To put that in context, Sanaa is in Yemen.

3/18/2011 12:57:21 PM

Government types? Rebels trying to create further chaos for the government? Given that Yemen already is in a state of civil war and has a large insurgency, there are plenty of other parties both armed and able to pull this off to humiliate the government.

3/18/2011 1:46:47 PM

Right. Just like it was the Greens who gunned down Neda on the streets of Tehran. Those tricky protesters.

3/18/2011 2:30:40 PM

I'm not accusing the protesters, but there are other parties that have very real reasons to cause trouble for the government. Yemen unlike Egypt or Tunisia is currently engaged in a full scale civil war and was effectively a war zone before the revolutionary wave hit the region.

3/18/2011 2:55:09 PM

It's not impossible. But a coordinated attack like that in downtown Sana'a by one of the groups feuding with the Saleh regime seems to strain credulity, particularly as most of those groups have voiced support for the democratic movement (meaning it would, in fact, be a case of protesters firing upon themselves). The only group I'm aware of that's known for sophisticated attacks like that is AQAP, although printer bombs and military-style assaults are very different operations.

The correct explanation is usually the simplest. In this case, the simplest explanation is that Saleh did what every other embattled dictator has done throughout history, which is to sic the brown shirts on 'em.

In recent memory we've seen the Basij in Iran, mercenaries in Libya, and whip-wielding camel jockeys in Egypt.

Most reports from Sana'a aren't even questioning who was behind the attacks, not that that is perfect verification.

Quote :

"SANAA, Yemen – As snipers hidden on rooftops fired methodically on Yemeni protesters Friday, police sealed off a key escape route with a wall of burning tires, turning the largest of a month of anti-government demonstrations into a killing field in which at least 46 people perished. Many of the victims, who included children, were shot in the head and neck, their bodies left sprawled on the ground or carried off by other protesters desperately pressing scarves to wounds to try to stop the bleeding. The dramatic escalation in President Ali Abdullah Saleh's crackdown suggested he was growing more fearful that the unprecedented street protests set off by the region's unrest could unravel his 32-year grip on power in the volatile and impoverished nation."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110318/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_yemen

[Edited on March 18, 2011 at 4:06 PM. Reason : ]

3/18/2011 3:57:43 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/expathealth/8385486/Bahrain-protests-eye-witness-report.html

WARNING: graphic image

3/18/2011 6:29:08 PM

This is how you forestall protests and unrest in an Arab country...

http://www.france24.com/en/20110318-king-abdullah-unveils-social-benefit-package-boosts-security-saudi-arabia

You bribe them with $90 billion! (A week after bribing them with $37 billion)

[Yes], this will work for now, but [No], not forever.

3/18/2011 7:35:37 PM

Looks like my early theory was spot on.

Quote :

"Khaled Kaim also noted that the "door is open for any other countries to send observers." Kaim said the media is distorting Libyan military actions and said the country has evidence of "crimes against humanity conducted by the rebels." Government forces "did not cause the deaths of any civilians," instead inflicting casualties on armed rebel militias, and will not assault Benghazi, Kaim said."

3/18/2011 9:01:36 PM

Then there is this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1362778/Gaddafis-thugs-kill-Libyan-children-Shepherds-boy-7-shot-face.html

Quote :

"Government forces "did not cause the deaths of any civilians,""

Not a single one? Even missiles from jets didn't cause a single civilian to die? Who is this Khaled Kaim guy anyway? A gov spokesperson?

3/19/2011 10:54:12 AM

Maverick shouldn't left his wingman

French are launching sorties to enforce no fly zone. (so far only french are reported in action) The US has 3 carrier groups in the mediterranean too. So i'm sure we're supporting logistically if not militarily.

evidence of 2 libyan Mig 23's shot down here. (they are def mig 23's but i can't tell if the markings are rebel or gadaffis)



and now this important announcement from the UN:

3/19/2011 11:55:35 AM

Thanks for the info on those jets. CNN has been inexplicably flashing those pictures without offering any explanation about whom they belong to.

