France ready to talk about arming Libyan rebels

Source: Reuters

LONDON, March 29 | Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:21pm EDT

(Reuters) - France said it was ready to discuss arming Libyan rebels with its coalition partners, although this was not part of the United Nations mandate, its foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting in London of foreign ministers and international organisations to discuss post-Gaddafi Libya, Alain Juppe said a new political contact group had been created comprising 20 countries and organisations and would meet next in Qatar, then Italy.

"I remind you it is not part of the U.N. resolution, which France sticks too, but we are ready to discuss it (arming) with our partners," Juppe told reporters.

On whether Gaddafi should go into exile, Juppe said there was no future for the Libyan leader in his country, but that it was up to the Libyan people to decide his fate.

(Reporting by John Irish and Emmanuel Jarry; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/29/libya-conference-juppe-idUSPISTEE7DI20110329

Now there is skin in the game, now they want an outcome that gives them a quid pro quo.

"I remind you it is not part of the U.N. resolution, which France sticks too, but we are ready to discuss it (arming) with our partners," Juppe told reporters.


who is paying for these arms?

.

That way they cease to be classed as civilians.

the young soldier was carrying a plastic toy gun. If we help them then at least give them small weapons. Arm them before sending our own troops in.

but historically speacking, doesn't the SOS usually try to broker a peace?

SOS is an acronym for.

Here's the background. On Feb. 26, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1970, barring transfer or sale of arms and military equipment to Libya. Then, on March 17, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1973 providing for a no-fly zone.

While Resolution 1973 includes a section about tightening enforcement of the arms embargo, it also includes a clause -- reportedly inserted at the request of the U.S. -- that may create a loophole in the arms embargo. Here it is (emphasis added):

Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures, NOTWITHSTANDING paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the Member States concerned to inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council;

>

A source in the room while Resolution 1973 was being negotiated said that US Permanent Representative Susan Rice explained that she needed the “notwithstanding” loophole for a situation in which the US might have to go in with weapons to save a downed pilot, and wouldn't want merely carrying weapons to violate the arms embargo.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/03/28/obama_libya_arming_rebels/

Send in the French Foreign Legion - this is their oil war.

:evilgrin: