David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker report: "With rebels in Libya calling for Western airstrikes on forces supporting Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates warned Congress on Wednesday that even a more modest effort to establish a no-flight zone over Libya would have to begin with an attack on the country's air defenses and would require 'a big operation in a big country.'"
Robert Gates visits troops from the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division upon his arrival at COB Adder in Talil, Iraq, 07/28/09. (photo: Jim Watson/Getty Images)
Gates Warns of Risks of a No-Flight Zone
03 March 11
With rebels in Libya calling for Western airstrikes on forces supporting Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates warned Congress on Wednesday that even a more modest effort to establish a no-flight zone over Libya would have to begin with an attack on the country's air defenses and would require "a big operation in a big country."
Mr. Gates's caution illustrates the chasm between what the rebels and some leading members of Congress are calling for and what President Obama appears willing to do in Libya. Mr. Obama and his aides have argued that it is not yet clear that the insurgents need the help - and they have warned that the use of American airpower could fuel the arguments of those in the Middle East who see a Washington conspiracy behind homegrown uprisings.
But even some members of the president's own party sounded unconvinced on Wednesday. Senator John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and one of the president's chief foreign policy allies in Congress, argued that "a no-fly zone is not a long-term proposition" and warned that other nations and NATO should not be "on the sidelines" as Colonel Qaddafi's jets begin to attack the antigovernment insurgents.
|
THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community. |
Comments
We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
Any idiot who can Google map of Libya can see that the "uprising" is along the tribal lines. We have another civil war supported by NATO (Iraq, Afghanistan - millions killed for "strategic" reasons by neocons, neorats - the same).
And "revolutionaries " are massacring African workers in Libya - and UN is quiet.
Ask questions of thousands of guest workers on the border - who is driving them out .. who brought them in ..
Better, I feel, would be to let things sort out, and possibly there will e informal help from other 'neighbors'. The whole affair could spiral out of control, and I would NOT want U.S. Armed Forces to be involved.
I still have a keen interest and feel solidarity with the civilian faction that wants their leader to take a hike.
DUBAI (Reuters) - The Arab League head Amr Moussa said on the Thursday the group would consider a proposal by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to negotiate a peaceful settlement to Libya's intensifying conflict"
Gaddafi accepted - should UN/US prefer peaceful solution - regardless where it comes from? Not in interest of Banksters - again many people will die for profit of few
So far who is mostly killed in Libya are foreign workers from Africa by "revolutionaries ".
Operation Intervention Libya= O.I.L
Yes, Bush and the “Supremes” stole the election (with the help of Gore who caved).
Your statement about who is being killed in Libya is absurd. Talk about cherry-picking the facts.
Recognizing the faults of the US does not excuse the faults of Chavez and Ghaddafi, and saying that the people of Libya have better health care is something I doubt. Can you prove that? Venezuela under Chavez has improved the heath care for the poor in some places, largely because he has encouraged Cuban doctors to come there and help. However, how widespread the improvements are is doubtful. What is not doubtful is that Chavez is making the moves to ensure his continued rule by limiting the freedom of the press and by stacking the electoral process in his own favor. Not necessary if he is really such a good guy.
You seem to be one of the radical liberals who basically spout leftist propaganda without bothering to study the real issues or the actual facts, and I say that as someone who is about as far left as you can get.
RSS feed for comments to this post.