UN Libyan Resolution

[cipher6]

UN passed a resolution authorizing any means necessary to protect civilians in Libya. And NATO and others are gearing up for attacks soon. (France has been saying in a couple of hours since yesterday.)

Whats interesting, its passed on the reasoning that they are protecting civilians. Its hard to know exactly whats going on, but it seems Qaddafi is fighting an insurrection more than randomly attacking civilians.

Will the UN allow Qaddafi to keep fighting the rebels under strict guidelines that protect civilians? Will the rebels be held to the same standards to protect non-combatants?

Or is this UN resolution to protect civilians, just a cover to allow UN nations to support the rebels in the destruction of Qaddafi's government?

Personally, I think Qaddafi is a nut and the world would be better without him, but it doesn't seem the UN is stating their true intentions with this resolution... This is going to get much more interesting next week.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Good news.

Italy is being difficult though

 

[copestag]

2 weeks ago the UN honored Libya for their humanitarian efforts..... citing them as a shining example

now they declare war on them

the UN should be disassembled

 

[ElasticNinja]

the UN should be disassembled

lol

 

[Crude]

2 weeks ago the UN honored Libya for their humanitarian efforts..... citing them as a shining example

now they declare war on them

the UN should be disassembled

This for sure. Either way we should stop giving them money...

 

[Dark Jedi]

SO to promote peace and save civilian lives. They are what going to shoot down fighters? Are they going to attack ground troops so they cant kill civilians? So the UN is going to do what they condemn Qaddafi of doing.

 

[ElasticNinja]

We all know an attack on Bengazi would've been a bloodbath....

 

[LoyalServant]

These people are being shelled right now.....
They need to do something about this.

 

[Dark Jedi]

These people are being shelled right now.....
They need to do something about this.

when the United States was having its revolutionary war. Who all said the British should just stop that and just give them their freedom?


When you have a clash between the rulers of a country and its people who wants to over throw that country. You will have blood shed. There is do diverting this. So I dont know why people are so mad of whats going on over there. When someone like Qaddafi who you know wont give up his power and his people that wants his ousted. Of course there will be bloodshed and the stronger side will use all their resources at their disposal to keep their power and to put their people back in line.

THis is no different than what we and the british went through. They sent the full brunt of their millitary on to us to crush us and put us back in line. We have to remember freedom comes with a price and that price is bloodshed.

The UN talks a great talk but in the end they will not send UN troops to go over there back up their talk. They are waiting for the US to say dont worry we will fight for you. Then we have another Iraq on our hands.

 

[ElasticNinja]

it seems to me that European countries are taking the lead for once... hopefully they remember Bosnia

 

[ElasticNinja]

BBC: French Fighter launches first strike at 16:45 GMT
Canadian fighters and support planes landing in Glasgow
Al Jazeera: British Navy beginning naval blockade

 

[ElasticNinja]

I think its the case that they largely agree with the Germans on EuroEconomic policy and are happy for Germany to plough on with its initiatives

 

[Slug]

Before anyone says something they may regret (and incur an infraction in doing so), may I remind everyone that no matter what the subject we still expect our members to show respect for others. This includes asinine racial stereotypes that take no account of historical events.

 

[Dark Jedi]

Before anyone says something they may regret (and incur an infraction in doing so), may I remind everyone that no matter what the subject we still expect our members to show respect for others. This includes asinine racial stereotypes that take no account of historical events.

WHo me?

 

[ElasticNinja]

WHo me?

No, of course not you

 

[adi19956]

I was following the crisis until one in the morning last night. Good on the coalition and good on the rebels who appear to have set up decent governing in Benghazi. There've been helicopters flying over my area pretty frequently now...
It's nice to see Britain taking a leading role for once.
I don't want to break the respect rule... but I hope Gaddafi gets what's coming to him

 

[Dark Jedi]

I was following the crisis until one in the morning last night. Good on the coalition and good on the rebels who appear to have set up decent governing in Benghazi. There've been helicopters flying over my area pretty frequently now...
It's nice to see Britain taking a leading role for once.
I don't want to break the respect rule... but I hope Gaddafi gets what's coming to him

This will turn in to another Iraq. Its the same setup and no good will come with us interfering. Look at Iraq, also Afghanistan, Vietnam What good came from us interfering?

 

[ElasticNinja]

the differences are quite stark
Gaddafi has a very small support base - much of his forces are mercenaries
Very different to Vietnam/Iraq
And seriously, Afghanistan, the home of no government since 1970[TM]?

