Article

2011-03-12 Africa North

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by tu3031 2011-03-12 13:12|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ] Top

#1 You first, Arab League. Egypt has F-16s. Let them lead.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2011-03-12 13:31|| 2011-03-12 13:31|| Front Page Top

#2 Saudi Arabia has lots of good planes as do Jordan & Turkey and probably a few more.

I pray that we don't get involved in this. This is going to turn out very badly no matter what.

Posted by AlanC 2011-03-12 13:56|| 2011-03-12 13:56|| Front Page Top

#3 Well now that we have the all-important endorsement of the august Arab league -- time for the leader of the free world to step up, Sarky.

We're busy washing our hair this decade.

Posted by regular joe 2011-03-12 13:57|| 2011-03-12 13:57|| Front Page Top

#4 Egypt can't use their F16s, they need to hold them in reserve to oppress their own people.

Ditto Jordan. Ditto Saudi-controlled Arabia.

The Turks don't have a base close enough. Of course, neither do the French or the British, and it sure hasn't stopped them, has it.

No, I'm afraid the vaunted air forces of the mighty Arab League won't be of much help on this one. I do appreciate their moral clarity.

Posted by Steve White 2011-03-12 14:31|| 2011-03-12 14:31|| Front Page Top

#5 Steve, the Turks are Muslim but not Arab. They are not part of the Arab League.

Interestingly, Somalia is. Maybe they could take the lead.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2011-03-12 14:38|| 2011-03-12 14:38|| Front Page Top

#6 Isn't there a committee at the UN to which this must now be referred?

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-03-12 15:25|| 2011-03-12 15:25|| Front Page Top

#7 Egypt could do this; Saudis could pay for it; and NATO can provide the airborne early warning and command and control. Such an operation would build regional trust and respect, even if it were imperfect in its execution.

It would probably work pretty well too. Last week the rebels shot down a Libyan jet. When they collected the bodies, the pilot was Libyan and the backseater was a Syrian. No doubt with a pistol pointed at the pilot so he didn't do something crazy. How many of those Syrian 'advisers' would be willing to fly knowing that they were virtually certain to meet opposition aloft?

Posted by rammer 2011-03-12 15:26|| 2011-03-12 15:26|| Front Page Top

#8 Perhaps there is a small non-Arab state in the area with a first world air force and some of the best pilots on the planet. One that doesn't appear on most of the Arab leagues maps. Of course more than half would hate such a state for getting involved, even if it was at the Arab Leagues insistence so it doesn't matter.

Posted by rjschwarz 2011-03-12 15:35|| 2011-03-12 15:35|| Front Page Top

#9 The Turks would intervene on Gaddafi's side anyway.

Erdogan is one of Daffy's bestest friends.

Posted by Jineng McCoy3833 2011-03-12 15:38|| 2011-03-12 15:38|| Front Page Top

#10 the brits could easily control the airspace from malta - plus france could join too from malta...also might be a good time to test that brit-french idea of sharing an aircraft carrie...between them they put one off of libya

but really we should be helping them give qaddafi his a good bloody nose -- why is it that we have to do nation building...hit'em...ensure we get qaddafi (meaning any country who takes him would come under our wrath) and let the pieces fall where they do...but then i woke up and realized obama...ok france take the lead

Posted by dan 2011-03-12 16:05|| 2011-03-12 16:05|| Front Page Top

#11 the brits could easily control the airspace from malta - plus france could join too from malta...also might be a good time to test that brit-french idea of sharing an aircraft carrie...between them they put one off of libya

but really we should be helping them over throw this bastard -- have we forgot this guy has has killed many americans..why is it that we have to do nation building...hit'em...ensure we get qaddafi (meaning any country who takes him would come under our wrath) and let the pieces fall where they do...but then i woke up and realized obama...ok france take the lead

but these people deserve the help..damn the consquences...we cannot control events through tyrants and dictators...status quo was destroyed with the overthrow of saddam

Posted by dan 2011-03-12 16:08|| 2011-03-12 16:08|| Front Page Top

#12 ...we cannot control events through tyrants and dictators...

Dan, you are right about this BUT what makes you think that the opposition is any different? This is the culture of the entire mid-east (with that one afore mentioned exception) and if Daffy goes or stays will not move the needle. This isn't Eastern Europe after the wall fell.

Posted by AlanC 2011-03-12 16:15|| 2011-03-12 16:15|| Front Page Top

#13 ...we cannot control events through tyrants and dictators...

