# Could France Enforce a Libyan "No Fly Zone" By Itself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 12, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-france-enforce-a-libyan-no-fly-zone-by-itself/574442 "2011-03-12T18:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-france-enforce-a-libyan-no-fly-zone-by-itself/574442/1 "2011-03-12T18:50:05Z")
I don’t see why not-France has a modern navy with a well equipped aircraft carrier. Its Mirage fighter-bomber jets would make mincemeat of any Libyan fighter that dared to challenge them. Plus, France has the ability to land troops in Libya-how many would you need to make Ghadafi drop things-maybe 20,000? It would be interesting to see such an intervention, now that Sarkozy has recognized the rebels as the legitimate government. What do you say? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-france-enforce-a-libyan-no-fly-zone-by-itself/574442/2 "2011-03-12T19:44:58Z")
If I’m not mistaken, France has some air base in Chad. I dont think it really needs a carrier to use its planes. I would think that the French gov wouldnt want to go into this alone. More as a matter of gathering enough diplomatic strength than because of a lack of military might. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-france-enforce-a-libyan-no-fly-zone-by-itself/574442/3 "2011-03-12T21:34:17Z")
The Arab League unanimously backed a no fly zone. It may be too late.