The announcement earlier this week that the French military had delivered armaments to tribal fighters loyal to the East Libyan rebel faction through airlift has sparked a reaction of growing consternation the world over, as those nations uninvolved in the civil war express concern that NATO nations should be fueling the conflict further with deliveries of weapons and armor.
The African Union expressed concern that the French weapons would be destabilizing to the entire region, and that there was no way to assure that weapons dropped from the sky wouldn’t fall into the hands of terrorist factions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov termed the arms a “very crude violation of UN Security Council resolution 1970.”
NATO, for its part, insists it is not directly involved in sending the arms to the rebels, but that France was acting unilaterally.
Since the revelation Britain too has admitted to providing equipment to the rebels, though they insist that it has been strictly limited to communications, armor and uniforms. This led to condemnations from the rebels, who insisted they need weapons, not uniforms.
Indeed the rebels also said France’s weapons were insufficient, and that they want massive deliveries of foreign-made weapons to “decide this battle quickly.” NATO member nations attacked Libya on March 19, but the civil war was already in progress before this, and by all accounts very little territory is changing hands one way or the other in the fight over the past months. This seems to have convinced France and Britain that direct aid will break the stalemate, but given the vast landscape and the general split in support among the population of east and west Libya, many fear it will only make a bloody stalemate far bloodier.
No problem. We own the UN, NATO, ICC, IMF. They are there only to tell those Africans, Iranians, Somalis etc what to do. Not us.
Of course airdrops of French-made weapons are the smart thing for France to provide- in all likelihood those weapons are not chambered for the standard Kalashnikov ammunition which will mean France will have to drop the proper ammunition along with the small arms.
But why, one may ask? It them makes the recipients of those French weapons beholden to the French because if those bullets run out and France wants some special contractual 'favor' all they need do is dangle a few planeloads of ammo and voila! they get the deal they want.
If the Libyan 'rebels' were smart, they'd ask that all arms shipments be of the type the locals already use and have ready access to ammo from both sides- and that means Kalashnikovs and RPG's and the like- not some plastic fancified NATO junk.
Well, if it's small arms they are definitely chambered for the NATO 5.56×45 or maybe a slight variation thereof for european small arms which need higher bullet spin, the details of which I forget. Heavier stuff (i.e. machine guns like the FN Minimi) might use 7.62x51mm. All of that ammo should be easy to source from just about anywhere (i.e. from Czech producers or ex-Yougoslavia), and in the end changing the armories from donated European to Russian Standard (which is of course AK-74 in 5.45x39mm, in "plastic junk" btw, no longer the oldish "African Credit Card" AKM-47 in 7.62x39mm) wouldn't cost that much, really. You can even have your modern AK-101 chambered in NATO 5.56×45, how interoperable is that?
Maybe I should have gone into the Lord Of War business.
Ok, back to politics.
P.S. It would be interesting to know whether the shipment included antitank missiles like the Milan which was used with good effect by Chad to crack up invading Lybian tanks in the 87' Toyota War.
The illegality of the legal matter regarding Libya is when Arab League, US and EU sent in the Muslims Brotherhood.., the illegitimate child of Saudis` and its affiliated terrorist groups – Arab Emirates tyrants to start a war when they knew that a peace agreement could have been achieved if they wanted to talk about the peace.
Bush administration did the same thing in Iraq.., yet the opportunity of a war was there and US/NATO Militarism regimes been waiting for such opportunity to occupy the entire Middle East and central Asia since WWII, Iraq situation with 9/11 episode gave that momentum and now there is a mess in hand of everyone involved.
The Arab League should know the History of Libya and who is in charge there, Muammar Kaddafi is not the Shah of Iran whom when was told by Jimmy Carter and Ramsey Clark .., he just packed his stuff, cleared his Bank accounts and went to Mexico to start a new life. That is not going to happen in Libya.., if Mr. Amr Mossa knew that or not is yet to be seen but he do have a second thought about Libya being engaged by NATO militarism regime.
“BRUSSELS, June 22 (UPI) — The Arab League leader who played a central role in securing Arab support for NATO airstrikes in Libya said he is having second thoughts about the action.
“Veteran Egyptian diplomat Amr Moussa said the bombing mission may not be working and a political solution should be found, the British newspaper The Guardian reported“.
Now is not the question of Amr Mossa or any other within Arab league having a second thought or not.., Saddam Hussein did offered peace talks.., from 1990 to before US/NATO Iraq invasion in 2003.., they bombed Iraq for 14 years killing millions of Iraqis.., if “you” or Mr. Mossa think for a moment that US and EU modernized and colorful version of Bush policies is going to let go of Libya you are dead wrong. This is big.., this is bigger then Iraq and Persian Gulf.., this is Africa and that’s what they want.., Africa with everything that Africa got. Look Persian Gulf Oil will last until 2050.., take few year here and there.., Africa is the source of all kind of energy and materials that US and EU is in need of., Libya is the corridor into Africa.., here African people should know that US/NATO is paving the way for more wars with African nations starting with Libya. The irony is that American people once again been fooled by being color blind thinking that they are voting for democracy for democracy to work for them. You poor loyal lambs.., cant see any longer huuu…! Let me put it like this to you.., Italy is a country which is occupied by US militarism since WWII.., why US is there and having navel bases is just for such time when they can use it attacking Africa.., no why do you think that US never left Japan…?