US backs Arab states' call for Libya no-fly zone

Source: (Reuters)

RAS LANUF, Libya/CAIRO (Reuters) - Washington said a call by the Arab League for a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya was an "important step", as government troops backed by tanks and warplanes fought to drive rebels from their strongholds.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the League, meeting in Cairo on Saturday, had decided that "serious crimes and great violations" committed by the government of Muammar Gaddafi against his people had stripped it of legitimacy.

Washington, which would play a leading role in enforcing any no-fly zone, said the decision strengthened pressure on Gaddafi but it stopped short of commitment to military action and made no proposal for a swift meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

It was not clear if the League's call for a no-fly zone would provide the unequivocal regional endorsement NATO required for military action to curb Gaddafi. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was "very significant". " Diplomats in New York said they could not rule out a weekend meeting of the U.N. Security Council to vote on the issue, but added it was unlikely.





Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE72C00320110313

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UNHCR call:




Some newspapers don't know that Angela Merkel is a woman.

I found this photo - showing Dutch PM Rutte with the text:


German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center right, speaks with French President...

http://www.sify.com/news/eu-military-action-would-need-un-arab-support-news-international-ldnk4ffchfh.html

but can someone else please do it?!

enough is enough!

Their editorial today:

Libya: The west can't let Gaddafi destroy his people
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/13/observer-editorial-libya

bombing Libya half-cocked as per GW Bush's must go to war "strategy" in the ME.

Sec. Gates made it very clear to Congress what a no-fly zone entails and it's not just a declaration. It's bombing Ghaddafi's air fleet to smithereens first. Who has the ability to do it? The good ol' USA. But that doesn't mean we should.

Obama is right to contact anyone and everyone, from NATO to the Arab League to Congress and Treasury officials, before making a decision. If we've learned anything in the past 10 yrs., it's that doing a "cakewalk" operation in the ME is no cakewalk, but a lesson in costly surprises, huge mistakes and blowback.

Obama took a back seat. He's unlikely to regain a front seat on world issues soon, IMO.

I thought a no-fly zone was right from the beginning.

This is new world with different sources of leadership and power. Obama is OK with the fact that the world of US hegemony is coming to an end. He is doing the right thing. In fact, this is the only way to keep the United States viable in the long run.

Their combined strength would be far more effective and much less susceptible to blow-back.