Reports of fighting, including some actual tank battles, are coming as Muammar al-Gaddafi attacks Benghazi, center of the anti-government rebels. In Paris, an alliance of European and Gulf nations are meeting to plan implementing the Libya No Fly Zone as approved by the United Nations Security Council. According to reports this morning, pro-Gaddafi tanks have entered Benghazi. Video of a jet warplane being shot down was also shown, but whether the jet is one of Gaddafi’s or one which the rebels may have.
So, it would seem that the civil war in Libya has reached its crescendo. NATO warplanes may begin launching attacks sometime today. Whether this will stop Gaddafi from completing his elimination of the rebels is highly doubtful at this point. Two weeks ago, even one week ago, it may have made a difference. But the weak-sister diplomats and political leadership has failed.
Obviously, no matter how ruthless Gaddafi is, he won’t wipe out all of the rebels. Many will escape, probably into Egypt. So we can expect a long insurgent war in the region. Depending how NATO does act during the next few days, Gaddafi could start dynamiting his oil facilities, which would put a real squeeze on Europe and increase oil prices globally. So this new war that Obama is dragging us into is not going to be some quick in-and-out type of operation.
While many people claim that we are doing this for ‘humanitarian’ reasons, why then is the U.N., Obama, and others not saying or doing much about unrest in other Gulf states? Yesterday in Yemen, police snipers gunned down and killed some 24 civilians. Some 46 people in all were killed in the capitol of Sanaa. This morning, Yemeni police attacked a rebel stronghold in Aden. This adventure into Libya is about one thing — OIL!
Whatever arguments for a moral high-ground folks may wave about for the Libya No Fly Zone just do not wash. Muammar al-Gaddafi is a bad man, no question about it. But do we really know who the rebels are? The NATO air strikes may be too late now that Gaddafi is attacking Benghazi. Once again, the United Nations Security Council as proved itself as ineffective as the League of Nations. I might add, that President Barack Obama′s visit to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil may not only be untimely from a leadership and optics standpoint, but diplomatically as well, since Brazil abstained on Thursday′s UNSC vote.
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March 19th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Wheres Code Pink ?
March 19th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Maybe they are scared of the French? I heard they sent 20 warplanes and hit one tank.
March 19th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Obamas a war criminal
March 19th, 2011 at 10:44 am
He lied, there is no Quadaffi to be found
March 19th, 2011 at 10:44 am
Let’s send him to The Hague!
March 19th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Obama gives me a bowel movement!
March 19th, 2011 at 10:57 am
In all seriousness I’m glad the monster is finally being dealt with.
There’s a fair amount of criticism to go around as to why this wasn’t done years ago without rebel influence and why Obama didn’t move sooner on a more independent basis without anyone’s blessings.
I hope were all ready for the domino effect that’ll take place region after region, state after state, and that this serves as a perfect stepping stone for dickheads next term.
Then again, it could go both ways.
There’s no doubt radical Muslims every where are grinding their teeth at the international/U.S. community. Maybe even some domestic terrorist getting their nerve up right now.
The media is crackin me up. Its freeking deja vu.
Just like shock an awe they’re bringin in every schmuck and talking head with two cents worth.
Stock up on the popcorn and try not to go into overload…
here we go…again
March 19th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
well we are at war. the US and UK fired 110 tokamaks around Tripoli and one other town. Thats about 110,000 of high explosives. I think one of those makes what a 30 foot crater about 15 feet deep. Not sure. Anyways, its on.
March 19th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Yep, at $2 million or so a pop, we’re in it now. Gaddafi is threatening to widen the war throughout the Med.
Still it cracks me up that the French only hit one vehicle sending 20 planes. That’s like WW2 in terms of bombing accuracy.
March 19th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I’m wondering if there is an angle to be played connecting these air strikes with supermoon?
March 19th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
“I’m wondering if there is an angle to be played connecting these air strikes with supermoon?”
This the same exact date to the day Bush invaded Iraq ?
March 19th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Where are the WMD’s?
March 19th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
yes Andy, the supermoon is a factor. no doubt. The French are really into this war, but I think they got four tanks so far. How many can gaddfli have?
March 19th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
“Still it cracks me up that the French only hit one vehicle sending 20 planes. That’s like WW2 in terms of bombing accuracy.”
Give ‘em a break Andy. They haven’t fought a war since WWI.
March 19th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Gaddafi has quite a few tanks, mostly T-72s. Of course, the rebels have some, too. I gotta wonder if the French hit theirs by accident?
March 19th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
wiki says they have 2000 t-72’s belive it or not. And a bunch of other armored vehicles. I doubt all are in good working order. No wonder Russia didn’t want to get involved in the no-fly-zone.
March 19th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Ya never know. Russian equipment has a bad habit of working well under extreme conditions. Especially when it comes to their tanks. They may not be the best out there, but there’s always a whole bunch and usually fairly reliable.