Posted on 03/17/2011 8:53:52 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Canadian fighter jets heading to Libya
By DAVID AKIN, Parliamentary Bureau Chief
Last Updated: March 17, 2011 11:13pm
OTTAWA - Canada will send six CF-18 fighter jets to southern Europe to help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, defence sources told QMI Agency.
Fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec are expected to head to Europe as soon as various diplomatic clearances are obtained.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay, though, would not provide official confirmation of the mission.
"We do not comment on speculation and this is an unconfirmed story," said MacKay spokesman Jay Paxton.
After days of debate, the United Nations Security Council decided on Thursday to "establish a ban on all flights in the airspace" over Libya.
"Today the Security Council has responded to the Libyan people's cry for help," said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador the UN.
The mission for fighter jets from Canada and other countries could involve a combination of targeting infrastructure that is important to the Libyan Air Force, such as radar installations, or attempting to shoot down any Libyan Air Force jets.
That said, the mandate from the UN security council authorizes "all necessary measures" be taken short of invading Libya in order to protect Libyan citizens and rebels from attacks by forces loyal to Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi.
it does look wrong at first glance
What leads you to suppose that the countries you mention (and several other European countries) are not contributing their forces also, and in much larger numbers? The Canadians are involved only because, it seems, they wanted to join in.
What makes you think that? Half a dozen European countries are leading on this with their own forces. The Canadians are involved only because, apparently, they want to be.
First of all, thanks for your explanation.
Second, I am against having the US get involved in the Libya conflict because I do not want our men and women to be policemen of the world, especially in this case. (We had the moral authority to take out Q several decades ago, and we let it go.)
They're Quebec, just how much closer can they get?
nully, who is vacationing in Canada this summer, getting it out of his system early...
Hey, it wasn't for a lack of trying. Google Operation El Dorado Canyon for a history lesson.
Way cool! Thanks!
The F-15 can’t land on a carrier at all. My thread mentioned that I’ve seen an F-15 make an arrested landing at Clark AFB in the PI. And Canadian F-18s are carrier capable as are all F-18s.
It was the Canadians that first developed the concept. They came up with the idea sometime after they started developing F-18 operations.
Thats because the USAF bought into the F-4 program after originally being develloped for the USN.
I am aware we tried. Thanks.
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