3/19/2011 1:15:27 PM

Woohoo!

Who would have thought that the French weren't totally useless? Tell you what, as long as they're shooting down that asshole's planes I'll be nice to them.

3/19/2011 2:02:49 PM

france surrenders strikes first

3/19/2011 2:12:06 PM

i like how all the headlines are "FRANCE FIRES ON ONE SINGLE SMALL VEHICLE ON THE GROUND, MAJOR GROUND ASSAULT UNDER WAY"

lol @ cnn/foxnews/msnbc/ AND huffington for showing the wrong story with that jet image

#1 it was a rebel fighter shot down, not gadaffis. All those news sources eventually had that image up with a caption similar to "France begins enforcing no fly zone". Very incorrect information being transmitted out there.

IRONICALLY the only news source at the moment covering that image right is fucking drudge report

they actually have an image of these
actual french fighters enforcing the no fly zones. everybody else has royally f'ed up. all designed to grab ppls attn like "OMFG THE WORLD IS OVER WW3 BEGAN THEY HIT A SINGLE TANK"

[Edited on March 19, 2011 at 2:29 PM. Reason : a]

3/19/2011 2:29:02 PM

Britain has confirmed it will prepare for strikes on Libya as well: Looks like the Eurofighter is finally gonna see some action

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/uk/news/article_1627268.php/Britain-redeploys-aircraft-to-Mediterranean-ahead-of-Libya-mission



[Edited on March 19, 2011 at 2:38 PM. Reason : link]

3/19/2011 2:36:59 PM

CBS just reported it was rebel jets downed by Qaddafi forces. So at least people watching March Madness are in the know.

3/19/2011 2:46:06 PM

how did rebel fighters get their hands on fighter jets? Has the Libyan army split in two? Other news agencies have been making out the rebel forces to be small bands of militias with nothing more than AKs and RPGs, with maybe a truck or two.

3/19/2011 2:57:34 PM

^^dude, the rebels shot down their own jet. it was a friendly fire incident. i swear, not 1 single major american news network has gotten this story right.

fucking unbelievable. the rebels admitted it was their own FFire.

^eleusis-> they got the fighters by defecting pilots from libyas main force

3/19/2011 3:03:10 PM

its amazing to me and i sorta agree with many liberals now. but im amazed with the speed that military force has been sent to libya. now i know where our carriers are and so its not a big surprise about how long it takes to get them there. i mean the speed of the decision to do so amazes me.

but that we havent done the same for darfur or many other countries having unrest.

3/19/2011 6:56:20 PM

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/19/world-intervenes-in-libya-with-unusual-speed/
World Intervenes in Libya, With Unusual Speed

Quote :

"In diplomatic terms, international military action against Libya's leader went from the brainstorming stage to the shooting-at-tanks stage with stunning speed. Saturday's launch of military strikes by French, British and U.S. forces with Arab backing and U.N. mandate was not universally endorsed. And it's unclear whether it will be fast enough to do what its proponents want, to shore up rebel forces and oust Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi."

3/19/2011 9:28:59 PM

^^ it's simple, really. amount of oil in Sudan <<<< amount of oil in Libya

3/19/2011 9:57:14 PM

Libya has 3% of the worlds oil. This is not about oil. It's about "civilized"(if that word has any meaning in this world anymore) nations defending innocent people that have the potential and desire to contribute to society and are being held back by a mad man.

3/19/2011 10:44:19 PM

hahahaha. keep telling urself that.

3/19/2011 11:16:17 PM

Gas prices didn't sky-rocket when Sudan was going through civil war.

3/20/2011 1:51:31 AM

The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.

Senator Barack Obama, Dec. 20, 2007.

3/20/2011 2:30:00 AM

^ Isn't this a UN thing?

3/20/2011 2:55:33 AM

Quote :

"Libya has 3% of the worlds oil. This is not about oil."

3% is a LOT of oil. take that 3% away and prices SKYROCKET at the pump.

