French military intervention in Libya starting soon?

[Alexis]

The French press is reporting the

The UN might give the green light to military action as soon as this Thursday, if a resolution proposed on Monday by France, Britain and Lebanon, with backing from the Arab League, is approved. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé is in New-York on emergency mission in order to defend the resolution.

Like this is reporting, raids could be started very soon after the resolution is approved. France would be at the forefront, probably with help from Britain, probably without any other country being meaningfully involved. While a No-Flight-Zone needs large scale involvement and long time to be enforced, the kind of raids needed to stop Gaddhafi in his tracks and save the rebel provisional government (which France remains the only country to have recognized as the legitimate Libyan government) could be organized simply and very rapidly from France's southern air bases in Provence and Corsica, which are less than 1,500km away from the front between Libyan rebel and loyalist forces. These might include:
- striking air bases, radars and command centers so as to cripple the Libyan air force - much easier and more straightforward than a cumbersome NFZ
- striking loyalist forces near the front (their artillery) or their logistics - sorely needed to relieve outgunned rebel forces

If really this war begins in the very next few days or even few hours, of course surprises are to be expected. Gaddhafi would not fold without a fight, and he might have unknown assets in reserve.

[Tinker]

So lets take bets. How long until the cheese-eating surrender monkeys cut and run from Indo-Maghreb and we have to send in GI Joe? ;p

[CgDs]

[Tinker]

[skyhook77sfg]

in light of below report from the guardian

my estimate is it would probably occur

right after hell freezes over



Muammar Gaddafi's son has claimed that Libya helped finance Nicolas Sarkozy's successful election campaign in 2007, and demanded that the French president return the money to "the Libyan people".

In an interview with the Euronews TV channel, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said Libya had details of bank transfers and was ready to make them public in a move designed to punish Sarkozy for throwing his weight behind opposition forces.

Last week, the Libyan government threatened to reveal a "grave secret" that would bring down Sarkozy, with Saif al-Islam calling him "a clown".

The regime is furious at Sarkozy's efforts to galvanise international action to impose a "no-fly zone" that would prevent Gaddafi from using air power against rebels based in Benghazi.

Asked what he felt about the French president's so far unsuccessful efforts to muster support for military intervention, Saif said: "Sarkozy must first give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign. We funded it. We have all the details and are ready to reveal everything. The first thing we want this clown to do is to give the money back to the Libyan people. He was given the assistance so he could help them, but he has disappointed us. Give us back our money."

Libya has yet to release any incriminating evidence but officials hinted last night that they were preparing to do so.

A spokeswoman for the Elysée Palace told the Guardian she had no information or comment about the claim. But Le Monde later quoted a spokesman as saying: "We deny it, quite evidently."

Libyan sources have separately told the Guardian substantial funds were paid into accounts to support Sarkozy's presidential campaign in 2007.

Well-placed sources in Tripoli made clear that the leak of this information was in retaliation for France's leading role in the campaign to impose a no-fly zone and for its unique recognition of the rebel Libyan National Council. "Sarkozy is playing dirty, so we are playing dirty, too," said a senior Libyan source.

The Guardian has been unable to confirm the Libyan claims independently.

French law places strict limits on party donations to candidates. Last year, Sarkozy was hit by a political scandal involving alleged illegal donations to his party funds by France's richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt.

Eyebrows were raised when Gaddafi visited Paris in late 2007 and was permitted to pitch his trademark bedouin tent in the gardens of the Hotel Marigny, the 19th-century mansion close to the Elysée Palace, which hosts visiting VIPs. That triggered a storm of adverse comment about the warmth of his reception by Sarkozy on international human rights day.

[jerryberry]

What does Marine Le Pen think of all this intervening over there?

[Alexis]

[Alexis]

[Alexis]

Gaddhafi being received at the Elysée Palace by Sarkozy end 2007.

How times change...

[jerryberry]

[Tinker]

Thanks for this info Alexis.

[Alexis]

Partial translation: "I am ashamed for Europe, I am ashamed for our international organizations. We have been un-f...ing-able to meet the expectations of a people which has been martyred and which will be even more because of the powerful in this world being unable to agree with one another". She apologized just later for the foul words - which are very unusual from her.

So Sarkozy knows that he will have full support from the opposition if he acts, and full scorn from them if he doesn't.

Let's admit it: if the resolution is approved, and Sarkozy doesn't act, it means he is not satisfied with his already miserable approval ratings. He wants even lower!

French authorities say they don't expect Russia to veto, and they hope to convince China not to. The vote should be very soon now. Except if China or somebody else finds a trick to delay it, hoping to give Gaddhafi enough time to finish the rebellion, which seems to be really on the brink.

[skyhook77sfg]

the rebellion is over...

mort....

and not the petit kind of mort.

[Alexis]

[Alexis]

[jerryberry]

10-0-5 here comes the no fly zone

[skyhook77sfg]

U.K., France may strike Libya early on Friday



France, the United Kingdom, Qatar and the U.A.E. may carry out airstrikes on forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi early on Friday, shortly after the Security Council vote, Western media said.

