Libya: SAS could help evacuate stranded oil workers

Libya: SAS could help evacuate stranded oil workers

w ww.telegraph.co.uk

Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, went further in appearing to confirm that the SAS was on stand-by.

Interviewed by Nick Ferrari on LBC radio, Mr Hunt said: "The most significant news is the SAS troops that are now ready to spring into action.

"They are obviously thinking very, very carefully about these 170 trapped oil workers and the issue now is how do we deal with people outside Tripoli rather than inside Tripoli."
Challenged about the lateness of the Government's response to the situat

(visit the link for the full news article)

Has anyone else been looking at this, the UK government apparently already have a warship at a Libyan port, are launching military planes to rescue stranded Britons and now are even considering using the SAS to rescue those who cannot make it to the air ports and sea ports.

I wonder if they will use the SAS to secure the oil fields and prevent Gadaffi burning the oil felids like Saddam did to prevent the price of oil getting even higher.


w ww.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by kevinunknown


Not sure who's oil fields they would want to protect? BP hasn't really got anything up and running yet.. as they kinda came to Libya a little late in the day compared to a lot of the other oil companies and even then it seems through dubious means.

However I'm glad the SAS are on standby tho, just in case they are needed to help rescue any nations nationals escape dire situations... in the meanwhile I'll just hope no such dire need arises.

There are many civilian and military planes/vessels at Libya at this moment. Ten odd thousand chinese citizens are being loaded and off loaded at crete through the cooperation of the Hellenic Navy, so in short, the evacuation of the nation is in full swing.

Interest conversation just on BBC news with a government minister confirming that special forces were on standby and hinting that they might be deployed to the desert areas to secure British nationals

reply to post by kevinunknown


Question: if you were a Government Minister who knew that the SAS were about to be deployed to rescue Brits stuck in the desert would you:

a. Tell anyone who happened to be listening.

or

b. Keep your fool mouth shut.

reply to post by exroyalnavy


Keep it shut

Also according to Sky News its not the SAS but the SBS and a contingent of SFSG

reply to post by kevinunknown


It would make more sense to use SBS as they would have to leave by water borne means if they can not get them to airports or docks etc, it's what these boys are trained for.

reply to post by Swanseadog


True or they could cross the border and probably even risk using helicopters (risky I know)

I heard that it was the SBS not the SAS being sent? They are on board a naval vessel, the HMS Cumberland, which was on its way to be scrapped and was turned around and sent to Libya?
I will see if I can find the news article I read this morning that carried the story.

Edit to add

After reading through some of the latest news stories, millitary correspondants are saying that the SAS are on standby (I thought there was always a unit on standby??). Maybe this is as well as the SBS.

It doesn't make any more or less sense that either would be used for "assisted evacuation" as they're both more than qualified for it. In all likelihood and with reports to suggest this, both are on standby in undisclosed locations with SFSG in support. It was also reported that SRR are involved, so presumably they have been there for a number of days as part of the “specialist, robust presence” that William Hague claimed was on the ground in Libya.

It is unusual that all of this info would be released into the media by numerous security sources and Government ministers, they wouldn’t do it for no good reason and as it appears to be a concerted effort I assume that it is an attempt to reassure Britons in Libya who are keeping up with events. It also helps to detract from criticism of the government’s inadequate response, by creating the “oooh SAS” headlines. Perhaps also to give a certain ugly bastard dictator the jitters.

web.stratfor.com...

Above is a map showing the oil export infrastructure in Libya, the Britons are in the east and the stranded man who was interviewed by the BBC is at a camp near the Amal oil field. He is also with Germans from a nearby camp that was looted and from what he said, by now they should have run out of food and are obviously at great risk from armed loonies. A rescue attempt will certainly have to be made within the next couple of days, if not today.