3/20/2011 3:55:45 AM

Arab League talking out of both sides of its mouth. Who could have seen that coming? Only a matter a time before they call it a crusade.

3/20/2011 11:12:09 AM

The allies were only given permission to enforce a no-fly zone to prevent air bombardment. Today they have been on a mission to destroy the libyan military. The airstrikes on that convoy were heavy handed and unauthorized. The allies are waging war without permission.

3/20/2011 12:59:07 PM

a no-fly zone is just a fancy word for pounding the shit out of ground support forces. The Arab League has seen us in action enough to know what goes into enforcing a no-fly zone other than just shooting down planes.

3/20/2011 1:43:47 PM

That wasnt part of the resolution

3/20/2011 1:59:39 PM

there was plenty of talk about what it entailed. for ones thing, we arent enforcing it among the whole country. its mainly over the coast and concentrated in two cities. they want to knock out the radar, missles, aircraft, and other areas. some ground forces were going to be targeted because they carry anti air weapons like stingers and AAA guns. plenty of things are mobile so they want to hit those as well.

3/20/2011 4:59:34 PM

Quote :

"3% is a LOT of oil. take that 3% away and prices SKYROCKET at the pump."

Talking out of your ass again...Saudi Arabia can easily cover that 3% by increasing production (they are already discussing it)....I think I even read somewhere where the USA #1 does not even use Libya oil.......gas prices have increased because of the fear of unrest spreading to Saudi Arabia......there is no shortage, actually more than enough on the market now, if not for Libya and the fear factor, gas prices would be much less. It does not look like it will spread to Saudi Arabia now....

3/20/2011 5:03:42 PM

theres plenty of oil thats already been pulled up and enough still available. its about economies, politics and emotions that make our prices go up

3/20/2011 5:06:31 PM

Quote :

"The allies were only given permission to enforce a no-fly zone to prevent air bombardment. Today they have been on a mission to destroy the libyan military. The airstrikes on that convoy were heavy handed and unauthorized. The allies are waging war without permission."

Bullshit. The resolution authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians. Qaddafi's forces outside Benghazi, you may have heard, have been waging a Soviet-style siege on the city, shelling it from its perimeter, indiscriminately killing scores of civilians. In light of the atrocities currently being committed by Qaddafi's goons, it is outrageous that you would call the Security Council-sanctioned actions meant to end the slaughter "heavy handed." If anything, we are being all too gentle with this insane murderer.

3/20/2011 5:32:44 PM

We should have a no fly zone for Syria also.....since that means we can also go after military convoys....



[Edited on March 20, 2011 at 5:51 PM. Reason : w]

3/20/2011 5:46:49 PM

I'd like to see such actions in Yemen and Bahrain as well. And Cote D'Ivoire, while we're at it. And a lot of other countries currently enslaved by murderers and madmen. Unfortunately, there are not currently UN Security Council resolutions calling for such actions.

3/20/2011 5:54:14 PM

Quote :

"we havent done the same for darfur or many other countries having unrest."

Was the Sudanese government bombing their own people like the Libyan government has been doing?

^
Have the governments of Bahrain and Yemen used the same amount of force that Libya has used?

3/20/2011 9:07:21 PM

Quote :

"Was the Sudanese government bombing their own people like the Libyan government has been doing?"

Yes. That's exactly what they were doing.

3/21/2011 12:05:16 AM

Quote :

"The allies were only given permission to enforce a no-fly zone to prevent air bombardment. Today they have been on a mission to destroy the libyan military."

well, a significant amount of that is destruction of IADS and C2 in order to permit the no-fly zone enforcement.

3/21/2011 12:27:31 AM

Quote :

"Arab League talking out of both sides of its mouth. Who could have seen that coming? Only a matter a time before they call it a crusade."

close enough!

Putin likens U.N. Libya resolution to crusade calls

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/putin-likens-u-n-libya-resolution-crusade-calls-20110321-052402-752.html

3/21/2011 8:49:05 AM

Vladimir Putin: Defender of Muslims

3/21/2011 8:58:35 AM

^ crazy how quickly things change.

