French warplanes already engaged over Benghazi, says BBC and France 24. Wonder if this will change the hyper-American centric SDMB discussions. Probably not.
(as per the purported Qs, I am always amazed at the gullibility here).
French planes have destroyed several tanks.
The sword of venegence has been unleashed upon Gaddafi, 
Merkel stated that though Germany won’t intervene directly, she will send aircrafts in Afghanistan to replace US planes used in Libya.
Kadhafi himself would be hidden in a bunker situated under a civilian building (no clue how the channel I was watching would learn that, but they announced it as a fact, not as an hypothesis).
ETA : They showed a pro-Kadhafi crowd assembled on a Libyan military airfield (Tripoli, I think) to prevent attacks.
LOL. They are doing the French airmen quite a favour I suppose. 
[QUOTE=wmfellows]
Wonder if this will change the hyper-American centric SDMB discussions. Probably not.
[/QUOTE]
In what way? Because the US isn’t leaping to the fore, blades drawn and a 'yippeeekaya mother fucker! on our collective lips? I’m perfectly good with France taking the lead, along with the UK and Canada. I think they won’t have any trouble handling it without us, if it comes to that.
-XT
Something else that was announced : the idea would be limited but gradual attacks intended mostly for their psychological effect, the point being apparently to demoralize the units faithful to Kadhafi (and I suppose have them switch side or give up, or leave in the case of mercenaries), rather than their undiscriminated destruction. Also, preventing Khadhafi’s troop from entering Benghazi (because otherwise warplanes would have to launch attacks within the city, with obviously “collateral” damages.
That would explain this almost symbolical attack (a handful of planes were engaged against tanks shelling Benghazi). It apparently followed informations according to which the situation was becoming more dificult in Benghazi, informations that would have convinced some representatives at the summit (Merkel was named) to give the green light for the beginning of the operations.
Countries that would be involved : UK, France, USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Spain. No mentions of Arab countries at this point.
Some info here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/africa/20libya.html?_r=1&hp
I’m sure that’ll work. :rolleyes:
Lebanon would have played a key role in convincing Arab countries to support the resolution and the intervention.
I see reports of UAE planes preparing for action right now, with other Arab forces possibly to follow.
I can’t say I’m really happy to see exemplary countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia :rolleyes: involved in this “fight for freedom”
I’d have prefered the recently revolted Tunisia and Egypt, along with, say, Lebanon and Jordan (yes, I noticed Jordan was in)
Turkey would have been a plus, too.
I meant civilians.
The USA and the UK launched 110 cruise missiles against Libya. Explosions have been heard near Tripoli. Seemingly, these attacks are against anti-air assets.
Obama and Clinton have played a blinder here, I think. A military engagement that the US is not lead on (at least not publically - but there’s a US Admiral in charge of the Nato forces) and letting France do the initial stuff. I can hardly imagine how hot the diplomatic phones have been
I was mildly critical of Obama for passivity a little while back, but perhaps he was just interested in not receiving credit, so to speak.
Yes, this has been a very skilful bit of work.
Also, thanks for defining my terms spark240. It’s never easy to know what other English speakers recognise
Apparently, Sarkozy decided to start and assumed (correctly) that Britain and the U.S wouldn’t be far behind.
That’ll win France many friends in Lybia.
The difference is that this is a guerrilla war that can be avoided. If Gaddafi does not fall, there will be an insurgency. If Gaddafi falls, there will be no insurgency.
According to this Wiki article, Qatar and the UAE are participating, and Jordan and SA might. (None of these countries have serious ongoing trouble with their own protesters. Don’t look for Yemen or Bahrain or Algeria to jump in.)