Your Technical Guide to Bombing Libya

[Perknose]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/23/can_any_old_country_now_bomb_libya

Can Any Old Country Now Bomb Libya?

Technically, yes, thanks to a vague U.N. resolution.


BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | MARCH 23, 2011

The governments enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya are currently deadlocked over who will coordinate the international effort. The United States and Britain are pushing for NATO to take over, while France is advocating a "political steering body" to manage the mission, in order to make sure that Arab governments remain involved (at least superficially). *Part of the problem comes from the vagueness of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which establishes the no-fly zone, but avoids specifying which countries will lead or participate in its enforcement. So far, the mission has been led by the United States, Britain, and France -- with Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Qatar also participating. But, in theory, could any country that wants to take it upon itself to enforce the no-fly zone?

Technically, yes. Security Council Resolution 1973"authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organization and arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures ... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya." It goes on to prohibit a "foreign occupation force" on Libyan territory and "requests that the Member States ... inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization.

So if, say, Palau decided to start flying reconnaissance sorties over Benghazi this week there's nothing in the resolution to stop it. (This would admittedly be difficult, since Palau doesn't have a military.) The drafters of the resolution may have intentionally left this passage vague in order to avoid giving any one regional organization, such as NATO or the Arab League, responsibility for enforcing the resolution.

Moreover, the phrase "acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General" is vague enough so that member states wishing to participate in the military action don't actually have to get approval from Ban Ki-moon's office, they just have to inform him of their participation.

The vagueness of the resolution isn't particularly unusual for actions taken under the U.N. Charter's Chapter 7, which authorizes member states to use force in response to "threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, and acts of aggression." Resolution 678, which began the 1991 Gulf War, was actually even less specific, authorizing "Member States co-operating with the Government of Kuwait" to "use all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660." The Libya resolution at least asks that the secretary general be informed and places limits on the types of military action that can be taken and where.

As one might expect, member states often disagree on just what a Security Council resolution actually authorizes them to do. The United States and several allies read 678 as granting them authority to enforce a no-fly zone in Iraq after major combat operations had ended in order to protect civilians, an interpretation that was widely disputed at the time.

And in the Libya campaign, rifts are already beginning to show. U.S. and British officials were reportedly angered that France launched the first airstrikes against Libya without consulting them. And aside from two Qatari figher planes and a cargo jet that are currently en route, Arab countries are not participating to a significant degree, despite a paragraph in the resolution that specifically "recognizes the importance of the League of Arab States in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security in the region."

Not than anything's stopping more countries from joining in, should they want to.

My comment: :hmm:

:biggrin:

 

[Zebo]

Free for all!

Israel should lob one over and you'd have peace, in Libya at least. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that.

 

[Pocatello]

Most of the other Arab countries have their own little rebellion to put down.

 

[PeshakJang]

Most of the other Arab countries have their own little rebellion to put down.

So what happens when the Arab nations that called on the US to support the no-fly zone in Libya, suddenly face their own rebellion and begin putting down their own civilians?

Does America step in and attack that country too?

Would certainly display what this president's true intentions are.

 

[Genx87]

So what happens when the Arab nations that called on the US to support the no-fly zone in Libya, suddenly face their own rebellion and begin putting down their own civilians?

Does America step in and attack that country too?

Would certainly display what this president's true intentions are.

I am actually interested in knowing what happens when the United States, England, or France have rebellions to put down? What happens when the UN tells us\them they will be enforcing a no-fly zone over our borders to level the playing field? I have a feeling hypocrite will be a good descriptions of what will really happen.

 

[PeshakJang]

I am actually interested in knowing what happens when the United States, England, or France have rebellions to put down? What happens when the UN tells us\them they will be enforcing a no-fly zone over our borders to level the playing field? I have a feeling hypocrite will be a good descriptions of what will really happen.

"The UN called on Canada and Jamaica today to enforce a no-fly zone over the US/Mexico border, as the US government continues to deny Mexican immigrants the God-given human right of unfettered movement into and subsequent consumption of resources of the United States. UN Secretary General called on the US government to stop creating a humanitarian crisis or face further sanctions. Several French aircraft sent to aid in the no-fly zone are said to have been lost in the mid-Atlantic after running out of fuel."

 

[Broheim]

So what happens when the Arab nations that called on the US to support the no-fly zone in Libya, suddenly face their own rebellion and begin putting down their own civilians?

Does America step in and attack that country too?

Would certainly display what this president's true intentions are.

Libya is fullblown civil war, other arab nations have mostly seen non-violent protests, many of which have resulted in political changes, Libya on the other hand turned into a slaughter.

I'm glad i don't live in a country where you automatically assume the worst of your own government.

 

[PeshakJang]

libya is fullblown civil war, other arab nations have mostly seen non-violent protests, many of which have resulted in political changes, libya on the other hand turned into a slaughter.
.

orly?????

syrian troops fire on protesters as thousands rally

security forces in bahrain open fire on protesters

yemen forces open fire at protest, at least 30 dead

saudi arabia police open fire at protest in qatif

You don't pay much attention, do you?

