Posted on 03/26/2011 8:36:18 AM PDT by Strategy
The international coalition force is planning a ground operation in Libya that could start in late April, a high-ranking Russian intelligence service source said on Friday, RIA Novosti reported.
"Information coming via different channels shows that NATO countries, with the active participation of Britain and the United States, are developing a plan for a ground operation on Libyan territory," he said.
"From all indications, a ground operation will be launched if the alliance fails to force the Gaddafi regime to capitulate with air strikes and missile attacks."
If the events in Libya follow this scenario, the ground operation could start "in late April-early May," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at en.trend.az ...
On FOX News this morning Norman R. Augustine the retired chairman and chief executive officer of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the nation’s largest defense contractor,told Neal Cavuto:
“Airpower alone will not be successful and boots on ground will be needed.”
Obama: No U.S. Forces on the Ground in Libya . . . Except for Those Guys.
By Jim Geraghty
Posted on March 23, 2011 3:46 PM
NPR: “President Obama said Wednesday it was ‘absolutely’ out of the question that U.S. ground forces would be used in Libya.”
How would the president describe the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit? There is no such thing as a purely air-based combat mission; planes have problems and pilots end up on the ground, and then U.S. forces have to end up on the ground, hopefully briefly, to rescue them and bring them home safely. Ask Scott O’Grady how much time you can spend on the ground while patrolling a no-fly zone.
Details on the recent rescue:
The Kearsarge then sent up two MV-22 Ospreys carrying Marine rescue teams. As they were en route, the Harriers dropped two laser-guided bombs near the crash site, apparently to keep Libyans on the ground from approaching the pilot.
With additional helicopters hovering overhead for security, one of the Ospreys landed and picked up the pilot. He was then taken aboard the Kearsarge.
The weapons systems officer was recovered by what U.S. officials described as Libyan opposition forces. He is safe, officials have said.
There are about 2,200 Marines off the shore of Libya right now. http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/262910
March 24, 2011
Are U.S. Troops Already on the Ground in Libya? | O’Reilly Factor
Special Guests | Col. David Hunt & Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer
RET. COL. DAVID HUNT, U.S. ARMY: Yes, absolutely. You’ve got British service been in there about three weeks ago and actually got captured and released. The French GIGN have been in there and our special forces and our U.S. intelligence operatives and their assets. We do not conduct operations like this, large scale air operations, without people on the ground. They have been very successful, very good, not a lot of contact with the rebels because you don’t know who to talk to. But, yes, we have got intel gathering and rescue guys and special operations guys on the ground, have had them for about 12 days.
O’REILLY: Now, do you agree with that, Col. Shaffer?
LT. COL. TONY SHAFFER, FORMER ARMY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: Yes, I have heard from my sources — I got a call from one of my key sources on Monday and that’s exactly what’s going on. Let’s be really clear here. You have got to have these individuals doing what Dave just said, especially when you are talking about trying to protect, and the stated goal here, Bill, is humanitarian support. So you don’t want to have weapons hitting the wrong targets. So, Dave is very good on the fact that we have special operations guys sitting there with laser designators. Bill, you saw…
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/transcript/are-us-troops-already-ground-libya#ixzz1HiPalxMr
David Hunt says it would be foolish to believe we don’t have covert ops troops on the ground now and further points out that some 2200 marines on a ship in the Mediterranean aren’t there for a relaxing cruise.
Could this possibly mean that the bamster is lying?
Oh my Bush!
The Pinkies must be on vacation.
For what? The 'rebels' are working with AlQaeda. So if we help them they'll let us assist with taking down a New York sky scrapper?
I have NO desire to spill American blood to help a group working with the terrorist group that caused 9/11.
They were the enemy of Gadaffi and he was struggling to keep them under control. He’s going to struggle even more now that we we’re flying sorties for Al Qaeda.
Can someone please tell us again, why we are even bothering with this african mess? And why are we fraternizing with the enemy, aside of course, from the fact that Obama is one of them. We have no dog in this hunt and we have already spent far too many millions of dollars on Tomahawks.
The “enemy of my enemy is my friend” thing didn’t work with Irag against the Iranians, and it for damn sure isn’t going to work here. The rebels are AQ. If Quackie the Duck is overthrown, Libya will be trading one atrocious regime for another. Either way, the Libyan people lose.
The ‘rebels’ ARE al-Q.
“I have NO desire to spill American blood to help a group working with the terrorist group that caused 9/11. “
Conservatives agree.
However even Rinos are pushing for a full-scale war.
Former Pres. Eisenhower warned us. “Beware the military-industrial complex.”
I’ve always said Saudi would be the first weapons stash for AQ once the monarchy got its just rewards, but I was wrong now I hear AQ has some of K’Daffy’s MANPADs.
“Can someone please tell us again, why we are even bothering with this african mess?”
Obama is an African.
I really don’t want my tax dollars fighting for Islamists to have a country stone women to death
It is time for some good men to tell their commanders to go to hell they are not forced to obey an unlawful order, in an illegal war.
Minus_The_Bear: “I was very shocked to hear Mark Levin on the same side as Obama.”
That is simply not true! Mark Levin only agreed that the president has a constitutional right to use American forces toward our national interests. In other words, Mark does not think the War Powers Act is constitutional. As for actions in Libya, Mr. Levin has said numerous times that he does not support an invasion or the no-fly zone. I believe his preferred course of action is to drop a bomb on Q-Daffy. Myself? I think we should stay out of it entirely. Let the dictator and the Muzzies have at it.
It’s time now for Congress to speak on this development that we’re now flying sorties for Al Qaeda in Libya.
Now that the news, it’s time that the Republican controlled Congress go on the media and tell the American people what’s being reported.
Because the MSM is keeping it quiet.
This war is very convenient to Congressional democrats who can hang over the heads of House GOPers the spectre over shutting down the govt while our “men and women” are at war.
I wonder if 0bama went to war for the budget
>>>>>>We have no dog in this hunt
Agreed.
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