|
(A few) US Troops on ground in Libya, Pentagon sez
According to Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby, the four unidentified troops are there working under the State Department's chief of mission to assist in rebuilding the U.S. Embassy. Kirby noted the embassy in Tripoli was badly damaged during the conflict between Muammar Qaddafi's forces and the rebels. Two of the military personnel are explosive-ordnance experts who will be used to disable any explosives traps left in the embassy. The other two are "general security," according to Kirby. Kirby also made clear these troops are in no way part of a military operation on the ground. They are armed, however, if for some reason they need to protect themselves. The troops are only expected to be there for a short while. After the assessment of the embassy is complete, they are expected to leave. John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Fox News the fact that four troops are on the ground is "no big deal," considering the embassy had been trashed. "You need this kind of expertise to make it safe for diplomats to return," Bolton said. Posted by: Steve White 2011-09-12 |
|
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=329667 |