Stroh M.D. posted:

Looks like a gasoline explosion. Way to much fire to be a primary ordinance blast.

Simtex posted:

I hate it when news sites post pictures without captions, or captions that don't describe where they came from/what they are of.

This just popped up on the BBC News website, does anyone know where it was taken/what its of?

quote:

A no-fly zone is now officially in place over Libya.

The US chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, told the NBC news station that Libyan government air defences had been "taken out" and there was no sign of Libyan aircraft.

"Operations yesterday went very well," Mullen said. "He [Gaddafi] hasn't had aircraft or helicopters flying the last couple days. So effectively that no-fly zone has been put in place."

quote:

Liam Fox, the defence secretary, made a series of announcements on the Western allies campaign in a BBC Politics interview, saying UK-based Tornados and Typhoons would be flying to Italy to set up a permanent air base.

He added he was still hopeful that he will be able to persuade some Nato allies in the next few days that the mission should be co-ordinated through the Nato command and control of the operation, moving beyond a UN-led coalition of the willing....

"It would be much better for everyone if Gadaffi went, but given this is not part of the UN resolution, the important thing is to ensure that Gaddafi does not have control the military assets which he uses to brutalise and murder his people", he said.

He was also pressed on why Britain was not doing more to defend the protestors in Bahrain saying the way through was a political dialogue.

quote:

Reuters are now reporting that Gaddafi's tanks have reached the centre of the rebel-held city of Misrata.

"Two people were killed so far today by snipers. They (snipers) are still on the rooftops. They are backed with four tanks, which have been patrolling the town. It's getting very difficult for people to come out," one resident, called Sami, told Reuters by telephone.
"There are also boats encircling the port and preventing aid from reaching the town."
Abdelbasset, a spokesman for the rebels in Misrata, told Reuters: "There is fighting between the rebels and Gaddafi's forces. Their tanks are in the centre of Misrata ... There are so many casualties we cannot count them."

quote:

The overall commander of the military effort to enforce the UN resolution against Colonel Gaddafi is currently a senior American admiral, Samuel Locklear III, who is coordinating the air and naval strikes from the USS Mount Witney, the flagship of the US Navy's Sixth Fleet.

The command structure of the operation should eventually fall within Nato's responsibility, but French, British and American forces couldn't wait for agreement on this, which is expected to come within 24 hours.

Admiral Locklear is also a Nato commander, and may well be chosen to continue in post.
That would give the operation a degree of continuity, though his experience is all naval, and a huge part of the job will be to enforce the no-fly zone, and coordinating which nations are flying what planes, where and when.

Until Nato takes over, the coalition put together a 'needs must' chain of command, resulting in the strikes that were made against Colonel Gaddafi's forces.

British forces are being controlled by Air Marshall Sir Stuart Peach, who is based at the armed forces joint headquarters in Northwood, Middlesex. He is working with Rear Admiral Ian Calder, who is also at Northwood, and Air Vice Marshall Greg Bagwell, who is at the Ramstein airbase in Germany.

Military commanders insist this is not as complex as it might appear – and that video conference calls makes this kind of coordination possible. But there is no doubt that they would prefer the umbrella command of Nato, and the protection that comes from having the support of the group's 28 member nations.

"The UN resolution was only passed on Thursday last week, so Nato is actually working quite quickly, considering the complexity of the situation," said a spokesman.

The-Mole posted:

Unless it is fuel-air.

Stroh M.D. posted:

It's possible, but I can't find any confirmation that the French even have those - and from the sound of it, they have done the most of the bombing. Still, it can't be ruled out. The UK and US have them in different versions.

Shageletic posted:

Here's the relevant quote for this picture:
"Vehicles belonging to loyalist forces explode after an air strike by coalition forces, along a road between Benghazi and Ajdabiyah Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/20/libya-air-strikes-live-updates

evilweasel posted:

The resolution wasn't for a no-fly zone, it was for the use of force (without specification except the ban on an occupation) to protect civilians (and implicitly, though not explicitly, the rebels). Everyone recognized it was too late for a no-fly zone to work.

The Associated Press posted:

Arab League criticizes allied airstrikes on Libya
(AP) – 1 hour ago
CAIRO (AP) — The head of the Arab League has criticized international strikes on Libya, saying they caused civilian deaths.
The Arab League's support for a no-fly zone last week helped overcome reluctance in the West for action in Libya. The U.N. authorized not only a no-fly zone but also "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.
Amr Moussa says the military operations have gone beyond what the Arab League backed.
Moussa has told reporters Sunday that "what happened differs from the no-fly zone objectives." He says "what we want is civilians' protection not shelling more civilians."
U.S. and European strikes overnight targeted mainly air defenses, the U.S. military said. Libya says 48 people were killed, including civilians.

Jamsque posted:

I'm not sure I believe that the Arab League was naive enough to think that a no-fly zone wouldn't entail air strikes.

Boner Slam posted:

Cartouche posted:

What is that? Libyan Safety Dance?

Cartouche posted:

What is that? Libyan Safety Dance?

