercenaries. Soon even that will not be enough, and we will need 'peace-keeping' forces there.

This is looking less and less like a grassroots uprising the more we find out about who was involved and for how long even before the protests began.

I feel so sad for the Libyan people. I think they will, like the Iraq people do now, look back at their current government with nostalgia after being occupied for ten or more years.

[Baclava]

9. Send in the French Foreign Legion - kill Moe and get this shit over with already.

Cut off the head of the snake and be done with it.

Dragging this out isn't good for the Libyan people OR us.

Go France, Go Brits - this is your baby now, or so they say.

[jakeXT]

10. Still don't know what they did, GPS jamming, something against laser guided bombs?

And this time around, Qaddafi’s forces were moving fast in their advance in civilian-looking Technicals, much like their own, but much better armed than they were—and better equipped than ever to deceive NATO’s warplanes.

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/03/libya-the-rebels-retreat.html#ixzz1IHmURp4H

[BOG PERSON]

11. what is a Technical?

is that like a modified Tacoma?