Though Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had previously cautioned against a hasty move toward a no-fly zone in Libya, insisting it was far more involved than anyone seemed to think, he and others within the Pentagon are now insisting it remains “on the table” and the threats seem to be growing.
Indeed, Gen. Ray Odierno, the former commander of troops in Iraq, insisted the US would be able to establish a no-fly zone quite easily, and that it would only take “a couple days” if the administration decided to do so.
Which will likely have to be unilateral as so far it does not appear that Russia and China will support a UN resolution to that end, but with the threats out there, and growing Congressional calls for military action, the Gadhafi regime is scrambling jets out on last minute “diplomatic” missions across the region.
The US has moved considerable naval and military forces into the region over the past weeks, but the establishment of a “no-fly zone” seems to be a serious problem, because as Secretary Gates mentioned earlier, it would require the US to destroy the existing the air defenses in Libya, the vast majority of which are in East Libya and controlled by the rebels. This would mean the US would have to attack the rebels, ostensibly to “aid” them. It is also a serious enough obstacle that some are calling for a no-fly zone only over the Gadhafi controlled parts of the country, which solves that problem but also appears to create others, as “Gadhafi-controlled Libya” isn’t exactly a static entity and its borders are changing by the day, if not the hour.
or…we could just mind our own damn business for once.
It seems to me Gate is playing the hard ball with congress. He's making Gaddafi very tough to get to make an excuse for full scale war. All it takes to send one rocket to Gaddafi camp and then he will flee to the desert like a rat. American don't want to help the Libyan people. In fact they are helping Gaddafi to slaughter more of his people to give them good excuse to invade Libya and create new Somalia.
Why are Americans condemning Ghadaffi for butchering civilians with his airplanes even as the USA is occupying Afghanistan – butchering civilians with their airplanes? Reminds me of how Americans condemn(loudly) countries like China over 'human rights' – even as they themselves run torture chambers and kangaroo courts. Slick.
President Karzai needs to impose a no-fly zone over Afghanistan to prevent NATO planes from murdering small Afghan boys who gather wood.
Doesn't it occur to Gates that there are International Organizations (UN, NATO, the Internaltion Justice Court) to decide, if any intervention were to be done it should certainly not be a sole US affair. As usual they want to make believe that they are the only ones to make great decisions and think best for others, which will in turn give them a free ticket to ressources exploitation (or depletion I should say) in the region they have 'protected'. In addition, the media never talk about the revolutionaries position. In this case, they have said they didn't want any outside help so far. Let them be the askers, they started their upraising and let them earn it as well. Facilitating logistics (no fly zone) is one thing, direct intervention is another. Do you believe just like Irak, that you can make a sole decision to go in and they expect others to join you in the middle of a huge mess you created to clean up? Really??? No media in the US talks about the Saddam's Iron Fist Statue that is being rebuilt now? Great country for sensorship, keep your people in ignorance just like religiously lead Iran, or Communist China or Cuba and you wonder why the world is such a mess!!!
The US is the UN and NATO. And Gates knows that.
A no-fly zone should be implemented immediately as recommended by Sarah Palin in February. Considering Libya has very weak defenses, communications jamming would be a breeze and fly overs would not have to be 24/7 and would be limited in scope and no ground troops would be necessary. Its either this or the slaughter of civilian lives will continue.
And of course after we neutralize his air force we'll have to do something about his tanks …….
..", because as Secretary Gates mentioned earlier, it would require the US to destroy the existing the air defenses in Libya, the vast majority of which are in East Libya and controlled by the rebels. This would mean the US would have to attack the rebels"
I hope there are some people that realize how stupid that satement is….we wouldn't have to take out the air defenses held by rebels.
All this hand wringing over the complications of a no fly zone is really just "political stall" because we have to be careful of too many revolts succeeding and giving others like Saudi the idea they could dethrone their king.
We have already seen in Palestine that the side with all the jets, tanks and missiles always wins no matter how righteous the cause of the underdog. So, if we have any sympathy for the protesters or believe that their cause is just we must implement a no-fly zone immediately. Time is crucial.
Didn't we just have a "Hail gates" article recently? Jeez, this guy is exactly like Ray McGovern described him, a wind sock.
Let's see the Saudis are firing on protesters – should we go to war against the Saudis too?
Let's see – the US is killing men. women, and children in Afghanistan – shouldn't there be a no-fly zone there?
Let's see – Nikita Krueschev predicted: "we don't have to worry about the US; they will spend themselves out of existence" – wow – he must haver had an accurate crystal ball!
Will we never learn to mind our own damn business? – how about some concern for the American people?
How many government is out there.., I mean in one hand secretary of stats says that is up to UN to decide for NO Fly zone.., and now this man comes out and want to have NO fly zone.., are they communicating with one or the other.., or there is more then one government then Obama and senator Kerry and Gats and Pau Wolfowitz and Dick Cheney and George W. Bush and others.
Then we all vote for Sarah Palin to become the second most stupid president as George W. Bush was, yet I truly wonder if she really can see Russia from her house balcony or her backyard, she never clarified how is able to see Russia from Alaska.., and if she is able to see it at night or when Alaska is deepen in darkness in winter.., or when is lighten in darkness in summer, I am confused. Is that Potatio or Poatato..
We are all glad you don't have a say in the matter compared to the EU and the Arab Nations. Oh, Tina Fey said that, not Palin.