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Originally posted by Getsmart
We can also assume that some of these operations are being used as a "Field Demonstration" for arms sales,
Originally posted by Getsmart
with the French Rafales being refueled in flight directly above a French Air Force Base in Corsica, when they could have simple landed for traditional refueling.
Originally posted by Getsmart
The only explanation I can imagine is that this was done to demonstrate to potential French Dassault Aviation Rafale purchasers that the range of this aircraft can be easily extended using in-flight refueling.
We can also expect that the decision to launch the first Air Strikes against Libya with this aircraft is as a lasting advertisement for its effective use in aggressive military actions over enemy territory.
Originally posted by Getsmart
The only alternative explanation would be the fear of retaliation by Corsicans when landing on the French Air Force Base north of Solenzara, Corsica.
This might be prompted by the likelihood that Qaddafi is HALF CORSICAN and that his biological father may very well have been a FRENCH AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT. Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.
Originally posted by stumason
Read the resolution. It isn't just a no fly zone that has been set up but rather it is just part of it. The main thrust of the UNSC resolution is "protecting civilians", which in this context is diplo-speak for supporting the rebels.
Originally posted by stumason
The Kosovo Campaign in 1999 went pretty well. Air power alone drove the Serbian Army out of Kosovo, so when the Para's and US Marines went in, the only opposition they encountered was the Russians at Pristina.
Originally posted by stumason
In defence of my Scots, Irish, Welsh and Commonwealth friends, it isn't an English ship. England hasn't had a Navy since 1707.
I personally think, having looked at the video, that it was engine failure. But is serves the rebels well to claim it was "shot down", both for morale and to entice the West to respond.
I sometimes wonder if I am rather sad because I seem to be one of the few that has followed this thing from start to finish and remember's things.
At the beggining of the uprising, Libyan Army, Air force and some Navy defected. The rebels also took several airfields with aircraft in them. There was a report a few weeks back of the rebels and the few pilots they have trying to get these aircraft airworthy. Looks like they have managed that, albeit not very well.
No fishyness or strange stenches. It's rather simple and a bit less exciting.
Rebels captured planes - rebels fixed planes - rebels flew planes - rebels crashed plane.
Originally posted by stumason
Up until the beggining of last week, half the country, including it's air bases, was under rebel control. It really isn't that surprising to find they nabbed a few aircraft. They also have helo's too.
Seriously, it isn't some conspiracy they have a few aircraft!
Originally posted by stumason
Well done, you've cut through the diplo-speak. The "protecting civilians" is how they got it through the UNSC vote. This is and always has been about getting rid of a manical dictator on Europes borders. An opportunity presented itself and, very surprisingly, the French took it with both hands and bent it over. Kudos to them.
It isn't dependant, not by a long shot. An importer, sure, but not dependant. Libya, at best, can do 1 million barrels a day. A drop in the proverbial.
Originally posted by stumason
I would like to see that as every source I can find points to Norway, Saudi and even the UK as major suppliers of Oil to France, but no Libya in the lists. Libyan oil went mostly to Italy, Germany and Spain with France importing only 87,000 barrels off them, making that a rough 8% of Libyan oil going to France.
Originally posted by stumason
It's France's show this one, with the UK flying wingman and the US just idling wiaiting for the French phone call. The Command Centre hasn't even been set up yet, so this is happening pretty quickly and I think the assault on Benghazi by Gaddafi has pushed up the timetable a bit.
Hmm. I suspect that Obama just pontificated, to be honest. He has shown himself to be indecisive and a bit wishy-washy. Ready to say alot, but won't back his words up.
No, they won't. It's political and I covered it in depth in another thread, but the short of it is that Saudi simply won't allow Bahrain to be dealt with and doing so will only place a Shia, Iran-Friendly Government in control of the home of the US 5th Fleet and right next to Saudi. Not a good result.
It is slighlty hypocritical of us in the West, but Saudi have us by the short and curlies, plus we don't want Irans influence spreading.
People need to see the big picture when comparing Libya to Bahrain.
Originally posted by stumason
A stable state to the south of the EU, control of migration, stable oil prices, protecting people from a madman?
Not everything is a conspiracy and might just be as it appears.
Originally posted by Getsmart
Originally posted by stumason
Read the resolution. It isn't just a no fly zone that has been set up but rather it is just part of it. The main thrust of the UNSC resolution is "protecting civilians", which in this context is diplo-speak for supporting the rebels.
If the rebels were spawned, sponsored, logistically financially or militarily supported prior to them starting Civil War in Libya, then of course the diplomats of foreign nations intervening through militias against a nation state would as you say use "diplo-speak for supporting the rebels".