I'm sure Stalin is chuckling in hell. Who did we back in WWII? Sometimes, there are no good guys. Ayatollah vs. the Shah. No one said life is fair.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-03-12 17:25|| 2011-03-12 17:25|| Front Page Top

#14 Alanc....totally agree but..your fear could come true without our involvement. We will be hated for supporting tyrants and for anything else we do. This guy has american blood on his hands..there was a time when we were feared and respected...as I said damn the consquences, forgot nation building and restore that fear. If we help and the peoples true aspirations of freedom are met great - we should show are largesse and help. If the opposite ensure the fear is instilled. Sitting on the sidelines makes us weak and more euro...we are never going to control events that are 100% in our favor. At least with siding with freedom there is a chance ...bush had it correct about freedom...arabs deserve it as well and we should help...but with our current potus freedom is not a concern

Posted by dan 2011-03-12 17:40|| 2011-03-12 17:40|| Front Page Top

#15 All our stuff will be needed to help Japan an ally vis-a-vie Libyan Rebels of unknown make-up..
Winner is kind of easy to guess.

Posted by Water Modem 2011-03-12 17:52|| 2011-03-12 17:52|| Front Page Top

#16 If I were POTUS I'd order a cruise misslie strike against Daffy's hideout (in response for the Lokerbie bombing) and that's the end of it for the US. Let the a-rabs meet up with the rebels and secure an airfield. Use that to set up their very own no-fly zone. F them.

IIRC the 'a-rab league' was constantly bitching about saddam's no-fly zone. I'd point that out and say "No thanks" this time.

Posted by Hellfish 2011-03-12 18:47|| 2011-03-12 18:47|| Front Page Top

#17 Then again I guess the US could occupy the oil fields and actually KEEP THE OIL THIS TIME - in exchange for the no-fly zone.

Posted by Hellfish 2011-03-12 18:49|| 2011-03-12 18:49|| Front Page Top

#18 If I were POTUS I wouldn't waste a dime on any of these thugs and I'd find out how we can help our allies, the Japanese.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-03-12 19:08|| 2011-03-12 19:08|| Front Page Top

#19 Dan, I've always been in favor of the idea that if you absolutely have to go (see Iraq & Afghan) then give it the shampoo treatment "wash thoroughly, rinse and repeat as necessary.

This goes alog with the Hellfish idea. Blow him up and let the scum fight for the spoils. Don't put a single US soldier or pilot or sailor at risk.

Posted by AlanC 2011-03-12 19:12|| 2011-03-12 19:12|| Front Page Top

#20 From the London Spectator:

It is a great mistake to assume that democracy is an enemy of Islamism. When the gift of democracy is unwrapped in the Arab world, Islamists frequently spring out of the box. The jihadis may be despised by most Muslims, but often in Arab countries only about 20 to 40 per cent of the population vote. It is by no means impossible for the Islamists to secure a majority from the minority, because their supporters are the most fanatical. Whatever the theory of democratisation in the Arab world, the history is clear. Where democracy, however tentatively, has already been introduced, it is the Islamists who have come to power.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2011-03-12 20:01|| 2011-03-12 20:01|| Front Page Top

#21 Gates says U.S. military could enforce a no-fly zone in Libya if Obama ordered one
Of course they will have to wait till he gets back from the golf course.

Posted by tipper 2011-03-12 21:32|| 2011-03-12 21:32|| Front Page Top

#22 It is coming Tipper. Obama will not desert his Islamic brothers in thier time of need.

Posted by Besoeker 2011-03-12 21:34|| 2011-03-12 21:34|| Front Page Top

#23 I like the idea of revenge for Lockerbie but no boots on ground or no-fly zone. Fuck the muslims. Let all the roaches fight for power.

Posted by Broadhead6 2011-03-12 22:59|| 2011-03-12 22:59|| Front Page Top

#24 I kinda doubt it, Besoek. Even if it was about B.O.'s "Islamic brothers" - and I don't think it is - he's too confounded to know which Islamic brothers to support: the elites in power, like himself, or the riff-raff in the streets. Are they the good guys, like the union protesters in Wisconsin? Or the bad guys, like those odious Tea Partiers? It's too hard to tell. So he'll remain indecisive, while trying to sound decisive, and cover his utter ignorance.

Posted by RandomJD 2011-03-12 23:27|| 2011-03-12 23:27|| Front Page Top

#25 "Odious" and "Obama" in the same, well written rant. What's not to admire?

Posted by Besoeker 2011-03-12 23:36|| 2011-03-12 23:36|| Front Page Top

#26 Why thank you. I'm cute too. :)

Seriously: whether B.O. is a closet Muslim or not is irrelevant. He's clueless and a pussy, which trumps everything else.

Posted by RandomJD 2011-03-12 23:44|| 2011-03-12 23:44|| Front Page Top

23:44 RandomJD
23:37 RandomJD
23:36 Besoeker
23:27 RandomJD
23:18 anon1
23:12 anon1
23:09 anon1
23:01 Fi
22:59 Broadhead6
22:56 Herman Phusons1336
22:49 Herman Phusons1336
22:13 Frank G
21:58 Barbara Skolaut
21:53 SteveS
21:52 Pollyandrew
21:45 Dale
21:41 Besoeker
21:34 Besoeker
21:32 tipper
21:24 Charles
21:14 Fi
21:13 Pappy
21:04 Fi
20:35 Dale