 

[shiner]

I am actually interested in knowing what happens when the United States, England, or France have rebellions to put down? What happens when the UN tells us\them they will be enforcing a no-fly zone over our borders to level the playing field? I have a feeling hypocrite will be a good descriptions of what will really happen.

What will happen is those other countries would lose a LOT of aircraft if they tried to go toe to toe with U.S. air power.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I am actually interested in knowing what happens when the United States, England, or France have rebellions to put down? What happens when the UN tells us\them they will be enforcing a no-fly zone over our borders to level the playing field? I have a feeling hypocrite will be a good descriptions of what will really happen.

I don't think that we'll see a full rebellion in the United States, but I could see it happening in the UK or France in the future. At that point, I would be happy to see the US enforce a no-fly zone over British and French air space in order to prevent yet another European enforced genocide. I'd even support such an action without UN action. The entire world needs to keep a close eye on European genocidal tendencies.

 

[Broheim]

orly?????

You don't pay much attention, do you?

and in how many of those countries did the government have a change of heart after those incidents?

On 24 March, the president's media adviser, Buthaina Shaaban, said that the government will be "studying the possibility of lifting the emergency law and licensing political parties". The Syrian government also announced a cut in personal taxation rates, an increase in public sector salaries of 1,500 Syrian pounds ($32.60 US) a month and pledges to increase press freedom, create more employment opportunities and reduce corruption.

Bahrain's king orders the release of political prisoners as anti-government protests continue to gather pace

It has been reported that President Ali Abdullah Saleh and top general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar (who recently sided with the rebels) have been working on a plan to step down from their positions on Saturday, March 26, and transfer power to a civilian-lead transitional government.

On 23 February, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, after returning to the country following three months spent abroad for health treatment, announced a series of benefits for citizens amounting to $10.7 billion. These include funding to offset high inflation and to aid young unemployed people and Saudi citizens studying abroad, as well the writing off some loans. As part of the Saudi scheme, state employees will see their incomes increase by 15 per cent, and additional cash has also been made available for housing loans. No political reforms were announced as part of the package, though the 86-year-old monarch did pardon some prisoners indicted in financial crimes.[3]
On 22 March 2011, the head of the Saudi Arabian electoral commission, Abdul-Rahman al Dahmash, announced that municipal elections would be held on 23 April 2011.[51][52] Associated Press described the April 2011 election announcement as having "coincided with rumblings of dissent in Saudi Arabia stemming from the wave of political unrest in the Arab world."

you don't pay enough attention, do you?

 

[Broheim]

I don't think that we'll see a full rebellion in the United States, but I could see it happening in the UK or France in the future. At that point, I would be happy to see the US enforce a no-fly zone over British and French air space in order to prevent yet another European enforced genocide. I'd even support such an action without UN action. The entire world needs to keep a close eye on European genocidal tendencies.

the ignorance is mindblowing...

 

[surfsatwerk]

In the name of Petoria, I shall help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.

 

[RabidMongoose]

the ignorance is mindblowing...

The pro-genocidal tendency in you and others is mind blowing.

The US should not stand by and allow genocide to go on in the UK or France if it comes to it.

 

[werepossum]

orly?????



You don't pay much attention, do you?

I suspect the other Arab nations are paying lip service to this action only as an attempt to stave off similar actions against themselves for the same actions.

Hey, don't bomb us, we're you're allies, remember? Just let us kill these protes- um, these rioting pro-Qadaffi thugs in our cities and then we'll be right over to cheer lead you through bombing Tripoli again.

 

[Broheim]

The pro-genocidal tendency in you and others is mind blowing.

The US should not stand by and allow genocide to go on in the UK or France if it comes to it.

either you're a really bad troll or the dumbest fuck I've ever come across (and there's no shortage of dumb fucks on the internet, but you sir, you take the cake)...
either way you won't respond to reason or logic so I'll be moving on.

 

[RabidMongoose]

either you're a really bad troll or the dumbest fuck I've ever come across (and there's no shortage of dumb fucks on the internet, but you sir, you take the cake)...
either way you won't respond to reason or logic so I'll be moving on.

It's hilarious to see a person who is apparently pro-genocide calling for reason and calling people 'trolls'

Again, if the UK and France are oppressing their population or a significant portion of their population in the future in an uprising, then the US should step in and enforce a no fly zone against the British and French military.

 

[PeshakJang]

and in how many of those countries did the government have a change of heart after those incidents?



you don't pay enough attention, do you?

Are you kidding me?

People are still being killed in these countries. People are still protesting.

Is it as bad as Libya at this time? No. Once they get that bad, what do we do?

Facts are facts, and you don't got 'em.

 

[JTsyo]

I am actually interested in knowing what happens when the United States, England, or France have rebellions to put down? What happens when the UN tells us\them they will be enforcing a no-fly zone over our borders to level the playing field? I have a feeling hypocrite will be a good descriptions of what will really happen.

umm don't all three hold veto powers in the UN?

All three are NATO nations so I'm sure trying to impose a no fly zone in their airspace would bring 'mutual defense' into play.

Good luck with your scenario.

 

[manimal]

they should make drones pilot-able by Call of duty players so costs are lower...make civilian casualties a big score penalty to keep those in check...