Posted on 04/21/2012 2:20:20 PM PDT by Heuristic Hiker
WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- The recent experience in Libya is helping the United States formulate a response to the crisis in Syria, the U.S. defense secretary said.
NATO enforced a no-fly zone over Libya last year after Moammar Gadhafi's forces attacked civilian demonstrators opposing his government. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the experience in Libya was shaping the U.S. approach to Syrian.
While acknowledging there were limitations to the use of military force, the defense secretary said "all options" are on the table in Syria.
"In Libya, there was widespread international support in the Arab world and elsewhere, and clear Security Council authorization, for military intervention," he said in prepared remarks. "No such consensus currently exists regarding Syria."
He added that the Syrian opposition wasn't as organized as Libya's. Outside military intervention, meanwhile, could make the volatile situation worse, he said.
The United Nations and Damascus announced Thursday they reached an agreement for a U.N. monitoring mission that would observe a shaky cease-fire brokered by former U.S. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
"An effective observer team on the ground is vital if the lives of ordinary Syrian families is to slowly return to normal," a statement issued through Annan's spokesman read. "The hard part lies ahead, a truly Syrian-led and -owned political dialogue to address the legitimate concerns and aspirations of the Syrian people."
Panetta added that Washington was committed to supporting the opposition through non-military means.
Apparently, jihadist change is something the Obama White House can believe in.
Kenyan overthrow released 20 **THOUSAND** SA-24 Grail MANPADS missiles onto the world market —only 5,000 have been recovered.
The SA-24 is highly robust —not old garbage at all.
Where did they go? Have any bets...? I do.
“NATO enforced a no-fly zone over Libya last year ....”
This war-by-any-other-name involved a lot more than the enforcement of a no-fly zone.
A pre-election “Wag the Dog”????
Labor Day war coming up. Just in time for the election
Wouldn’t be surprised at all.
Because we all know how successful that was...
US under soetoro sees islamism as model for the world.
Obama belives in fascism. Either Black Power Nationalism/Socialism, or theocratic fascism, Obama just likes fascism.
Do the American people like fascism? Apparently they do, they voted for Obama fascism in droves. How does America like Obama fascism now? There is a strident whining sound coming from Obama supporters these days, hoping that the fantasy Utopian bubble the fascist Obama has created in America will not burst.....yet.
Good Read:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
>>>””In Libya, there was widespread international support in the Arab world and elsewhere”<<<
Support for what? Did they want Gadaffi gone? Did they want ‘democracy’ for Libyans? Did they want Islamists gain political power?
The “Arab World” individually or collectively is not exactly the model for either representative democracy, human rights, or separation of religion & politics. It is full of Islamists waiting in the wings to gain power. None of the Arab countries & their leaders, I can think of, can claim ‘holier than thou’, in any way, compared to Gadaffi, Mobarak or the ex-leader of Tunisia.
The reality is that the French, Brits and so the Obama admin. wanted Gadaffi gone (period). They now just haven’t made up their mind about Syria.
Problem is that the same powers that saw the downfall of Gadaffi et al., together w/ the media, build up the “atrocities” of one regime to justify its overthrow, and then go deadly quiet when the next one commits even worse ones. The justification then is that people can now partake in the political process & Vote!!
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the experience in Libya was shaping the U.S. approach to Syria... "In Libya, there was widespread international support in the Arab world and elsewhere, and clear Security Council authorization, for military intervention," he said in prepared remarks. "No such consensus currently exists regarding Syria."
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