We'll use military force to free Libya, vows Brit PM: Cameron

Daily Mail Online ^ | 1st March 2011 | TIM SHIPMAN

[jda]

Ok, so where is the leader of the free world???

He’s not walking the picket lines in Wisconsin!

He’s not telling Qaddafi to leave ... now!

He’s not looking for ways to cut the budget!

Must be golf day.

[silverleaf]

there is no arrest warrant out for Qadaffi over PanAm 103

There is an arrest warrant out against the so-called “president” of Sudan for being a genocidal thug

oh, wait... Sudan? Too bad all their oil is way far in the south. too much trouble to go to war to stop genocide over that.... Paging George Clooney

[2001convSVT]

Yep, this looks like a British lead operation, the US is being pulled into this by the nose.

[no-to-illegals]

if anything, he'd (zer0) probably intervene on Qaddafi's side

this could be why France is yelling, No UN mandate, No Go.

[elpadre]

Who is organizing and leading the insurgency? It seems to be well organized and they do have sufficient arms for what they have done so far, which is considerable. I keep thinking of the history of these mideast upheavals. They never turn out well for the US and Western nations.There is much not being revealed, IMO.

[Billthedrill]

We don't want the new Libya to reorganize in a vacuum...

With respect, that is what we do want. Any involvement to guide this thing will taint any democratic tendencies and legitimize the Islamists. The Libyans need to do this themselves, and they will.

That said, should the Brits request it we'd be honor-bound to help them. I doubt if 0bama feels that way but I do.

[tanknetter]

David Cameron threatened Colonel Gaddafi with military action last night, promising a no-fly zone and arms shipments to his enemies.

And how do you plan to do that, Dave??

Six years ago the UK could quickly put two light carriers with Sea Harrier FA.2s and Harrier GR.7s into the Gulf of Sidra and be able to conduct a wide range of military operations with a reasonable chance of success (while not supersonic, the FA.2 with its Blue Vixen radar and AMRAAMs was a world-beater in the air-2-air role). AND be able to put a third light carrier into the mix within a short amount of time.

Six months ago the UK could quickly put two light carriers with Harrier GR.9s into the Gulf of Sidra and be able to conduct a limited set of military operations with moderate-high risk (given inability to provide organic air-cover).

Today the Brits are down to one light carrier, one helicopter assault ship/LPH and NO ability to take fixed wing aircraft to sea (because they HAVE NO fixed wing aircraft that can be taken to sea). The Brits can reasonably put their subs into the Gulf of Sidra and pop Tomahawks off at Libya ... but anything more than that would be utterly suicidal.

Unless they are looking at joint operations with the Spanish and Italians, who DO have aircraft carriers and aircraft (radar and AMRAAM-equipped AV-8B Harriers) that provide the capabilities that the Brits have mindlessly tossed away over the last 6 years.

[CodeToad]

Overthrowing a nation is dangerous and an act of war.

[K-Stater]

Unfortunately if international intervention is needed, the British have the will-power to intervene militarily but have gutted their armed forces. The U.S. has the armed forces, but Obama lacks the will-power.

[Monorprise]

I don’t care for the UN one bit. I think its an affront simply to go to them for anything.

That being said Libya’s dictator did attack the United states and great Britain 22+ years ago with a terrorist attack.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103

Gaddafi murdered 190 of our people, destroyed a British town, and murdered 43 of their subjects.

We are perfectly justified to take this uprising as an opportunity to get rid of this Gaddafi.

[Monorprise]

So is attacking a nation, Gaddafi has already drawn first blood against both the United States and the United Kingdom 22 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103

We are perfectly justified to take this opportunity help the rebels take down this tyrant. He is a criminal to our people as well.

[Winniesboy]

Libya was apparently a colony of Italy for a few years

During which Mussolini killed 20% of the entire population.

[ClearCase_guy]

Why aren't we attacking North Korea? We can justify attacking Gaddafi and we can justify attacking North Korea (we've been at war with them since 1951).

Just because we "have an opportunity" doesn't mean we should attack a sovereign nation.

[Paladin2]

Well then, they should know what to do to pacify the place.

Sounds like it's going to be difficult to stop people from killing people without killing them.

[bill1952]

If we take the sides of the rebels as we should, we will hopefully have a say in how this North African country takes shape after this is over.

LOL Naive beyond belief. The rebels are by the very fact the ones who want increased “freedom” to set up an islamic type government that is far more hostile to Israel.

And us. The end result is going to be very very bad and it’s not worth one drop of American blood.

[no-to-illegals]

Your post brought a smile to my face. ;)

[Monorprise]

Cause Rebels are not activity rebelling against North Korea with a good chance over overthrowing its leadership. Victory is not so comparatively cheap.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"LOL Naive beyond belief. The rebels are by the very fact the ones who want increased “freedom” to set up an islamic type government that is far more hostile to Israel."

And you know this for a fact, huh? Can you point to me one report that states this? I have not seen one thing out of Libya to prove your assertions.

I've been to a lot of Muslim and Middle Eastern countries. I've heard Barry's beloved call to prayers many times live and in person. Before you call me naive, make sure you have your facts straight!

[Monorprise]

If we can drop a few bombs to aid the rebels why not?

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Call me optimistic, but this could be a ‘Falklands’ moment, when Britain suddenly realised in needed to retain a fixed-wing carrier force (I know we are temporarily between carriers at the moment, but the plan is to have them again).

Camoron may well learn the lesson that slashing the defence budget in an increasingly unstable and volatile world is unwise, and will cause difficulties like this if they are allowed to stand.
Hopefully anyway...