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Africa North
Arab League backs Libya no-fly zone: France
2011-03-08
[Asharq al-Aswat] The Arab League supports imposing a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent Muamer Qadaffy's government forces attacking rebels, French officials said Monday, quoting the league's secretary general.
Absolutely we do. You Westerners just go ahead and implement one at your own expense (financial, moral, political) and we'll watch.
Secretary general Amr Musa told French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe that the league backed the idea when the pair met in Cairo on Sunday, foreign ministry front man Bernard Valero told news hounds.

"Mr. Musa confirmed the support of the vaporous Arab League for a no-fly zone," Valero said.

Juppe said Saturday his country was working with Britain to get a United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society Security Council resolution to impose a no-fly zone in Libya.

Juppe and British Foreign Secretary William Hague said last week they were preparing measures to propose to the European Union summit on Libya set for Friday, specifically mentioning a possible no-fly zone.

US President Barack B.O. Obama said Thursday he was examining the "full range" of military options, including a no-fly zone, if the revolt in Libya turns into a bloody stalemate and humanitarian disaster.

Libya has been rocked by the revolt against Qadaffy's four-decade rule which erupted on February 17.

Qadaffy is fighting a bloody rearguard action against rebels and the turmoil has sparked a mass exodus from the oil-rich north African nation.
Posted by:Fred

#3  We fix that with the program. They just get to say where they fly in Libyan airspace. Seems like a programming solution - limit the coordinates to a few select areas, borrow an Egyptian airstrip west of Alamein, make a Qatari airman push the fire button, and so forth.
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division   2011-03-08 21:29  

#2  "What's to stop us from renting out several UAVs to the Arab League..."

These are not the drones you seek... Because they'll pilot them right on over into Israeli airspace. They won't even need enough fuel to return to base...
Posted by: American Delight   2011-03-08 20:29  

#1  Here's a mostly serious question for those in the know.

What's to stop us from renting out several UAVs to the Arab League, with necessary tech support, and let them have the joy stick and fire buttons?

Put them in control, send them a bill, and let them explain how and why the targeted whatever they shot at.

Sure, plenty could go wrong, and they'd certainly blame us regardless of the outcome, but it would 1) take us out of the decision loop; and 2) force them to make some interesting decisions.

If Daffy is using Serbian pilots, why can't the Arab League borrow some hardware as well?

Of course, why doesn't the Egyptian Air Force simply do the job? That would be simpler.
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division   2011-03-08 16:03  

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