West moves to help Libya uprising, Gadhafi digs in

Source: Associated Press

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) -- The U.S. military deployed naval and air units near Libya, and the West moved to send its first concrete aid to Libya's rebellion in the east of the country, hoping to give it the momentum to oust Moammar Gadhafi. But the Libyan leader's regime clamped down in its stronghold in the capital and appeared to be maneuvering to strike opposition-held cities.

In Washington, Defense Department spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said the naval and air forces were deployed to have flexibility as Pentagon planners worked on contingency plans, but did not elaborate. The U.S. has a regular military presence in the Mediterranean Sea.

The European Union slapped an arms embargo, visa ban and other sanctions on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime, as British Prime Minister David Cameron told British lawmakers Monday he is working with allies on a plan to establish a military no-fly zone over Libya, since "we do not in any way rule out the use of military assets" to deal with Gadhafi's embattled regime.

In the most direct U.S. demand for Gadhafi to step down, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Libyan leader must leave power "now, without further violence or delay."

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_LIBYA?SITE=CAACS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

"we do not in any way rule out the use of military assets" -- I'm guessing the US is of the same mind?

What could they accomplish w/the military? I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, just don't understand what they could DO?

What's good for the syndicate is good for the country - Milo Minderbinder

Give them a good look at what an american air strike looks like up close. Target the military communication centers at the command level. Fewer officers in command willing to give or take orders.
By now our EW and AWAC air craft have every body in Gaddafi's command structure on tape and GPS'd.

Take out the ground target threats first, like we did in Iraq during the no-fly zone years?

What if they start killing their people with tanks, take them out too?

Maybe we should send in advisors first, like in the 'Nam.

Actually invading Libyan airspace with our fighters would be a totally different can of worms.

To clear the airspace and provide limited air support. UN says go, we go.

Hillary Clinton warns of 'drawn-out civil war' in Libya as U.S. sends in its warships


Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said the military was 'repositioning' forces to be ready to assist in case a no-fly zone was enforced.

But today General James Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command, told a Senate hearing that imposing one would be 'challenging' - and that it would be a military operation.

'You would have to remove air defense capability in order to establish a no-fly zone, so no illusions here,' he said. 'It would be a military operation - it wouldn't be just telling people not to fly airplanes.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361600/Libya-USS-Enterprise-way-US-UK-threaten-Gaddafi-fly-zone.html




CVN-65 USS Enterprise carrier battle group

Pay attention.

holy fucking shit

They don't have air ability. If they are losing too many forces because the rumors about Belarus pan out and the mercenaries are in numbers greater than they know, they will need airstrikes to achieve victory.

Otherwise it could be a genocide of 100k+ mercenaries and loyalists with superior weaponry against unarmed protesters and a small 20k army of armed men (Benghazi needs at least 10k men to protect it).

If the revolutionaries ask for help they should get it.

And no forces on the ground.

I think we're likely to respect their wishes, if we do they'll be more likely to be allies. By not intervening in Egypt and Tunisia we've earned some small good will.

(Israel's ties to the mercs aren't going to help though.)

If it isn't, this will be seen as an invasion, and will likely go badly over the usual 10-year occupation period.

US warship headed to Libya

WASHINGTON — A US warship with hundreds of Marines on board headed towards Libya on Tuesday, defense officials said, as US and European allies sought to pile pressure on embattled leader Moamer Khadafi.

The USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship accompanied by two other naval vessels, was expected to pass through the Suez Canal soon from the Red Sea, two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.


USS Kearsarge

"There are sailors on ships heading that way, it's real."

An American aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise -- which has fighter jets that could enforce a possible no-fly zone -- could also be called upon for the Libya crisis. The carrier is currently in the north of the Red Sea, according to the US Navy's website.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h9fCJ8iPN58xQLgPShjxx8T2W80g?docId=CNG.20a483b584197aaccaa0d901ac4be9a7.741