Posted on 03/18/2011 2:08:20 AM PDT by marthemaria
The Agence France Presse news agency is reporting that the French government has said military action against Libya will come within "hours".
The strikes will come "rapidly... within a few hours," government spokesman Francois Baroin reportedly told RTL radio after the UN Security Council cleared the way for air strikes by approving "all necessary measures" to impose a no-fly zone on Libya.
"The French, who led the calls [for action], will of course be consistent with military intervention," Mr Baroin added.
Asked to specify what that meant, he said "they will participate" in operations.
However, the UK and US have played down the prospect of immediate action, with NATO heads to meet tonight to discuss their options.
Mr Baroin said the goal of the military action would be to "protect the Libyan people and to allow them to go all the way in their drive for freedom, which means bringing down the Gaddafi regime."
The United Nations authorised military strikes to protect Libyan civilians and curb leader Moamar Gaddafi's forces this morning, hours after Mr Gaddafi threatened to storm the rebel bastion of Benghazi.
It approved a resolution permitting "all necessary measures" to impose a no-fly zone, protect civilian areas and impose a ceasefire on government forces.
Diplomats have indicated that air strikes from a coalition led by Britain, France and the United States could be imminent. However, the resolution rules out sending in foreign ground troops.
Canada has offered the use of its bases and the British government will be holding a cabinet meeting later today to decide what to do.
Norway's defence minister Grete Faremo has confirmed his country will also contribute to the operation, but says: "It is too early to say exactly in what way. Sending air capabilities would be natural".
In response to the UN's resolution, Mr Gaddafi's son Saif said his family was "not afraid".
"We are in our country and with our people. And we are not afraid," he told ABC America from the Libyan capital Tripoli.
"We will not be afraid. Come on! We will not be afraid. I mean, you are not helping to the people if you are going to bomb Libya, to kill Libyans. You destroy our country. Nobody is happy with that."
Earlier the news of the Security Council resolution was greeted with wild celebrations in the remaining rebel strongholds of Libya, with crowds in Benghazi and Tobruk swarming into the streets to chant slogans, wave flags, fire weapons and let off fireworks.
As rebel fighters in Benghazi readied themselves for an assault by Mr Gaddafi's forces, the Libyan dictator broadcast a chilling warning to the city, saying his forces would be there by "tonight" and would show "no mercy" to the "rats and dogs" ranged against them.
- ABC/AFP
‘Bombs away’ about the time Palin hits the stage in India...deflects media coverage.
That's why only empty desert will be bombed.
Exactly -- in fact, even before this happens, they will start it up. the US should NOT be in Libya. Neither any European nation -- let the Arabs fight if they want
I was going to post my similar feelings last night. Unless we have definite intel re Libya’s SAMs, it’s what amounts to a proving ground for the Russians/Chinese against western military capabilities. I just hope we don’t have another Francis Gary Powers circus if one of those Libyan/Russian missile operators happens to get lucky. Or worse another Blackhawk Down situation because the UN doesn’t have the stomach to deal with public losses.
Now that the fight is over, there is little upside here.
The worthwhile French bloodlines were extinguished in the Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic Wars.
We have no business sticking our noses into an Arab civil war.
And "we must help the innocent Libyans against their cruel oppressors" rings hollow after all our years of inaction in Sudan when the southern Christians were being enslaved and killed.
“The worthwhile French bloodlines were extinguished in the Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic Wars”
The XIV Amendment will have the same result.
Exactly.
Btw while we are talking the list is getting longer.
Now it´s France, UK, US, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Spain (of course to be contined) who want to commit military.
Has the “western” world gone totally insane?
WE ARE BROKE! We allready fight endless wars in the ME and now we want to start an other one?
And for what again?
Because some muslims slaughter some other muslims for controll of the oil fields?
btw. Who tells us that the rebels are better then gadaffi?
Whats next do we invade Zimbabwe too, How about sudan...? (because the list is endless).
This is not going to end well.
Blackhawk Down II.
Yes, because General Obama needs us to love him again.
-——Mr Gaddafi’s son Saif said his family was “not afraid-——
It appears that he is now de facto leader. My assessment early on was that he in conjunction with various Euro types would reach an agreement that would leave him in control.
That apparently is no longer the case. The Euros have turned on him meaning the negotiations broke down. The Euros have decided to take it all.
Sacre Bleu! Moi?
I remember that day well, They keep shooting at me while I lead the charge
You do great disservice to George here...:-(
Obama doesn’t know anything more about real battle than he does about fornicating.
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