A Canadian Will Lead the Mission in Libya

[Dominato3r]

BRUSSELS — NATO has named three-star Canadian general, Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, to run NATO's Libya operations, enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone and arms embargo, an alliance official said Friday.
Bouchard will also take command of the entire military campaign to protect civilians from troops loyal to Moamer Kadhafi when and if the 28-member alliance takes the reins of the entire Libya campaign from a US-led coalition.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/af...ocId=CNG.0060a68c41930b55312be19a18024e6d.3c1
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/25/canadian-to-lead-nato-mission-over-libya/

Interesting eh?

 

[Blackjack200]

I guess NATO wants to make sure it doesn't move too quickly...

BAH-DUM

 

[Steeplerot]

If you guys need help pushstarting the Canadian tank just ask, what are neighbors for? (I kid!)

 

[Scotteq]

Airdrops of Poutine will commence immediately.





Then - when they're asleep from stuffing their faces with greasy~cheesy goodness, invade!!

 

[irishScott]

So from the sound of it NATO will just be enforcing the no-fly zone with no offensive air strikes. Well, sorry rebels. You can blame the Turks.

 

[sunzt]

Watch out! Maple Syrup Strike!

 

[OCGuy]

"Turned over to NATO" my ass. It is still the US, French, and Britain putting out the resources. Last time I checked, "NATO" was much more.

The Germans are appalled....

 

[bfdd]

As long as it turns out better than the opening ceremony they put us through last winter olympics, I'll be happy.

 

[CanOWorms]

Hopefully he is up to it and he can redeem Canada's reputation in terms of its actions in Africa. The involvement of Canadian leaders and government in Somalia, Rwanda, and Sudan is a stain on Canada's reputation.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I would have preferred an Arab nation lead it or at the very least (if it had to be NATO) Turkey (not Arab, but majority Islamic).

 

[JSt0rm]

So from the sound of it NATO will just be enforcing the no-fly zone with no offensive air strikes. Well, sorry rebels. You can blame the Turks.

Well the conservative teaparty neocon base also didnt want us bombing in libya. We can also blame them I guess.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I would have preferred an Arab nation lead it or at the very least (if it had to be NATO) Turkey (not Arab, but majority Islamic).

Arab nations are backing away from this.

Religious solidarity seems to be more important that political differences.

If they actively support deposing a dictator; what is to say that they will not be the next one with a bullseye painted on their back.

All the Arab leagues nations have operated in a tyrannical government at one point or another and their citizens remember such. Some may not be so bad now, but the Muslim world has long memories.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

If you guys need help pushstarting the Canadian tank just ask, what are neighbors for? (I kid!)

 

[Pocatello]

That's a good choice. Italy didn't want France or Great Britain to lead this debacle in the making.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

"Turned over to NATO" my ass. It is still the US, French, and Britain putting out the resources. Last time I checked, "NATO" was much more.

The Germans are appalled....

All other NATO nations are dealing with the preparations right now and several NON NATO nations will join with airforce and Navy as well as ground troops under the UN mandate.

This is what a UN mandate means and it's also why it's important to have.

Libya has the worlds support, much like the US has had in Afghanistan by all NATO nations and several non NATO nations.

 

[werepossum]

Arab nations are backing away from this.

Religious solidarity seems to be more important that political differences.

If they actively support deposing a dictator; what is to say that they will not be the next one with a bullseye painted on their back.

All the Arab leagues nations have operated in a tyrannical government at one point or another and their citizens remember such. Some may not be so bad now, but the Muslim world has long memories.

All true, but if Kaddafi falls they'll support it again.

 

[Fern]

I would have preferred an Arab nation lead it or at the very least (if it had to be NATO) Turkey (not Arab, but majority Islamic).

Personally, I think you're dreaming if you believe it would be politically possible to put the US military under an Arab country's control of any sort.

Not to mention, as EK pointed out, they've backed out of this.

Fern

 

[her209]

This Canadian government?

Canada's government falls after no-confidence vote
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...nt-falls-after-noconfidence-vote-2253433.html

 

[Fern]

All true, but if Kaddafi falls they'll support it again.

I might be wrong, but I don't think they care of he goes or not. I think they just want sh!t to settle down so it doesn't spread to their countries.

Saddam's neighbors were scared of him, he attacked his neighbors and had grand designs of lording over a united Arabia (like Saladin IIRC). AFAIK, Qaddafy hasn't bothered his neighbors, nor threatened to so.

Fern

 

[werepossum]

I might be wrong, but I don't think they care of he goes or not. I think they just want sh!t to settle down so it doesn't spread to their countries.

Saddam's neighbors were scared of him, he attacked his neighbors and had grand designs of lording over a united Arabia (like Saladin IIRC). AFAIK, Qaddafy hasn't bothered his neighbors, nor threatened to so.

Fern

My point was that they wanted to be on the winning side, but thinking about it, actually you have the better analysis.

 

[Dominato3r]

This Canadian government?

Canada's government falls after no-confidence vote
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...nt-falls-after-noconfidence-vote-2253433.html

All parties have already agreed that Canada should be participating in the Libya mission

 

[werepossum]

All parties have already agreed that Canada should be participating in the Libya mission

Now if all parties would only agree to buy the Canadian military something to participate WITH rather than starving it and sending it everywhere.

 

[Dominato3r]

Now if all parties would only agree to buy the Canadian military something to participate WITH rather than starving it and sending it everywhere.

The recent conservative government has made great strides to modernize the army. It's a lot better than it was say... 5 years ago.

 

[Lemon law]

I do not think a single poster on this thread understands anything, the fact is and remains, that Kadaffi has got to go.

The key fact is that the Arab League has taken the position that Kadaffi has to go. But no Arab country save but one, has lent the military muscle to make it so.

So it falls onto the EU and Nato to prevent a Kadaffi massacre of his own people. Something now popular in the larger Arab community.

But given past USA Arab interventionist sins, Obama is wise, to pass leadership to some other EU nation, and be a junior peace partner to a larger Arab league endorsed international coalition.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Arab nations are backing away from this.

Religious solidarity seems to be more important that political differences.

If they actively support deposing a dictator; what is to say that they will not be the next one with a bullseye painted on their back.

All the Arab leagues nations have operated in a tyrannical government at one point or another and their citizens remember such. Some may not be so bad now, but the Muslim world has long memories.

No they are not, they are still with it but they won't offer support if this becomes a NATO mission which is what France told you fuckers all along.

This isn't about whos first on the line, this is about helping the rebels and getting the fuck out afterwards and NATO has a bad rep in the area for good reasons.

Forcing this to be done under NATO command was the worst idea since the invasion of Iraq.