Posted on 05/23/2011 5:14:11 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The UK is to send helicopters to Libya following similar announcements by France.
Britain and France are to deploy attack helicopters against Libya in an attempt to break the military stalemate, particularly in the important coastal city of Misrata, security sources have told the Guardian.
In a significant escalation of the conflict, the Apaches based on HMS Ocean will join French helicopters in risky operations which reflect deepening frustration among British and French defence chiefs about their continuing inability to protect civilians.
Apaches, which are being used in counter insurgency operations in Afghanistan, can manoeuvre and attack small targets in relatively built-up areas. Heavily-armed Apaches and French Tiger helicopters are equipped with night vision equipment and electronic guidance systems.
Gaddafi forces have shed their uniforms, are using civilian vehicles and hiding armour near civilian buildings, including hospitals and schools.
The decision to deploy the helicopters is a clear recognition that high-level bombing from 15,000 feet cannot protect civilians who continue to be attacked by rocket and mortar shells. It brings the Nato offensive much closer to the ground at a time when Britain and other Nato countries are insisting they have no intention of sending in troops.
However, the helicopters could be vulnerable to hand-held rocket propelled grenades and even rifle fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
From where will these helicopters come?
Must be those new “non-kinetic” helos.
Sarc?
The United States isn't the only country in the world that flies the AH-64.
This is going really well.
Going into a war halfway is like going into a whorehouse with no protection and no cash.
We absolutely should be out of this. It’s a Libyan civil war, maybe even a revolutionary war.
A couple cross-firing Dragunov's and/or 12.7mm heavy machine guns on the backs of pick-ups (rebel or Ghadafi?) could spell disaster for these lethal but lightly armored gunships.
No way they’re sending the Prince to Libya. Harry’s a national treasure. By the way, he looks different now.
this is so bizarro world... i am having a hard time understanding this...
the Guardian, and the liberal media. that condemned Bush for his “blood for oil” war, support this ?!?
the “rebels” have confirmed ties to Al-Queda. the same people we are bombing in Afghanistan, and we are helping them in Libya?
We are KILLING large numbers of Libyans, who aren’t our enemy... ...because of “reported” civilian deaths, with less evidence than Al-Dura’s death.
so the UN authorized a no fly zone, to protect civilians from airplanes. Then NATO proceeds to conduct major operations, having nothing to do with a “no fly” zone, and resulting in the killing of MANY Libyans, including CHILDREN (confirmed, not imaginary), sinking the Libyan navy, etc. ...NATO has arguably killed more civilians than Quaddafi, even if the reports from the “rebels” are true!
How is what Quadaffi was doing, any different than NATO member Turkey killing Kurdish civilians, bombing women and children in their villages?
and how is what Quadaffi was doing, any different than what we are doing with unmanned drone strikes in Warizastan ?
(Not to mention, that Quadaffi was one of the only Muslim leaders, who was actually helping us against terrorists... revealing to us the very terrorists who we are now helping in eastern Libya...)
Just as Obama met with the Muslim Brotherhood in advance, months before Mubarak was forced out. ...and the result? the attacks against Coptic Christians are worse!
(which Obama not only doesn’t condemn, he rewards them, with a billion dollars!)
and now Obama justifies Palestinian demands, making a full blown middle east war more likely. If he was deliberately trying to destabilize the world, what would he do different?
Am i understanding this correctly? If so, i wish this was just a nightmare, not reality...
Hold on to your wallets!
followed by mucho boots on the ground.
0bambi's battle song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_1tCasi_Q
We’re not fighting Eastasia anymore, we’re fighting Eurasia.
Better hope the Libyans don’t have 3 anti-ship missiles .....
We have always been at war with Eurasia.
I must have missed the five minute hate.
The Brits are sending in additional SAS and possibly artillery and tanks to assist the Libyan rebels. There is talk that the US may send in ground forces in July if this does not resolve itself by then.
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