 

[Dark Jedi]

the differences are quite stark
Gaddafi has a very small support base - much of his forces are mercenaries
Very different to Vietnam/Iraq
And seriously, Afghanistan, the home of no government since 1970[TM]?

And what did they all have in common is the US government went to help them. No good will come of this we need to just let them do it on their own.

 

[adi19956]

This will turn in to another Iraq. Its the same setup and no good will come with us interfering. Look at Iraq, also Afghanistan, Vietnam What good came from us interfering?

Ousted Husein and attempted democracy, fighting terrorism which is posing a threat to the west as well as training Afghan soldiers etc. Vietnam... that was pointless, but it wasn't a UK conflict so I won't argue on it.

The no-fly zone (no-combat if you ask me) is saving lives as we speak.
How can you say no good comes from the coalition interfering?
The UN has decided this is best, so it's what we'll do.
As well as all this, it's forcing the MoD to reconsider big cuts to places like RAF Lokiemouth (even though no jets have been sent to Libya from there) because they are needed.
All in all, I'd say it's a needed intervention

 

[Dark Jedi]

How can you say no good comes from the coalition interfering?

Again I give you Iraq.

 

[copestag]

B2 bombers as well as other airforce and marine planes have been bombing ground troops and tanks all day........ they launched tomahawk missles and destroyed Qaddaffi's home............ doesnt exactly sound like a "no-combat" no fly zone to me........ sounds to me like we are at war...... or at the very least the US is assisting with a military coup

 

[Dark Jedi]

Yeah how is his home a military target?

 

[Slug]

The no-fly zone (no-combat if you ask me) is saving lives as we speak.

The terms of UN Resolution 1973 are quite clear. The aim is to prevent targeting of the civilian population. To do that requires air supremacy, which in return requires that the Libyian air defence and command-and-control networks be degraded. It also allows for direct intervention on military units threatening civilian areas. It's also significant that Quatar and the UAE are reported to be deploying aircraft to assist reinforcing the resolution.

it's forcing the MoD to reconsider big cuts to places like RAF Lossiemouth (even though no jets have been sent to Libya from there) because they are needed.

If Lossie closes the Tornado squadrons will go elsewhere, probably RAF Marham. A base closing doesn't mean loss of aircraft, although one squadron is being disbanded later this year in any case (as in one based at Marham). Squadrons no longer "own" their own aircraft anyway; it's all one big "pool" allocated as required. At least two Tonkas deployed to Marham from Lossie over the weekend for example, probably to reinforce the squadrons flying those 3000 mile round trips.

Yeah how is his home a military target?

According to news reports, confirmed by Libyian govt sources, the building hit was a command and control centre.

 

[cipher6]

Its heating up now...

Who would have predicted after Obama's election, he would be starting the next war?

The Arab League, who were crying for a NFZ a few days ago, are now upset.

CAIRO — The Arab League secretary general, Amr Moussa, deplored the broad scope of the U.S.-European bombing campaign in Libya and said Sunday that he would call a league meeting to reconsider Arab approval of the Western military intervention.

Moussa said the Arab League’s approval of a no-fly zone on March 12 was based on a desire to prevent Moammar Gaddafi’s air force from attacking civilians and was not designed to endorse the intense bombing and missile attacks — including on Tripoli, the capital, and on Libyan ground forces — whose images have filled Arab television screens for two days.

Arab League condemns broad bombing campaign in Libya - The Washington Post

Part of a NFZ is taking out Libyan air defense systems. Did the the Arab League expect western forces to set up a NFZ to get shot down?


Putin condemns 'trend' of US military intervention
Putin condemns 'trend' of US military intervention - Emirates 24/7

America, France and Britain – the leaders of the coalition's air attacks on Libya – were struggling to maintain international support for their actions, as they faced stinging criticism about mission creep from the leader of the Arab League, as well as from China and Russia.

Critics claimed that the coalition of the willing may have been acting disproportionately and had come perilously close to making Gaddafi's departure an explicit goal of UN policy.

Russia, which abstained on the UN vote last week, called for "an end to indiscriminate force".

Despite denials from coalition forces, Alexander Lukashevich, Russia's foreign ministry spokesman, said that the coalition had hit non-military targets.

He suggested that 48 civilians had been killed. "We believe a mandate given by the UN security council resolution – a controversial move in itself – should not be used to achieve goals outside its provisions, which only see measures necessary to protect civilian population," he said.

Gaddafi may become target of air strikes, Liam Fox admits | World news | The Guardian




It seems the Arabs only want Western powers there to make sure its a fair fight, not support one side or the other.