Originally posted by Getsmart
Originally posted by stumason
The Kosovo Campaign in 1999 went pretty well. Air power alone drove the Serbian Army out of Kosovo, so when the Para's and US Marines went in, the only opposition they encountered was the Russians at Pristina.
Since you believe that "the Kosovo Campaign went pretty well" it becomes clear that you and your family were not a part of those who were left in the field of honor. Pray tell us what scenario you would describe as "The Libya Campaign in 2011 went pretty well ?"
Originally posted by Getsmart
Originally posted by stumason
In defence of my Scots, Irish, Welsh and Commonwealth friends, it isn't an English ship. England hasn't had a Navy since 1707.
I personally think, having looked at the video, that it was engine failure. But is serves the rebels well to claim it was "shot down", both for morale and to entice the West to respond.
I sometimes wonder if I am rather sad because I seem to be one of the few that has followed this thing from start to finish and remember's things.
At the beggining of the uprising, Libyan Army, Air force and some Navy defected. The rebels also took several airfields with aircraft in them. There was a report a few weeks back of the rebels and the few pilots they have trying to get these aircraft airworthy. Looks like they have managed that, albeit not very well.
No fishyness or strange stenches. It's rather simple and a bit less exciting.
Rebels captured planes - rebels fixed planes - rebels flew planes - rebels crashed plane.
Well here at least you have shared an analysis of the Plane that crashed over Benghazi, as a defective Libyan fighter jet captured by rebels and unsuccessfully flown into the NO FLY ZONE Airspace under the likely protection of the foreign Coalition and crashed due to mechanical failure or pilot error ?
Originally posted by xavi1000
After Obama ,now Nobel peace prize should go to Sarkozy ]
Originally posted by stumason
Ok, now you've drawn me...
You are making an asumption that they were "spawned, sponsored, logistically financially or militarily supported prior", despite there being no evidence of such. It appeared, on the face of it, that it was initially a series of protests that stemmed from the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings, which in part were as a result of leaked cables on Wikileaks.
I have plenty of family who have served, including in the former Yugoslavia. A good ending for this would be that Gaddfi's advance on Benghazi is halted, the rebels get organised and kick his sorry arse out. I already know that they are getting weapons and "advice" from some western powers after initial contact was made some weeks ago.
Originally posted by Getsmart
Well here at least you have shared an analysis of the Plane that crashed over Benghazi, as a defective Libyan fighter jet captured by rebels and unsuccessfully flown into the NO FLY ZONE Airspace under the likely protection of the foreign Coalition and crashed due to mechanical failure or pilot error ?
Originally posted by stumason
Not sure why there is a question mark here, I don't see a question, only a statement. Dig further and you will find many more posts like that.
The Egyptian protests became the most critical foreign policy crisis so far for the Obama administration, and Obama came to increasingly rely upon Clinton for advice and connections. Clinton had known Mubarak for some twenty years, and had formed a close relationship with Egyptian First Lady Suzanne Mubarak by supporting the latter's human rights work. Clinton originated the idea of sending Frank G. Wisner as an emissary to Cairo, to tell Mubarak not to seek another term as the country's leader. As Mubarak's response to the protests became violent in early February, Clinton strongly condemned the actions taking place, especially those against journalists covering the events, and urged new Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman to conduct an official investigation to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. When Wisner baldly stated that Mubarak's departure should be delayed to accommodate an orderly transition to another government, Clinton rebuked him, but shared a bit of the same sentiment. Mubarak did finally step down on February 11 as the protests became the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Clinton said that the U.S. realized that Egypt still had much work and some difficult times ahead of it.
Hillary Rodham Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State
"According to the author of the email, in 1978 the government of Menahem Begin ordered the infiltration of the Gaullist party to make a kind of partner of it for Israel. The operation was set up by Rafael Eytan, an Israeli spy-master. « Three French citizens predisposed to collaborate » would therefore have been targeted: Patrick Balkany, Patrick Devedjian and Pierre Lellouche. Balkany is introduced as the leader of "network".
In 1983, Patrick Balkany would have recruited the "young and promising" Sarkozy, the « fourth man of the Mossad ». The fifth recruit came to complete the implement in the 1990s: Manuel Aeschlimann, deputy-mayor of Asnières (Hauts-de-Seines)."
President Nicolas Sarkozy - One of Five Mossad Agents in French Politics
Originally posted by OrionHunterX
Why can't they fight poverty, economic slow down, health care, education etc in their own countries first?