The reports came as the UN Security Council gathers for a vote on a draft resolution, imposing a no-fly zone over the African state and authorizing all "necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians. The vote is expected at 22:00 GMT (1:00 Moscow time).A senior government source told BBC that "British forces could be in action over Libya as early as Friday, if a UN resolution is agreed."France's foreign minister headed Thursday to New York to press for action against Gaddafi.
Meanwhile, the Libyan leader said his forces would assault the opposition stronghold of Benghazi early on Friday.

"No more fear, no more hesitation, the moment of truth has come," Guardian quoted Gaddafi as saying. "There will be no mercy. Our troops will be coming to Benghazi tonight."He also warned that any foreign military intervention in would put air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean area under threat.
Mass riots demanding the end of the regime of the country's strongman, Muammar Gaddafi, have been raging in Libya since mid-February. On Thursday, Gaddafi said the confrontation between authorities and the rebellious opposition would end very soon.

PARIS, March 18 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110318/163065509.html

OPERATIVE CLAUSE IF A UN RESOLUTION IS AGREED

[Joao Paulo]

allons, enfants!!!
Is it correct, Alexis?

[Alexis]

Explosions have been heard in Benghazi as Gaddhafi vowed to attack the city during the night. Time is really short.
Expect French and British bombers soon.

[Alexis]

[Rhapsody]

Time to make coffee and watch CNN. The promiscuity of power.

[skyhook77sfg]

AM EATING MY WORDS

AND SMILING AT THE THOUGHT THE CRAZY EVIL QADAFFIS

MAY FINALLY MEET AN APPROPRIATE FATE...

just deserts for the sons of the desert

that kill their own...

on the way wait...

please.

[skyhook77sfg]

MOST CURRENT SITREP AT JERUSALEM POST....



REUTERS
03/18/2011 00:48

Resolution authorizes UN members to take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians and civilian centers; Gaddafi tells rebels that armed forces plan on taking over Benghazi; regime vows retaliation for intervention.

TRIPOLI/UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations authorized military action to curb Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Thursday, hours after he threatened to storm the rebel bastion of Benghazi overnight, showing "no mercy, no pity".

"We will come, zenga, zenga. House by house, room by room," he said in a radio address to the eastern city.

Al Jazeera television showed thousands of Benghazi residents in a central square celebrating the UN vote, waving anti-Gaddafi tricolor flags and chanting defiance of the man who has ruled for four decades. Fireworks burst over the city.

Gaddafi had warned that only those who lay down their arms would be spared vengeance to be exacted on 'rats and dogs'.

"It's over. The issue has been decided," Gaddafi said. "We are coming tonight...We will find you in your closets. "We will have no mercy and no pity."

The UN Security Council passed a resolution endorsing a no-fly zone to halt government troops now around 100 km (60 miles) from Benghazi. It also authorized "all necessary measures" -- code for military action -- to protect civilians against Gaddafi's forces.

UNSC Resolution 1973 was adopted with 10 countries voting in favor, none opposing it and with five abstentions.

But time was clearly running short for the city that has been the heart of Libya's revolution. Residents said the Libyan air force unleashed three air raids on the city of 670,000 on Thursday and there has been fierce fighting along the Mediterranean coastal road as Gaddafi moves to crush the month-old insurrection.

French diplomatic sources said military action could come within hours, and could include France, Britain and possibly the United States and one or more Arab states; but a US military official said no immediate US action was expected following the vote.

Ten of the Council's 15 member states voted in favor of the resolution, with Russia, China and Germany among the five that abstained. There were no votes against the resolution, which was co-sponsored by France, Britain, Lebanon and the United States.

Rebel National Council head Mustafa Abdel Jalil told Al Jazeera television air strikes were essential to stop Gaddafi.

"We stand on firm ground. We will not be intimidated by these lies and claims... We will not settle for anything but liberation from this regime."

It was unclear if Gaddafi's threat to seize the city in the night was anything more than bluster. But at the very least it increased the sense that a decisive moment had come in an uprising that only months ago had seemed inconceivable.

Some in the Arab world sense a Gaddafi victory could turn the tide in the region, weakening pro-democracy movements that have unseated autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt and raised mass protests in Bahrain, Yemen and elsewhere.

Libya vows retaliation

By late evening, telephone lines to Benghazi and internet connections appeared to be cut.

Gaddafi's Defense Ministry warned of swift retaliation, even beyond Libyan frontiers, if the UN voted for military action against the oil-exporting nation.

"Any foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea to danger and civilian and military [facilities] will become targets of Libya's counter-attack," the ministry said in a statement.


WOULDNT ISRAELI AIR FORCE PARTICIPATION IN STRIKES AGAINST QADAFFI BE A BRILLIANT INTEGRATION INTO MIDDLE EAST ASPIRATIONS?

hello herzliya...

do you copy?

[Hans Bulvai]

The Arab league?.... sigh...

Who will they bomb next? Saudi Arabia?

Qatar has a military?

Is this the twilight zone?

mommy, help...

[Alexis]