Boner Slam posted:

Tarnek posted:

Important report from AJE in Tripoli: Libyan State TV has been showing civilian casualties during the day. Correspondent points out that all the bodies appeared to be completely intact, which seems strange after air strikes and cruise missiles. There have been suspicions before the strikes began that bodies would be "borrowed" from previous battlezones.

She went on to say that the international media was not allowed to visit the hospitals, the destroyed targets, or given any information about the casualties. All they saw was a funeral of people claimed to have been killed by the coalition.

This will be important to remember if civilian casualties by the coalition are shown over the world, and countries and organizations start demanding that the coalition stop with the bombings. Already countries are backtracking on the military strikes.

Hermetic posted:

Shades, scarf, "retro" desert storm camo, and he's smirking.

Libya has hipsters.

Shageletic posted:

What the hell guys, attribute your pictures.

personaljesus posted:

Apologies if this has been addressed in this thread, but I will ask anyway.

Why has French military kinda come forward and seemed to be leading the efforts? (at least at the beginning stages of the operations)

- There is more at stake in Libya for France? Primary oil importer?
- Historical ties?
- Sarkozy is relatively crazy?
- Sarkozy wants to improve his popularity in his country?
- Coincidence?
- All/some of the above?

Ticonderoguy posted:

Who cares what the Russians or African Union think, and nobody is going to believe anything coming from the Libyan State Television.

personaljesus posted:

Apologies if this has been addressed in this thread, but I will ask anyway.

Why has French military kinda come forward and seemed to be leading the efforts? (at least at the beginning stages of the operations)

- There is more at stake in Libya for France? Primary oil importer?
- Historical ties?
- Sarkozy is relatively crazy?
- Sarkozy wants to improve his popularity in his country?
- Coincidence?
- All/some of the above?

Boner Slam posted:

t3ch3 posted:

Basically all of the above. France is geographically close to Libya and had an aircraft carrier in the area at the time authorization for intervention was given. Additionally, France has a huge economic stake in Libya, not the least of which are the oil contracts with France Total, but also many other businesses. France does have historical, colonial ties in the region, including parts of Libya, though those are probably not a significant part of this action. And Sarkozy was probably encouraged to show France in a leading role on this operation by the U.S., which is very eager that it not be seen as the leader this time.

Still, as far as I can tell, the only French "leadership" so far in the operation was the initial 8 fighter flight over Libya prior to the U.S. tomahawk strike. Since then, the U.S., U.K. and France appear to have been equally engaged and the U.S. military is currently in command.

Tarnek posted:

Important report from AJE in Tripoli: Libyan State TV has been showing civilian casualties during the day. Correspondent points out that all the bodies appeared to be completely intact, which seems strange after air strikes and cruise missiles. There have been suspicions before the strikes began that bodies would be "borrowed" from previous battlezones.

Stroh M.D. posted:

I hope your're right. Internet commentator fields are already swinging against the intervention, citing reasons ranging from worries of overextension and a new Iraq, over violence solves nothing/both parties are equally bad and this is not our fight to the purely racist that we shouldn't intervene because Gadaffi kept immigration rates to a minimal.

Then again, these are the same people who spent last week claiming Fukushima was an undergoing cover up and who cleared the pharmacies of iodine pills.

Old Trash Bag posted:

I can just hear the generals now:

"Bad news everyone. saiyangoku69 just called this war 'hella uncool.' I hoped we'd never live to see this day. Wrap it up, men, we're going home."

Stroh M.D. posted:

Add to that how the French have been dying to show off the Rafale for years know. They had problems exporting it because it had not been combat proven. Now they have demonstrated that it is capable of flying unchallenged in hostile airspaces, engage ground targets with impunity and eliminate SA5/6 AA-defences without a single loss.

That's PR money can't buy.

Stroh M.D. posted:

Well, internet commenters may be the gutter-dwellers of the web, but they also provide a glance into the minds of the everyday man.

personaljesus posted:

That IS very interesting. Like you said, that could very well explain France's "rush" and eagerness to showcase Rafale and expose it over Libya skies.

Neophyte posted:

Considering internet commenters more often provide a glance into the anuses of the everyday man, you'll excuse me if I don't give them much weight.

Stroh M.D. posted:

Well, internet commenters may be the gutter-dwellers of the web, but they also provide a glance into the minds of the everyday man. What is said there is said over many a dinner table throughout the western world.

Pajser posted:

I'm pretty sure, that a leader who considers youtube comments as the voice of the people is not a very good leader.

Boner Slam posted:

Stroh M.D. posted:

That's the only explanation for the early recon-flights with Rafales in the hours before the bombing began, if you ask me. The Rafale isn't a recon aircraft. There is no way in hell that they could have gathered intel satellites or drones could not.

Oh, and by the way - as a Swedish national, I think our government hosed up royally by not doing the same with our JAS 39 Gripen. It hasn't been combat proven either and is competing with the Rafale over several export contracts. Guess which one has the upper hand know?

Pajser posted:

No it isn't. See generic everyday people do not have time to either read nor post crazy comments on news sites, so those activities are left to the lazy, insane and the elderly.

I'm pretty sure, that a leader who considers youtube comments as the voice of the people is not a very good leader.