USA Launches Limited Military Action Against Libya

[waraich66]

USA Launches Limited Military Action Against Libya

By: NY1 News

President Barack Obama and the Pentagon confirmed Saturday that the United States launched a limited missile strike against Libya to prevent Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi from using violence against his own people, and Obama promised that no U.S. troops would be deployed to Libyan soil.

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President Barack Obama and the Pentagon confirmed that the United States launched a missile strike against Libya on Saturday, and Obama promised that no U.S. troops would be deployed to Libyan soil.

A senior Pentagon official announced that more than 110 Tomahawk missiles launched from U.S. and British ships and submarines in the Mediterranean Sea penetrated more than 20 air defense systems.

The Pentagon said this was the first phase of a "multi-phase military operation" to stop Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi from using force against its own people. The military said the strikes would target air defense installations around Tripoli and the coastal area south of Benghazi.

On Saturday afternoon, the Pentagon said it was too early to assess bomb damage.

Speaking from Brazil, President Barack Obama said he was aware of the risks associated with Saturday's military operation. He said the air strikes were necessary to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which demands the protection of the Libyan people.

"The use of force is not our first choice, and it's not a choice that I make lightly. But we cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy," said Obama. "And his forces step up their assault on cities like Benghazi and Misratah, where innocent men and women face brutality and death at the hands of their own government."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Paris, "[L]eft unchecked, Gadhafi will
commit unspeakable atrocities."

Also on Saturday, French warplanes began firing on a military vehicle in the rebel-controlled eastern city of Benghazi.

The jets attempted to ward off the Gadhafi regime's forces that attacked the city with ground troops, tanks and planes. The air strikes are forcing evacuations.

Libyan state television claimed the French air strikes hit civilian areas in Tripoli and Gadhafi said that he would "defend" his country.

A coalition of 22 participants, including the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Canada and unspecified Arab nations, agreed on the military action at an emergency summit in Paris.

 

[OptimusPrimeRibs]

I just hope he sticks to his word about the no US troops in Libya thing. Let the rest of the strike force do that, because as soon as America sends one guy in, the rest of the world claims we're too violent and how we had no reason to cross the borders. Let England handle it is my motto.

 

[monitor]

firing 110 cruse missile in one night and killing 48 civilian means limited strike then what is the name of massive strike ?

 

[JPUSINVNSCK]

firing 110 cruse missile in one night and killing 48 civilian means limited strike then what is the name of massive strike ?

Wait,is that true?Wheres your links???Oh f%ck if this is true.

 

[BATMAN]

firing 110 cruse missile in one night and killing 48 civilian means limited strike then what is the name of massive strike ?

I also wondered why is it necessary to use the word limited.... any how it is one sided news.
I would like to hear the other side of the story....too.
I wonder who is next state getting this limited treatment !!!

 

[Jango]

remember iraq??...it was also limited and the no fly zone was also for a limited period of time....and 112 + tomahawk missiles were launched adn 40 civilians were killed.....what is the need for US to do this?....if it really wants to help people then it should spend the same amount of insane money required to launch this kind of weaponry on the food stiff and other things in african third world states....it would save alot more people. I think that if gaddafi is overthrown by this help then the libyans will be grateful to the US adn give US oil in a friendly manner!

 

[Thoma Yosip]

firing 110 cruse missile in one night and killing 48 civilian means limited strike then what is the name of massive strike ?

I do not believe the Libyan military spokesman about the 48 civilians being killed in the cruise missile strikes. The Americans and British would not have wasted million dollar missiles on "schools and hospitals" to kill "mostly women, children, and religious clerics." In fact, I believe nothing that comes from Ka-Daffy's mouth or those of his minions.

 

[Thoma Yosip]

remember iraq??...it was also limited and the no fly zone was also for a limited period of time....and 112 + tomahawk missiles were launched adn 40 civilians were killed.....what is the need for US to do this?....if it really wants to help people then it should spend the same amount of insane money required to launch this kind of weaponry on the food stiff and other things in african third world states....it would save alot more people. I think that if gaddafi is overthrown by this help then the libyans will be grateful to the US adn give US oil in a friendly manner!

I do not believe 40 or 48 civilians were killed in the cruise missile strikes. America does not need Libyan oil.

 

[OptimusPrimeRibs]

firing 110 cruse missile in one night and killing 48 civilian means limited strike then what is the name of massive strike ?

