• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

No Fly zones over Libya?

FireGarden

Philosopher
FireGarden
Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,047
It's been suggested:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/2011221222542234651.html

al-Jazeera said:
On Tuesday, Ali el-Essawi, Libya's ambassador to India who has resigned in protest against the violence used against demonstrators, told Al Jazeera that warplanes had been used to bomb civilians, and that government forces, including "foreigners" were "killing Libyans". He described the violence as a "massacre", and called for the UN to declare a no-fly zone over Libya.

[A statement issued by the deputy chief of Libya's UN mission] appealed to the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone over Libyan cities to prevent mercenaries and weapons being shipped in.
Click to expand...

Helicopters turned the tide against the anti-Saddam protests after the first Gulf War. Should the international community step in to stop a similar thing happening in Libya?
 
FireGarden said:
Helicopters turned the tide against the anti-Saddam protests after the first Gulf War. Should the international community step in to stop a similar thing happening in Libya?
Click to expand...
Who's the "international community"?
 
WildCat said:
Who's the "international community"?
Click to expand...

If you mean who will actually do the work of enforcing no fly zones, assuming the UN endorses such a measure? I think we both expect that in that case the "international community" turns out to be very close to your home.
 
It's an internal affair.
They must work it out themselves.
As long as they keep it in-country, we have no interest or right or even obligation to interfere.
 
Doctor Evil said:
If you mean who will actually do the work of enforcing no fly zones, assuming the UN endorses such a measure? I think we both expect that in that case the "international community" turns out to be very close to your home.
Click to expand...

I heard the Maltese Airforce had a recent dramatic upsurge in numbers. :boxedin:
 
uk_dave said:
A falcon?
Click to expand...
:D Actually, Maltese falcons are renowned for falling from the sky like a brick. It has probably to do with their peculiar constitution, and is the main reason why they're so rare and quite priceless.

I do wonder though why Malta would acquire MiG fighters. :p
 
Last edited:
ddt said:
:D Actually, Maltese falcons are renowned for falling from the sky like a brick. It has probably to do with their peculiar constitution, and is the main reason why they're so rare and quite priceless.

I do wonder though why Malta would acquire MiG fighters. :p
Click to expand...

The two aircraft that arrived were Mirage F1's, according to a Brit I know on another forum. :cool:
 
ddt said:
Also according to the Times of Malta. I'll preempt the scorn: yes I suck at recognizing aircraft (there was a photo in the article the OP linked to).
Click to expand...

It appears to be the Mirage F1 version of the infamous goatsce.ex picture that was all the rage on the internet 10 or 12 years ago. :p
 
FireGarden said:
Helicopters turned the tide against the anti-Saddam protests after the first Gulf War. Should the international community step in to stop a similar thing happening in Libya?
Click to expand...

I suspect any foreign government troops, whether Arab or not, whether clandestine or not, would be unhelpful, especially in the long run. It seems the Libyan people can do it on their own, though this dictator is viler and more blood will be spilled here than in Tunisia and Egypt.
 
Last edited:
DanishDynamite said:
I suspect any foreign government troops, whether Arab or not, whether clandestine or not, would be unhelpful, especially in the long run. It seems the Libyan people can do it on their own, though this dictator is viler and more blood will be spilled here than in Tunisia and Egypt.
Click to expand...

Let 'em play.

As I recall, my country was left mostly alone for 4 years while we had our bloody civil war. I'd like to allow a few more folk that option, if they'd care to exercise it.
 
If No fly zones were to be enforced, it should be an African Union peacekeeping force that should be doing it. At most, the US and the EU should be providing logistics for the AU to do so. Keep it in house.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Gadaffi been losing a lot of support outside of the Tripoli area. Tribe-wise that is. Pretty sure one can use a divide-and-conquer approach until Gadaffi's support fizzles out.

Unfortunately, the AU, at least on their website, has been awfully quiet about these incidents in Libya. Their latest report is about Côte d’Ivoire on the 22nd of February.
 
Last edited:
I Ratant said:
It's an internal affair.
They must work it out themselves.
As long as they keep it in-country, we have no interest or right or even obligation to interfere.
Click to expand...

You mean the right of Gaddafi to murder his citizens trumps the right of the citizens to be protected from outsiders or the right to intervene to protect them?

I say ******** to that.
 
bigjelmapro said:
Unfortunately, the AU, at least on their website, has been awfully quiet about these incidents in Libya.
Click to expand...
Khaddafi has bought and paid for the AU with his oil money, they won't do anything. That's how Libya gets elected as the African rep. on the UN Human Rights Commission.
 
Exactly. The NPR coverage of this has been extensive, and Khaddafi has spent billions wooing various African nations in pursuit of his "pan-African" looniness, as well as hiring thousands of Africans for his personal security forces.
 
DanishDynamite said:
I suspect any foreign government troops, whether Arab or not, whether clandestine or not, would be unhelpful, especially in the long run. It seems the Libyan people can do it on their own, though this dictator is viler and more blood will be spilled here than in Tunisia and Egypt.
Click to expand...

Meanwhile, Gaddafi brings in more mercenaries to fight what was previously his own army?

There's no need for troops on the ground. Just prevent planes from reaching Gaddafi's area, and keep his airforce from bombing Libya. Shoot down helicopters that are straffing civilians.

Or do we just watch and, after who knows how many die, just wring our hands and say "never again". I still remember the response to Rwanda*. The response here would be easier: Libya is easier to reach and keeping warplanes out of the sky shouldn't take too much effort. That would weaken Gaddafi very significantly.

*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide#UNAMIR_and_the_international_community
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom