U.S. envoy (Susan Rice): More than a no-fly zone needed

[Turborama]

Source: UPI

Published: March. 17, 2011 at 3:00 AM EST

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (UPI) -- Military action beyond a no-fly zone should be considered to protect Libyans threatened by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces, the U.S. U.N envoy said.

"We need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond, a no-fly zone at this point, as the situation on the ground has evolved, and as a no-fly zone has inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk," U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council meeting Thursday to consider a resolution, sponsored by Lebanon, supporting airstrikes and other military action against Libya.

The United States, Britain and France pushed for the U.N. Security Council vote to be held Thursday but Russia said it needed more time to decide on the resolution after Moscow's proposal of a cease-fire before military action came into effect was rejected. China was skeptical about the use of force.

=snip=

"The turning point was really the Arab League statement on Saturday," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday to reporters traveling with her in Cairo. "That was an extraordinary statement in which the Arab League asked for Security Council action against one of its own members... (continued)

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/17/US-envoy-More-than-a-no-fly-zone-needed/UPI-74081300345200/

[upi402]

1. If the Arab League says go... GO! already

"The League of Arab States Saturday requested that the United Nations authorize military action against Libya to protect civilians."



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/17/US-envoy-More-than-a-no-fly-zone-needed/UPI-74081300345200/#ixzz1GqBbwft9

[truthisfreedom]

2. But put everyone else in charge. We're fighting on two fronts alone in the Mideast already.

Time for the Europeans to step up.

[truthisfreedom]

3. Heck, everyone involved should step up.

[Turborama]

5. Saudi Arabia should be focusing its attention on what the Arab League is saying, not Bahrain's king

S.A. are armed to the hilt and should be stepping up to the plate on this, instead of getting involved with brutally suppressing the call for democracy next door.

[Turborama]

4. Which "two fronts" are we fighting "alone in the Mideast already"? n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Uh, would those be Iraq and Afghanistan?

Not 100% alone, but close to it. Anyway, those two wars have our military pretty well exhausted, with endless re-deployments for combat units.

Invading Libya would be another major undertaking.

Maybe if we close enough schools and hospitals here, we could almost pay for that crusade.

:hi:

[Turborama]

14. Technically, we're not "fighting a front" in Iraq anymore. We're supposed to completely withdraw...

...by the end of this year, in fact: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.%E2%80%93Iraq_Status_of_Forces_Agreement

And we're far from "alone" in Afghanistan...



I'm not saying this as an argument to go to war in Libya, just trying to help keep the facts straight.

:hi:

[kirby]

16. LOL - keeping the facts straight...

If you think we are going to be completely withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

[BlueMTexpat]

6. A no-fly zone is a good start.

and should have happened right away.
In the meantime, the dithering goes on and nothing constructive is happening. Empty rhetoric at best.
The tyrant al-Gaddafi clan keeps laughing while they continue their massacres.

[Turborama]

7. Yep, I think it's starting to look like they feel free to use empty words of aggression now

Gaddafi knows the window of opportunity to kill/cover up/carry on is closing and is ramping up the advance accordingly.

Sadly, I think the horse has already bolted that proverbial stable.

I hope I'm wrong.

[BlueMTexpat]

15. I hope so too. nt

[Jmaxfie1]

8. Authorise Libya air strikes, US urges UN

Source: Guardian

The US is pushing the UN to authorise not just a no-fly zone over Libya, but also the use of air strikes to stop the advance of forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

Washington's ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said on Wednesday that a no-fly zone would have only a limited use, and that the Obama administration was working "very hard" to pass a new resolution, which would authorise the use of aerial bombing of Libyan tanks and heavy artillery.

The UN security council is planning to vote on the resolution late on Thursday.

After a day of intensive negotiation in New York, Rice told reporters: "We need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond, a no-fly zone at this point, as the situation on the ground has evolved, and as a no-fly zone has inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/17/libya-air-strikes-urged-us-un

[readmoreoften]

9. Both Air Strikes and No-Fly require US boots on the ground. No way.

This is not a humanitarian mission. This is a chance to get between the Tunisia and Egyptian Revolutions. Other than the far right, CIA-backed National Front for the Salvation of Libya, most aren't asking for intervention. They don't want to beat Gaddafi only to become a vassal state of the US. Unfortunately, the rebels will likely lose. What we CAN do to support them if they lose is to demand that the US and NATO treat Gaddafi like a rogue state and stop doing business with him while they regroup for an eventual 2nd uprising.

We've lost the moral authority to 'intervene' on humanitarian grounds in oil rich nations through Iraq and Afghanistan. They don't seem to want us there and we can't afford another intervention.

[johnroshan]

10. EU and the Arab league are fully capable

of enforcing a no fly zone. That would be much less susceptible to a blowback, less fodder for propaganda. If the UN approves, they could take some action. Standing back and watching people get murdered isn't why we have organizations like UN.

[mainer]

11. Ditto. Gulf states have plenty of jets and military capability

So what are THEY waiting for? Why does everyone think the US has to be part of it? Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc, could do it all.

[joshcryer]

13. And the US wants the Arab League to take a leading role. Read the draft.