Posted on 03/20/2011 1:52:50 PM PDT by Hojczyk
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, has said the military operation in Libya called for by the UN Security Council is not aimed at regime change - adding that a "stalemate" could well exist, leaving Muammar Gaddafi in power.
The 64-year-old admiral also said that no-fly zone had "effectively been established", as Gaddafi's planes had not taken to the skies following Saturday's overnight shelling of dozens of targets in northern Libya.
Anti-aircraft fire was also heard in the Libyan capital on Sunday night, indicating a second wave of incoming jets. Tracer rounds and machine-gun fire was also heard, though there has been no confirmation yet of further attacks.
"In the first 24 hours, operations have established the no-fly zone. French air planes are over Benghazi as we speak and will do that on a 24/7 basis. The operations have taken out some ground forces near Benghazi, taken out air defences, some of his control nodes, some of his airfields, I don’t have all damage assessments, but so far [it's been] very very effective," he said.
Gaddafi "was attacking Benghazi and we are there to stop that ... we are ending his ability to attack us from the ground, so he will not continue to execute his own people."
Mullen, the most senior officer in the US military, denied that any civilians had been killed in the bombardment, which saw some 110 cruise missiles being shot from American naval vessels in the Mediterranean sea.
Libyan state TV has reported that death toll from the air strikes has risen to more than 60.
Mullen also said the US would be handing command of the operation to "a coalition" of militaries, with support coming from the Arab world, as well as NATO members.
(Excerpt) Read more at english.aljazeera.net ...
I have a solution to the Libyan problem!
They want a new Muslim leader, I say give them ours!
Solves 2 problems.
I like it! :-D
Sorry, Admiral, but I gotta call BULLSH!T on this.
Your boss said that Qaddafi had to go, so regime change it is. No do overs for the Wookie’s husband.
Ha! Great idea!
Obama DID say that Gadfly has to go, now what.
Absent ground forces, this is the likely outcome.
See, American citizens, you don’t understand. We’re really just referees, seeking to have a nice, long, balanced civil war. It’s also key to have fodder for America-bashing. This way both qdaffy and the revolutionaries can chant death to America, instead of just qdaffy. It’s hatred in stereo, much better sound quality.
We’re not trying to remove qdaffy from power, we’re just shooting off cool missiles. It’s war without righteousness - there’s no such thing as a righteous war, right ? That’s what my teachers and professors alwasy said.
And since the media has thrown all logic out the window, the administration can say nonsensical statements - even every one a different viewpoint - and history, as recorded by the media - will just champion nobama.
And blame everything on the R’s and the evil rich people and their minions, the hillbillies.
</do i need a sarc
Excuse my ignorance on this issue but I am so confused as what the hell is going on!! Thursday we are watching him choose his brackets and Friday we are dropping bombs and France is in charge. Did I miss something?
That’s just stupid! If we’re going to intervene, we need to kill Khadaffi, his sons, and any other relative who might want to take power.
So essentially this is turning out to be a run of the mill clusterf*ck? Great. -sarcasm off-
Rio Fevah.
“....military operation in Libya called for by the UN Security Council is not aimed at regime change....”
.
Bomb the shit out of a country with the objective to defeat its government and allow the rebels to get the upper hand, will not result in a regime change?
Pray tell, who will be in charge now?
Why? To give it to other freakazoid moon worshippers? Stalemate is the best option here.
As if anything else was possible with OBozo running the show.
The objective in Libya makes no sense, but neither does Afghanistan anymore, so not surprising. Obama is a complete boob who doesn’t know what he’s doing when it comes to the military. This is why it helps when the president either has military experience or has people around him who do and not the kissass, tax cheaters, Obama has decided to put around him.
This is an alternative universe we’re living in.
excellent
Mullen is a theoretician and has never been in combat. Take whatever he says with the biggest grain of salt you can get your hands on.
Then WTF IS the goal?
Mullen is not a Combat Commander. He is a staff officer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.