3/21/2011 9:23:42 AM

^^ I got a good laugh out of that.

3/21/2011 9:59:08 PM

His country is being overrun by muslims too. hilarious.

3/22/2011 10:49:19 AM

Shit is getting real

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL3E7EM1V920110322?sp=true

Quote :

"BEIJING/NEW DELHI, March 22 (Reuters) - China said on Tuesday that Western air strikes on Libya risked a "humanitarian disaster", adding to the chorus of criticism from big emerging powers over the U.N.-authorised campaign. China, with Russia, India, Brazil and other developing countries have condemned the U.S.-led air strikes on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as risky and unwarranted overreaching by the West. The shared opposition to the Libya campaign could become a point of diplomatic convergence among the "BRICS" bloc of major emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- which hold a summit in south China next month. But it is unlikely to evolve into united action by this disparate group of countries, with their own mutual rivalries, said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international security at Renmin University in Beijing. "Undoubtedly, many developing countries see a dangerous precedent in the Western attacks and intervention (in Libya) in what is fundamentally a civil war," said Shi. "But Russia, China and the others will be afraid of a serious break with the United States or offending the Arab countries, so they won't push their opposition far," he said. HISTORY OF OPPOSING INTERVENTION "I think the idea that the BRIC countries would act as a coalition on this is outlandish. They are too deeply meshed with the West to risk a split," Shi added. Western powers began the strikes against Libya over the weekend in a U.N.-sanctioned campaign to target air defences, enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians from Gaddafi's forces. India, China and Russia -- which, along with Brazil, abstained from last week's U.N. Security Council resolution -- have a history of opposing intervention in sovereign states. They opposed the U.S.-led campaign over Kosovo in the 1990s, when the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was bombed, and also opposed the U.S. led invasion of Iraq. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, compared the campaign in Libya to the Iraq invasion, saying it "resembles medieval calls for crusades". Brazil's criticisms have been relatively muted. On Monday, it called for a ceasefire in Libya and regretted the loss of life there. Of the BRICS, only South Africa supported the U.N. Resolution. China has been among the loudest in voicing opposition. "We have noted the reports about civilian casualties from the military action against Libya by the countries concerned, and we express our deep concern about this," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference in Beijing. "The original intent of the (U.N.) Security Council resolution was to protect the security of the Libya's people. We oppose the wanton use of armed force causing even more civilian casualties and an even bigger humanitarian disaster." She added that French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a strong proponent of the most vocal proponents of the no-fly zone over Libya, will visit China at the end of March to attend a seminar on global monetary reform. "What is happening in a country, within their internal affairs, no external powers should interfere in it," Pranab Mukherjee, India's finance minister and leader of the lower house of parliament, told lawmakers in New Delhi on Tuesday. "Nobody, not a couple of countries, can take that decision to change a particular regime," Mukherjee said. The emerging powers could maintain their more united front over Libya in the coming weeks ahead of the BRICS summit in China, said Srinath Raghavan, a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi. "If there is a serious ceasefire proposal or negotiated settlement, then the BRICS could well jump in diplomatically. They may want to then shape a global consensus if the West's policies get in trouble," Raghavan said. "

3/22/2011 11:59:32 AM

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the countries that come to mind when I think of the great humanitarian governments that truly care about people.

3/22/2011 12:37:32 PM

It's politics. Major non-NATO powers will take any chance they get to call the USA a warmonger. It justifies their military expansion and empowers the supreme leader.

3/22/2011 2:28:33 PM

Get in there, kill Gaddafi, and get out. Obama will be a hero for executing a war well. It has international support, and we are unambiguously doing something good. Gaddafi hurt his cause by appearing batshit crazy on international TV.

3/22/2011 6:54:35 PM

yeah, but Gaddafi has pretty much always been batshit insane

[Edited on March 22, 2011 at 6:57 PM. Reason : ]

3/22/2011 6:57:05 PM