Qaddafi was Da Man for most Arabs for the foxy atitude toward west.

He is leader of Bedouin tribes and has grown up in one so his rulling style is as such.
He is not much diffrent from many African and ME leaders.
This no fly zone crap to help Lybian peaple is simply populistic bull.
After qaddafi there will be just another Qadaffi.

but it's not just a no fly zone. I thought at first it was, hence my earlier position that this was a negotiation.

But the resolution also calls for an end to any further advance on rebel positions.

In short the resolution is creating a new micro-state out of those Libyan towns currently held by rebels.

Since this outcome is essentially pointless, and certainly not part of any clear thinking, the conclusion is that it is not intended to be accepted and is a precursor to the removal of gaddaffi in order to restore the libyan state.

if he really is wily, he'll accept the new micro state and enjoy watching the huge amount of treasure being spent by the UN to protect something pointless and think about what to do with his oil concessions

if you remember the oil concessions for Al Megrahi exchange with Britain, Britain has now thrown away it's side of the bargain, while Libya already has Megrahi back. He can now renegotiate the oil business with whoever he wants.

But there is a good chance that the nutty old chess player will make a foolish decision as a result of the external pressure, and get himself killed.

Plane been shot down in Benghazi

looks like it was the rebel plane, and may even have been friendly fire that did it

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...t_1852415d.jpg

After the UN resolution calling for a halt, and after the declared cease-fire, Gaddafi-loyal troops advanced further and now have entered Benghazi.

Reaction by the European forces: none.

A former minister of foreign affairs here made a comment about that yesterday evening: they are actually waiting until Ghadaffi enters Benghazi, or is at it's doorstep. That way they have a legitimate humanitarian reason to intervene, which makes it harder for anyone to criticize them afterwards. Kinda made sense I thought.

Lack of action on the wests part is simply saying yes to Cadaffy in case he wins. At the same time the sabre rattling is simply a show to the anti-Qwadufy forces that we support them too just in case they win.

Nobody gives a rats arse if Gedffiy wins or the anti-Kadwafy forces win. Everyone is scrambling around jockying for a favorable position to whomever the winner may be.

Make sense?

Attacking enemies inside a city is more difficult, and bears greater risk of collateral damage. Also, house-to-house combt is a nasty affair - hostiles having entered the city could hold out long there, even if their supplies lines outside the city get interrupted by air raids.

To call this a situation that makes sense again means that political reality-distortion is undermining military reason.

French Rafales have been overflying Libya for the last few hours, out of St. Dizier near Nancy. long way to go.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12795971

Edit - Ah jim ;)

Accoridng to Sarko, the jets are there to deter the Libyan MiGs, one of which was shot down earlier in Benghazi by rebels.

Mirage 2000 jet have been spotted with Recon pods and tanks taking off from France.
Al Jazeera reports that the French goverment has autrized air strikes against Loyalist forces that have entered Benghazi.

RAF Tornadoes with tanks were seen taking off from Scotland.

CNN footage showed a Loyalist troop convoy with 4 SA-8 SAM TELs and a SA-7 truck mount plus MBTs and SPGs south of Benghazi.

Hmmm playing devils advocate here, If I were daffy duck I would switch to a gorilla warfare form. Ditch all military uniforms, Have infiltrators inside the rebellion collecting info sabotaging weapons stocks. And take the fight into the cities where allied flights would have a hard time distinguishing friend from foe.

Every time there is even remote collateral damage make sure photo's and interviews with survivors get out to influence world opinion.

Have secret police round up any sympathizers while giving fat bonus's to loyalists. Build anything remotely positive to steer the will of the people, Park's schools, shopping centers so that Daffy duck can say look what I am doing for Libya!

Pull a Saddam and have all the tanks and artillery safeguarded with civilian shields, Volunteers of course!

Yea that's what I would do If I was Daffy duck.

(Note) I am not at all sympathetic to Daffy's cause just pointing out the he still has the capabilities to create a total SNAFU for the west. If we don't put boots on the ground he can control things easier. If we do put boots on the ground it will be another insult to Muslims who will see it as yet again western intervention and galvanize the forces not to mention irritate the rebels who have clearly stated no western ground forces!

Comment in German on Germany's failure over the Lybia resolution. Diplomatic Germany will have to pay a price for this mess. The votum gets revleaed as what it is: toughness in words, but meaninglessness in deeds and cowardice in intention.

http://www.welt.de/debatte/article12...rue#reqdrucken

German elections in several states this year and domestic policies may play one role here. But that is no excuse, but only illustrates to what degree poltical parties now are willing to sacrifice all and everything ofr their own desire to claim power - no matter the cost.

Since long I think that political parties are one of the tombstone of parliamentary democracies. Members of parliament should be forbidden to organise in any form of political associations, clubs, parties or the the like. It necessarily and inevitably turns any democracy into a lobby-driven oligarchy and party-dictatorship. Already Aristoteles pointed at that direction. When thinking about Europe's decision-forming mechanisms and powerfactions and slogans today, i just think three letters that are like a deja vu to what we have today: "GDR".

Can you explain why you have a problem about Germany not joining the show.

5 US EA-18 Growlers deployed alongside the 31st FW @ Aviano.

Recall that with the retirement of the EF-111, USN gets to cover the Air Force EW mission.