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A-10s Invade Libya
The U.S. military dramatically stepped up its assault on Libyan government ground forces over the weekend, launching its first missions with AC-130 flying gunships and A-10 attack aircraft designed to strike enemy ground troops and supply convoys.I suppose NATO requested them. The Washington Post learned of their deployment last week but withheld reporting the information until their first missions at the request of U.S. military officials. Until the morning after the Zero's speech. The use of the aircraft, during days of heavy fighting in which the momentum seemed to swing in favor of the rebels, demonstrated how allied military forces have been drawn deeper into the chaotic fight in Libya. A mission that initially seemed to revolve around establishing a no-fly zone has become focused on halting advances by government ground forces in and around key coastal cities. Quagmire! AC-130s were used to great effect during the two U.S. offensives in Fallujah, a stronghold of the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq in the early days of the Iraq war. al-Qaeda was in Iraq? Who knew? In Afghanistan, the military considers them particularly effective against entrenched militants, Diverting resources from the good war! Military officials consider AC-130s and A-10s well suited to attacks in built-up areas, although their use has led to civilian deaths. Brilliant, Holmes! Posted by: Bobby 2011-03-29 |
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