Arab League calls for UN to impose no-fly zone over Libya

[denem]

Source: Deutsche Welle

The Arab League threw its support behind calls for a no-fly zone over Libya on Saturday as the Libyan military closed in on the opposition.

The League urged the United Nations to close Libyan airspace, as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi continued using war planes to bombard the country's rebels.

"The Arab League has officially requested the U.N. Security Council to impose a no-fly zone against any military action against the Libyan people," said Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, adding that the no-fly zone should be ended when the crisis was over.

Approval from the 22-member organization, which met Saturday in Cairo, could pave the way for military action against Gadhafi by Western forces.


Reuters: US welcomes Arab League's "important step" on Libya

The United States on Saturday backed the Arab League's call for the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, and Washington said it was preparing for "all contingencies."

"We welcome this important step by the Arab League, which strengthens the international pressure on Gaddafi and support for the Libyan people," the White House said in a statement.http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/libya-usa-idUSN1226702520110312

Read more: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14907977,00.html

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US for preparing for "all contingencies" ?

[Sherman A1]

1. I have all sorts of issues with a no fly zone

I just see it as a very costly no-win situation for us.

[denem]

2. What about the 1.1 million people in Benghazi?

Any issues with them being bombed? Was there "a win" in Rwanda?

[Bosonic]

3. Does it have to be US/EU/NATO?

Egypt+Saudi airforce >>> Libyan airforce

+

Big base next door to Libya, called Egypt.

+

Same religion/Culture

+

Egypt can put to good use it's $2 billion/yr military aid



seems like the perfect fit to me.

[denem]

4. To be legal ANY no-fly zone has to be authorized by the UN.

That's what the Arab League is calling for.

AFTER authorization, who participates is another matter.

[Sherman A1]

5. And that is my point!

I think we should allow the Arab League to go right ahead with whatever version of the No-Fly they like. I noted however that this resolution on their part was more of a clearing the way for Western powers to do the work, that is the part I really, really don't like and really don't want to be saddled with the costs (dollar, human and long term diplomatic if something goes wrong).

And in response to the previous question. I do care about the folks in the uprising, I just don't think we need to participate in this one. That's my opinion and everyone is entitled to their beliefs.

[Sherman A1]

6. Yup!

I have issues with them being "bombed" (however, my understanding is that the ground forces are doing most of the damage). That said, if the Arab League wants a No-Fly, they can supply the resources to make it happen.

[denem]

7. Maybe you should change your Harry Truman Doctrine avatar.

Of course back then, it wasn't Arabs, only Greece and Turkey.

[Sherman A1]

9. Maybe you should change your spacey guy avatar

I happen to like Truman and am from Missouri.

I have my opinions and you are more than welcome to yours (of which I have not been critical )

And it is a Harry Truman avatar - not a Truman "Doctrine" avatar.

So please wallow in your snark.

[denem]

11. I imagine my avatar as Major Tom, a guy hanging in space. -

If you want to reject Truman's foreign policy, the Truman Doctrine, the intervention in Korea etc - fine. You admire Truman's domestic agenda - so do I. It was a tragedy that the fair deal was never implanted. But your stance - let someone else do it, is contrary to everything Truman stood for.

Greece and Turkey were civil wars. Gadaffi is every bit as homicidal as Stalin ever was, he just has less people to play with.

BTW.
I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today,
Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do
(an appropriate theme for a bipolar lune like me)

[Sherman A1]

12. You have your opinion and I have mine

I was not at all critical of yours, but yet you seem to be unwilling to acknowledge that there might just be other viewpoints or other means of accomplishing the goal of supporting those who want Gadaffi out. Sounds pretty much like the GOP & RW of today..

I am sensitive to the plight of the Libya and I know Gadaffi is a wingnut, humanitarian aid, of course through the Red Cross, Doctors w/o Borders or whoever. But a No Fly is a major undertaking with significant risks and costs (including a Carrier which would be pretty handy in Japan right now, air tankers which are tied up in Afghanistan to support aircraft in Italy and alike). One must have Air Superiority which means probably taking out air defenses (dropping bombs and killing people to do so and based upon our excellent targeting in Afghanistan, probably killing others as well).



The Arab League seems more than willing to let someone else do the work in this case, my belief is let them do it.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Violet_Crumble]

10. What's being Muslim or not got to do with this? It hasn't...

Sorry, but I find what you said very disturbing.

[Vinee]

13. I imagine the Arab league would prefer UN intervention to US intervention in Libya.

[Alamuti Lotus]

14. what hypocrisy

What is the Arab League if not a motley collection of US puppets and tyrants, most of them doing more or less the same as Qadhdhafi at this very moment! NATO/US/Saudi intervention in Libya should be looked at with extreme skepticism, as well as all the ex-Qadhdhafi loyalists on the so-called opposition "government". The geniune revolutionaries should be supported against the tyrant, but empowering the most regressive and collaborationist tendencies must be avoided.

I don't recall NATO or the Arab League getting this hysteric when Grozny, Gaza or Fallujah were under a more serious assault--most of them helped these crimes along, actually.

It helps to play along with the status quo and the ruling order, evil moral of this story.

[JCMach1]

15. ummmm DIY???

[sofish]

16. Political war?

This 'war' is no longer about helping the libyan people - it has become political. The countries look at the situation to try to find some sort of profit in getting involved. Just look at Sweden, for example (that's where I'm from), we have these high-tech JAS 39 Gripen fighters that they try to sell to different countries. However, many of their customers has either backed away from the deal, or are still unsure whether they want it or not, for example Brazil. The thing is, the fighter is not combat-proven yet, and that is what many look for, so the Swedish government is now waiting to be asked to contribute with fighters in Libya (Of course, the would never volunteer, they want to be needed), so they can consider it (although I believe they already have decided whether or not to provide fighters for the UN's sake) and then accept. All they really want is to get their planes down there to get them combat-proven so the demand rises...

Read more here, it's in Swedish though ^^ : http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/dennyaarabvarlden/libyen/article12763637.ab

Or at my blog: http://facethefacts.blog.com/