Obama Approves Drone Strikes in Libya
NATO Pushed for US Drones to Attack Misrata Targets
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing early Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that President Obama has authorized the use of drone strikes in Libya. Drones had previously only been used in surveillance missions in the war.
NATO had been reportedly pressing for US drones to enter the war, particularly so they could launch attacks in and around the Western city of Misrata. The first mission was to begin Thursday evening, but bad weather forced its delay.
Marine Gen. James Cartwright said the drones were “uniquely suited” for attacks in urban areas, because they can fly lower and get better visibility on potential targets. Secretary Gates denied that the deployment of drones indicated a further escalation of the NATO-led war.
Rather Gates said the deployment was a “modest contribution” to the NATO war, and that the deployment of attack drones to launch strikes was purely for “humanitarian reasons.” The war began on March 19, just days after the UN approved a no-fly zone.
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Mike
April 21st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
The Arab Spring morphes into American drone collateral damage.
Puke.
skulz fontaine
April 21st, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Unleash the drones! Yup. Nothing says "no-fly zone" like using Predator Drones. Ummm you know, cause it's way easier to blast civilians and/or 'other' Libyans using drones than say B-52's. Oh yeah, we gots us a "humanitarian intervention" alright. Hey wait a minute, "humanitarian intervention" would be the politically correct way to say 'ethnic cleansing'?
Bill
April 21st, 2011 at 4:43 pm
The USG is the evil empire.
Nightmare Time
April 21st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Imagine if some country was launching drones at the USA. What a nightmare that must be.
mrraven
April 21st, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Impeach Obomba for crimes against the Constitution and throw him in ass raping prison next to Bush
Jamal
April 21st, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Back in being the leader of the killing machine, not only in Pakistan but in Libya too.
Now seriously Obama give back your Nobel peace price.., keep the money.., as all capitalist do.
tioche
April 21st, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Obomber gets more deadly every day, a total war criminal !
good memory
April 21st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Obombthem will put some unemployed to work like he said he would doing humanitarian peace corps projects !!!
Rob
April 21st, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Jesus Christ, enjoy the show.
No "boots on the ground", just Predators in the sky. Got it.
I previously thought that the best Obama doctrine was "Look forward, not back", but with the escalation in Pakistan and now in Libya (!!!!!), I can think of a better one : "Have drone, will travel".
Edward
April 21st, 2011 at 8:23 pm
The Wolf is in sheep clothing. President Obama is well aware of what he is doing and yet people insist on blaming others for "his inability to fix the country". He is far more dangerous than Bush because he knows better however it seems that his taste for blood trumps any sense of decency to do the right thing,
thedissenter
April 21st, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Bravo to our peace President!
liberal
April 22nd, 2011 at 4:05 am
"Have drone, will travel".
Heh.
@electradiffusa
April 22nd, 2011 at 4:30 am
The robotization of the agression makes me realize why the war on Libya has been labed before, by U.S millitary, as a «kinetic action» and sadly this bloody dehumanization, this criminal authorization for long distance robotic assassinations, once again show us that Obama's administration has a lot of blood in its hands and passed the point of no return.
beeboltwu
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:31 am
The USG is the evil empire+ Ghaddafi who is getting full support from his brethren the Israelis
beeboltwu
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:32 am
You forgot using droans in Yemen against civilians.
JLS
April 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 am
Don't worry. Our government will be using drones against the American people soon enough.
Andron
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:48 pm
A decade of using drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan to terrorize innocent civilians has proved counter productive.
So now we move them to Arab Lands and hope for something better.
This action is NOT to protect Civilians BUT to improve weapons for killing civilians – plain and simple.
joe
April 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 am
dear drone, mccain is nearby. no one here will miss him except lieberman. no one will miss him either. 2 for 1.