[Flipside]

Libya produces less Oil per day than the UK does. Whereas Iraq produces over twice as much. Afghanistan has massive deposits of Copper and other metals that could be exploited with the correct infrastruture.

Besides, that isn't the point I'm trying to make, what I'm trying to say is that if we worked alongside the UAE in this, there would be a form of checks and balances that meant that the kind of accusations levelled against the US and others over Iraq and Afghanistan would be extremely difficult to justify.

[Bobboau]

oh, yeah, NOW he wants to do it, it's like he is TRYING to do this PERFICTLY wrong, wait until a NFZ is insufficient, then call for one. so now we will be invaders and Gaddafi will probably still win.

[Mongoose]

I have to say, I've lost a substantial amount of respect for Obama over how he's handled this situation.

[Herra Tohtori]

Sigh.

Looks like there'll be no substantial change in Libya for the time being. The uprising lost its momentum, changed into a rebellion, and while everyone was twiddling their thumbs wondering about the best course of action, Gaddafi has crushed the spine of the majority of the rebellion.

I think most people following the situation are now vaguely nauseous and my reaction to it might be quite common: Gaddafi is going to stay in power, and nothing is done about it, and since I don't even want to think about the injustice of it all, I'm going to go watch some cat videos and then some tsunami or whatever else that distracts me of the whole travesty of it all.


 

[Dark RevenantX]

What a wonderful feeling of anger I have right now.

[achtung]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/libya-idUSLDE72G0UF20110317

Batttle for Benghazi  has begun it seems.

[achtung]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/03/un-approves-no-fly-zone-over-libya/1

****ing finally.

[Hades]

I hope it isn't too late.

[DarkBasilisk]

Well, we've got a carrier group off shore. If we decide to be useful the US can now respond whenever they feel like it. Benghazi now has a potential viable defense now. The loyalists have been using heavy bombardments to take cities, but the threat of an overpowering airstrike might take that off the table. Also there's enough wiggle room in the resolution to justify just bombing loyalist targets all over the place, which is both concerning but also promising.

[Suongadon]

Hmm. How exactly is this going to work? The French carrier and its support ships are still in Toulon (well, it was a couple days ago), and the US seems to be more going along with it, rather than seeking to lead the charge.

Seems to be half bluff, half symbolic gesture at this point, and we're stuck hoping the crazy guy with bad shoes doesn't call it.

[Kosh]

Sigh.

Looks like there'll be no substantial change in Libya for the time being. The uprising lost its momentum, changed into a rebellion, and while everyone was twiddling their thumbs wondering about the best course of action, Gaddafi has crushed the spine of the majority of the rebellion.

I think most people following the situation are now vaguely nauseous and my reaction to it might be quite common: Gaddafi is going to stay in power, and nothing is done about it, and since I don't even want to think about the injustice of it all, I'm going to go watch some cat videos and then some tsunami or whatever else that distracts me of the whole travesty of it all.


 

For the US the situation is this: Long ago a deal was made with the gulf oil states. The deal was in exchange for american security and what amounted to a blank check to abuse their people, the regimes would sell oil only in dollars and would recycle those petrodollars by buying stuff or investing with them. Now, america's fence sitting on the uprisings has caused the regimes to start thinking twice about america's security gaurentee. This has very real future consequences for the dollar, and is likely to cause it to lose a great amount of value in the future as the regimes consider pricing their oil in other currencies.

[Herra Tohtori]

BBC: UN backs action against Gaddafi

The UN Security Council has backed a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary measures" short of an invasion "to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas".

Situation has been upgraded

Regular fan has been replaced with turbofan

[StarSlayer]

BBC: UN backs action against Gaddafi

The UN Security Council has backed a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary measures" short of an invasion "to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas".

Situation has been upgraded

Regular fan has been replaced with turbofan

Hopefully twin TF34-GE-100 turbofans, with a  GAU-8/A Avenger in the nose.

[Bobboau]

ok... so... what are 'we' going to do? and when are 'we' planning on doing it?

[Mongoose]

Hopefully twin TF34-GE-100 turbofans, with a  GAU-8/A Avenger in the nose.

Very much yes.

Also, lol at Russia and China abstaining from the vote.  Can't be seen supporting the rights of the people, now can we?

[Unknown Target]

Calm down folks. We don't even know who's actually going to even answer that call with real force. This is just all the member states saying that they'd intervene - now they're probably all looking at each other and wondering who's going to step up first and what they're going to do.

I, personally, am pushing for an American-led NFZ – one US carrier to help at least even the odds. We won’t fight their fight for them, win or lose, but we’ll keep the scales even between the people and their dictator. One US battlegroup for Libya – that is the only way to even the fight with the scale of the oppression they faced.

[Colonol Dekker]

Well the UN are getting off their arses now soooooooooo, i'd much prefer to get shipped out there as it'd be a bit more fun dodging Tanks and Air power than running search ops in Afghan (although i'd love the Brimstone callsign that goes with it ). Any views on when this will all kick off?

[Reprobator]

It was about time.
I hope it isn't too late ,

[Black Wolf]

It'll be french and Pom led, surely, with assistance fr4om Arab league nations? I know Italy's already given access to bases in Sicily.

[Pred the Penguin]

I wonder if it's really the best course of action though. Only time will tell of course.