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Africa North
Obama 'orders covert help for Libya rebels'
2011-03-31
[Al Jizz] Libyan opposition fighters will be given extra support from the US, after President Barack B.O. Obama reportedly signed a secret order - authorising covert operations to hasten the downfall of longtime leader Muammar Qadaffy.
... a proud Arab institution for 42 years ...
The armed rebels - who have found themselves outgunned and outflanked by Qadaffy's forces, despite a NATO-patrolled no-fly zone - could be boosted by CIA interventions in Libya, since the decision was allegedly endorsed by the White House.

Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the past three weeks, four unnamed US government sources told the Rooters news agency.

But US officials did not confirm or deny reports. Jay Carney, White House press secretary, said:

"As is common practice, for this and all administrations, I am not going to comment on intelligence matters ... No decision has been made about providing arms to the opposition or to any group in Libya.

"We're not ruling it out or ruling it in. We're assessing and reviewing options for all types of assistance that we could provide to the Libyan people, and have consulted directly with the opposition and our international partners about these matters."
Posted by:Fred

#20  A few pictures (even if they are bogus) of rebels slaughtering civilians (or fluffy bunnies) and the even the NYTimes and MSNBC will get wiggly on this.

There's somewhat credible rumors that it's happening. But the odds that the photogs there will jeopardize their 'photo ops' with the rebels by taking pics of rebel-killed civilians are quite low.
Posted by: Pappy   2011-03-31 20:46  

#19  -- Covert ?? (Didn't he just get a 'Transparency Award' ,yesterday ?? (in private)
Posted by: Tom--Pa   2011-03-31 14:50  

#18  It is interesting to see the MSNBC and CNN leftards try to spin this "kinetic military action" into a humanitarian effort. If I knew what the mission was, I might say that signs of "mission creep" are in evidence. And there are non-boots on the ground? Waaaaaaa!
Posted by: JohnQC   2011-03-31 14:40  

#17  #5 Bobby, CNN last night. Talking head commenting on the not-so-covert op said it was looking like a quagmire.
Posted by: Matt   2011-03-31 14:16  

#16  a.k.a. Covert Kineticism
Posted by: Unererong Snore5691   2011-03-31 13:54  

#15  A bit too late for "covert", ain't it?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-03-31 13:31  

#14  The 'covert help' news has torqued off a bunch of leftists who had supported Obama until now. A few pictures (even if they are bogus) of rebels slaughtering civilians (or fluffy bunnies) and the even the NYTimes and MSNBC will get wiggly on this.

Posted by: Lord Garth   2011-03-31 12:35  

#13  So much for only enforcing a no-fly zone.
So much for, "This will be over in a few days."
NATO is very much against this "excutive finding". They only want to enforce a no fly sone. Not get into another war. But Obama hates America's allies.
Posted by: Whese Scourge of the Weak1836   2011-03-31 10:51  

#12  hey, Oblahblah's supplied Mexican Narco gangs with arms, why not Libyan AQ hardboyz? Next, he'll profess complete surprise when those arms are turned on Americans somewhere in the world. Feckless crapweasel
Posted by: Frank G   2011-03-31 10:32  

#11  The most likely reason for this 'Executive Finding' was for targeting and threat assessment prior and during the initial attack. However, lasers on a static AAA is long haul from training and coordinating rebel attacks. This "leak" to the media is probably a head fake.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2011-03-31 10:13  

#10  "nuke them"

Hell yeah, that's change I could believe in! :)
Posted by: Jefferson   2011-03-31 10:10  

#9  It ain't covert if you tell everybody! Dufus O.
Posted by: Water Modem   2011-03-31 08:13  

#8  For those who might worry that this could give 'rebel leaders with AQ ties' a heads up, they can never know if ANYTHING they get from NATO or ANY other outside support source does not have surveillance and target positioning capabilities.

Let their sleep be most unsound, and may their daily lives be a living torment.

These are not friends. Treat them accordingly.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2011-03-31 07:17  

#7  Re: 'Rebel Leaders with AQ ties'
1. give them secure commo equipment 'for coordination with NATO forces'
2. let them get comfortable with it - make sure they get results with it
3. have a big meeting with all rebel high level types on the conference call clustered around secure gear
4. using secure commo's known position, nuke them
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2011-03-31 07:10  

#6  The ambivalence is not surprising, Steve, given that the rebel leaders include experienced jihadis back from the killing/training fields in Iraq.
Posted by: lotp   2011-03-31 06:12  

#5  When is the media going to drop the Q bomb?

They gave Bush about 10 days before the first reporter called a hiccup a "Quagmire". Or would this be not-a-quagmire?
Posted by: Bobby   2011-03-31 06:07  

#4  four unnamed US government sources told the Rooters

Four? Sounds like Barry's administration is having its own little civil war. It is not just someone dropping a dime on this 'covert' business, but people are lining up outside the phone booth, waiting their turn.
Posted by: SteveS   2011-03-31 03:14  

#3  NotSoCovert actions in Not War I.

Posted by: crosspatch   2011-03-31 02:48  

#2  Well when General Ham told the rebels (through the MSM) that they "needed to slow down" we knew there was no command and control mechanisms to monitor and advise. It was only a matter of time.

"Covert advisors", thier US State Department 'regulator' sidekicks and USAID "Nation Building" weenies, will need airlift. Airlift means USAF, which means a secure place to land...which means Combat Control Teams (CCT's) and communications packages, generators, C-Wire, CHU's, HESCO barriers, a nice secure FOB, vehicles, US Army Field Hospitals, DFAC, golf course, new 3000 person US Embassy compound, US PX, Dutch PX, British Naffie, Pizza Hut, .....contractors, Booze Allen, Northrop Grummand, General Dynamics, KBR, Lockheed Martin.

Eisenhower who? Oh hell, here we go again.
Posted by: Besoeker   2011-03-31 01:13  

#1  "The United States of America has done what we said we would do!"

(few days later) P.S. we also have CIA doing covert operations on the ground besides the no-fly zone.
Posted by: dk70   2011-03-31 00:53  

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