Obama OKs use of armed drone aircraft in Libya

Pentagon chief Robert Gates says President Barack Obama has approved the use of armed Predator drone aircraft in Libya.

Gates told a Pentagon news conference that the Predator is an example of the unique U.S. military capabilities that Obama is willing to contribute to a coalition military campaign in Libya, while other countries enforce a no-fly zone.

Marine Gen. James Cartwright, speaking alongside Gates, said the first Predator mission was scheduled for Thursday but it was scratched due to poor weather. Cartwright said the Predators allow low-level precision attacks on Libyan government forces.

www.wntp.com...

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Suuuuuuuure, no boots on the ground.
Well folks, who wants to be stationed in Libya? This keeps escalating and escalating. . . . . .

I'd prefer this from the start rather than NATO jets overhead.

Don't let Obama control it, somehow he would divert the drone to Kenya and Hawaii and get rid of any "evidence" of his existence there!!!

reply to post by beezzer


Yeah we have seem how unique these are in pakistan and Afghanistan killing civilans wohoo lets get the toys in total western aggression iraq all over again

reply to post by CanadianDream420


It may be more surgical, bt it is also more manpower intensive. Just waiting for the other "boot" to drop.

I thought this was a a french/british operation.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

so the commander and cheif continues to stretch our military thinner and thinner.

obama-iraq is wrong but its our moral duty to go kill quadaffi

obama-pakistan is wrong but sends more drones into there.

obama doesn't have a clue the biggest hypocrite in this country nothing but a bunch of witless sheep elected that man.


next time people decry gwb on here remind them that they are the biggest hypocrites there are on here.


we have no business in libya if iraq and afghanistan and pakistan are wrong obama is nothing but a cold blooded murder.

Cruise Missiles for LIbya. Squirt guns and whistles for our own border patrol. Seriously, I thought we were broke? How in hell can we afford this? Cutting spending, starting wars. This makes no sense at all.

I guess it was because of the stellar record they had in Afghanistan..... sarcasm off

not exactly at the top of the list of things I would expect for a noble peace prize winner

....had to throw that in there it true though

reply to post by beezzer

Suuuuuuuure, no boots on the ground.

As far as I know, and I am far from an expert, the Predator is controled from somewhere on the ground IN the United States.

No presence on the ground needed to operate these aircraft in combat. They can land and get serviced from NATO airbases in the area. Last I heard, they were testing an air-to-air refueling capability, so theoreticaly, they could also be based from and carry out sorties from State-side.

I don't see this as an escalation, more of a switch to a different tool set with which to carry out an objective.

Obama's War just went hot. But he is campaigning. So mebbe he has to appear tough.

It just makes America weaker by involving ourselves in this mess.

reply to post by ErEhWoN

There has to be boots on the ground to tell the drones where to go.

Unless they're using google maps in the pentagon.

I think the headline should have included:

The Noble Peace Prize recipent, Obama, orders the use of armed drone aircraft.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4361b397977b.jpg[/atsimg]

Just goes to show another honor bestowed on Obama-when he didn't deserve or earn it. Par for the course with Obama.

I wonder what the "Brain Trust" at NOBLE think of Obama now. I think now they realize they fell for Obama...:
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f1752029e3df.gif[/atsimg]

Sure am glad the dems are against war for poor reasons.
Ah well, the spin doctors will make it a positive for him...about time to give back the award isn't it Barry?

There has to be boots on the ground to tell the drones where to go.

Um, no there is no requirement to have boots on the ground. These aircraft can be controlled from the North American continent itself. Source.

From Source;

During the campaign in the former Yugoslavia, a Predator's pilot would sit with several payload specialists in a van near the runway of the drone's operating base. Direct radio signals controlled the drone's takeoff and initial ascent. Then communications shifted to military satellite networks linked to the pilot's van. Pilots experienced a delay of several seconds between tugging their joysticks and the drone's response. But by 2000 improvements in communications systems (perhaps by use of the USAF's JSTARS system) made it possible, at least in theory, to fly the drone remotely from great distances. It was no longer necessary to use close-up radio signals during the Predator's takeoff and ascent. The entire flight could be controlled by satellite from any command center with the right equipment. The CIA proposed to attempt over Afghanistan the first fully remote Predator flight operations, piloted from the agency's headquarters at Langley.[11]

Unless they're using google maps in the pentagon.

Yeah, thats a good way to describe it. Pretty much like that. No boots on the ground, sorry.

Originally posted by beezzer
Suuuuuuuure, no boots on the ground.
Well folks, who wants to be stationed in Libya? This keeps escalating and escalating. . . . . .

Pssst!

U.S. troops will be wearing tennis shoes, so obama's "promise" is safe ...

Originally posted by beezzer
There has to be boots on the ground to tell the drones where to go.

Unless they're using google maps in the pentagon.

Hmmmmm. And you claim to have ties to the military with secure lines? Most people know the drones are piloted remotely with actionable intelligence provided by satellites, AWACS and the like. They don't rely on a GI screaming coordinates over a walkie taklie or pointing a laser pen at a target. They've got IR, FLIR, and a host of other technology. Geez.

Drone pilot fights Afghan war from Nevada base

Seated in a padded chair inside a low, tan building, he controlled a heavily armed drone aircraft soaring over Afghanistan. When his shift ended, he drove 40 minutes back through the desert to the hustle and neon of Las Vegas.

A drone pilot can fire on an insurgent dug into the Afghan hills and be home in time for a backyard barbecue. In just an hour or two, the pilot can go from a heated argument with a spouse to a tense radio conversation with an amped-up soldier pinned down by weapons fire.

www.azcentral.com...

For those of you who don't think they need people, just wait. I'm sure you fine folks have more knowledge than I in the area of drones and drone recon.
It's called mission creep. A slow but steady escalation of forces. Satellites are nice, but you need boots to give precise data to the drone operators.
Obama may appear to have washed his hands, but this is only going to get bigger and messier.

General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S. plan called for keeping two patrols of armed Predators above Libya at any given time, permitting better surveillance -- and targeting -- of Gaddafi's forces. The drones are based in the region but typically flown by remote control by pilots in the United States.

af.reuters.com...

Like I said before, boots on the ground.

-beez