It involves alot more missiles. If it's true, it sucks that people who weren't soldiers/mercs died, but realistically it could've been ALOT worse. It's not like we just dropped two nukes on non-military targets.....again

I also wondered why is it necessary to use the word limited.... any how it is one sided news.
I would like to hear the other side of the story....too.
I wonder who is next state getting this limited treatment !!!

The other side of the story? there's more than two versions of any story. There's a madman in power, so no doubt his version of events will involve America and the west being evil invaders and how anyone who doesn't support him by being a human shield will be burned at the stake for witchcraft. Then you'll have the libyan rebellion fighters who would be thankful for the attack, as it has aided in doing damage to military targets, but will also mourn the loss of life.

remember iraq??...it was also limited and the no fly zone was also for a limited period of time....and 112 + tomahawk missiles were launched adn 40 civilians were killed.....what is the need for US to do this?....if it really wants to help people then it should spend the same amount of insane money required to launch this kind of weaponry on the food stiff and other things in african third world states....it would save alot more people. I think that if gaddafi is overthrown by this help then the libyans will be grateful to the US adn give US oil in a friendly manner!

Difference being there was a trigger happy cowboy in the white house. Oh, and by now the American public is tired of being the ones to spearhead the assaults on countries we don't really care about. Obama already made the statement that there will be no US ground troops, and the people will be in a huge uproar if he goes against his word. It would strategically be the worst political move he can make right now.

 

[CENTCOM]

It is unfortunate that some would reach for conspiracy theories about oil when the US is participating in an action that has been supported by the Arab League, and the United Nations, with the sole purpose of protecting innocents from a bombing campaign by their own government. As our president has made clear, we have no ambitions for the country’s territory or resources. Qadhafi wages war against Libyans just so he can cling onto power by mercilessly killing, using even air power, to silence the voice of the masses through indiscriminate murder. Could it be that the state run Libyan media left out of their propaganda, the number of Libyans Al Qaddafi’s mercenaries from Mali, Kenya, Algeria, Guinea…have killed over the years and in this “bread and freedom” rebellion fought by those who at first tried to legitimately protest against a murderous dictator? Even as the crisis escalated, the Libyan government was taking out advertisements in newspapers in other African countries, looking for more muscle with which to suppress his own people. We would hope that unverified claims of civilian casualties made by this same government in that context, and with the appropriate skepticism.

Article: More than 8000 Libyans killed by Qaddafi’s regime.

Qaddafi’s are the brutal hands of a dictator who suppresses voice through violence. Instead of listening to his people Qadhafi orders them silenced from his Bedouin tent. Violence and fighting started back in February when Qaddafi, like all dictators, accused Libyans who did not agree with him of being traitors and rebels. The Libyan ambassador and deputy ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Ibrahim Dabbashi, and Abdurrahman shalgham condemmed Qadhafi’s crackdown and gruesome murders saying no legitimate government kills its own people, and asking Qadhafi to resign.

United Nations Webcast - Ibrahim O. A. Dabbashi (Libya) on the situation in Libya - Security Council Media Stakeout

France, Britain, the United States and Arab League warned Qadhafi to stop the war against his own people immediately. Finally, on humanitarian grounds and not for oil, the international community was forced to intervene.

In fact it was Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa who put forward the request for a no-fly zone that would protect Libyan civilians. This request was honored by the unanimous vote of the UN Security Council. Do not conspiracy theories dishonor the Libyans who sacrifice themselves for bread and freedom? These allegations, that we are invading Muslim countries, that we are only out for oil, that we are occupiers, are discounted as rubbish by Libyans trying to over- throw a brutal dictator. Do you not remember we conducted similar military actions in the Balkans during the 1990s, protecting civilians in Bosnia/Herzegovina and later in Kosovo against Serbia’s campaign of ethnic cleansing? Was there a secret motive behind those actions as well?

International coalition forces are targeting weapons that threaten innocent civilians; Including military bases, armored vehicles, and air defense systems. The goal of these operations is to reduce the capability of the dictatorship to fight international forces, including Qatar, who are enforcing the no fly zone that minimizes civilian casualties.

Ask yourself, would the international community alongside the Arab league support and request our help if we had ulterior motives? When the UN declared a no fly zone would Libyans celebrate in the streets if we had ulterior motives? It appears that an author who lives in a world of conspiracy theories stands aside and does nothing while launching accusations on those who have been both asked and stepped forward to help?

CDR Bill Speaks,
DET- U.S. Central Command
U.S. Central Command