Coalition air force jets are attacking Libyan military targets in the North African town of Benghazi as France takes the lead in the ouster of Col. Gaddafi.
France, taking the lead in the Libyan crises, has ended a meeting with heads of the coalition of the willing plus Germany in Paris. This second meeting, following a private conference between French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister David Cameron and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, saw Sarkozy announced that French fighter jets were currently patrolling the skies over Libya at 1500 GMT on March 19, 2011. However, Sarkozy was emphatic about the multitude of nations supporting the UN Resolution, from North America to the Arab League.
Arab League – Jordan, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been extremely quiet as the meeting ended. Secretary Clinton referenced the Arab roles but deferred to the various ambassadors. “I will allow other nations to comment,” she stated.
Britain – British Tornado jets, equipped with extended long range fuel tanks, from the Royal Air Force base in Lossiemouth, have been scrambled. Following the joint Paris meeting Prime Minister David Cameron said in a news conference, “Colonel Gaddafi has broken his word…This has to stop. We have to make it stop…action [must] take place urgently."
Canada – John Irish of Reuters quoted a spokesman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at 1430 GMT on Saturday, March 19, 2011 that Harper “backed the idea of swift action but [his] fighter jets…would need two days to prepare for any operation.”
France – Sarkozy reiterated that France would prevent any Libyan aircraft form flying and attack any armored ground vehicles used by Colonel Gaddafi against rebel civilians. “As of now,” Sarkozy said “our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking [Benghazi]. As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians.”
USA President – Operating in a supporting role,a reluctant President Barack Obama said little after the French meeting. Speaking at a news conference in Brazil at 1615 GMT on March 19, 2011, the president made little comment on the Libyan affair and deferred to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, on March 18 the president said, in a White House press conference, “these terms are not negotiable… the resolution will be enforced through military action."
USA Secretary of State – Clinton spoke at 1635Z GMT from Paris and praised European, NATO and Arab leaders in partnering the coalition against Libya. She stressed the Gulf nations’ commitment in both support and active forces in fighting the dictator. Furthermore, Secretary Clintion reiterated American support of the Gulf countries that have come under criticism by Iran over the Bahrain revolution. “As a member of the GCC, certainly Bahrain has the right to invite [fellow] GCC nations,” she said.
The Others – AFP reported at 0030 on March 20, 2011, diplomats at the conference stated that “several European nations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway…confirmed their [willingness] to take part in a UN-sanctioned military intervention in Libya.” Greece has volunteered the use of the island of Crete to aid air operations while Italy has opened her air bases to foreign air forces. Secretary Clinton announced her long list of nations from Portugal and Spain to reluctant Germany, who will not take part in Libya, but agreed to increase her role in Afghanistan.
As the propaganda war is ending the hot war has begun. French fighters fired on and destroyed the first targets (four Gaddafi tanks near Benghazi) at 1700 GMT and the coalition is at war. Remaining members will soon enter the fray as the all-out effort for regime change has begun. However, even now Sarkozy has left an ambiguous opening. “The doors of negotiations will commence when the aggression stops,” the president said. The question remains, will the remaining members agree?
Arab League – Jordan, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been extremely quiet as the meeting ended. Secretary Clinton referenced the Arab roles but deferred to the various ambassadors. “I will allow other nations to comment,” she stated.
Britain – British Tornado jets, equipped with extended long range fuel tanks, from the Royal Air Force base in Lossiemouth, have been scrambled. Following the joint Paris meeting Prime Minister David Cameron said in a news conference, “Colonel Gaddafi has broken his word…This has to stop. We have to make it stop…action [must] take place urgently."
Canada – John Irish of Reuters quoted a spokesman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at 1430 GMT on Saturday, March 19, 2011 that Harper “backed the idea of swift action but [his] fighter jets…would need two days to prepare for any operation.”
France – Sarkozy reiterated that France would prevent any Libyan aircraft form flying and attack any armored ground vehicles used by Colonel Gaddafi against rebel civilians. “As of now,” Sarkozy said “our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking [Benghazi]. As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians.”
USA President – Operating in a supporting role,a reluctant President Barack Obama said little after the French meeting. Speaking at a news conference in Brazil at 1615 GMT on March 19, 2011, the president made little comment on the Libyan affair and deferred to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, on March 18 the president said, in a White House press conference, “these terms are not negotiable… the resolution will be enforced through military action."
USA Secretary of State – Clinton spoke at 1635Z GMT from Paris and praised European, NATO and Arab leaders in partnering the coalition against Libya. She stressed the Gulf nations’ commitment in both support and active forces in fighting the dictator. Furthermore, Secretary Clintion reiterated American support of the Gulf countries that have come under criticism by Iran over the Bahrain revolution. “As a member of the GCC, certainly Bahrain has the right to invite [fellow] GCC nations,” she said.
The Others – AFP reported at 0030 on March 20, 2011, diplomats at the conference stated that “several European nations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway…confirmed their [willingness] to take part in a UN-sanctioned military intervention in Libya.” Greece has volunteered the use of the island of Crete to aid air operations while Italy has opened her air bases to foreign air forces. Secretary Clinton announced her long list of nations from Portugal and Spain to reluctant Germany, who will not take part in Libya, but agreed to increase her role in Afghanistan.
As the propaganda war is ending the hot war has begun. French fighters fired on and destroyed the first targets (four Gaddafi tanks near Benghazi) at 1700 GMT and the coalition is at war. Remaining members will soon enter the fray as the all-out effort for regime change has begun. However, even now Sarkozy has left an ambiguous opening. “The doors of negotiations will commence when the aggression stops,” the president said. The question remains, will the remaining members agree?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.