This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Let The Bombing Commence: UN Set To Impose "No Fly Zone" Over Libya

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The endgame in Libya begins. The UN has agreed on a draft resolution to implement a no fly zone over Libya, which means the bombing may commence as soon as the vote passes later today. As to what Gaddafi's retaliation will be, and whether he will burn down the oil wells, which previously were in rebel hands, but have since fallen back into his control, we will surely find out in the next 24 hours.

From AFP:

UN Security Council members agreed on a draft resolution that will impose a no-fly zone over Libya, diplomats in New York said. The decision will be brought up for a vote later in the day.

Earlier, American ambassador to the UN Susan Rice told reporters that the UN may need to contemplate steps that go beyond the no-fly zone

Denmark is the first country to step up and promise the use of its F-16s.

Lene Espersen, the foreign minister, told parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday that the Air Force is preparing four F-16 fighter jets to take part in an internationally-backed no-fly zone over Libya, should Nato high command decide to act.

The government is trying to build support in parliament and internationally for a United Nations-backed no-fly zone over Libya to block Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi from making further advances against rebel forces and attacking Libyan civilians.

"The Arab world has made it very clear that the UN Security Council must make the decision. That’s why we all need to work right now to ensure that the UN Security Council has the backing it needs to make that decision,” Espersen said.

As to the real firepower, here is today's update of the US Naval deployments.

h/t Scrataliano

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:57 | 1065050 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

You know I know you. you turned me on to ZH. Thanks!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:19 | 1064824 John Law Lives
John Law Lives's picture

<<<  Earlier, American ambassador to the UN Susan Rice told reporters that the UN may need to contemplate steps that go beyond the no-fly zone >>>

Sounds like somebody wants to provoke a war.  If Gaddafi feels his back is against the wall, there is no telling what he might do.

Imagine how much less stress there would be in the world without raging food price inflation.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:13 | 1064825 Worker Bee
Worker Bee's picture

UN Security Council members agreed on a draft resolution ...wow,sounds ominous..a draft resolution!!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:05 | 1065095 serotonindumptruck
serotonindumptruck's picture

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the Russian ambassador's UN office!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:49 | 1065274 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

You'll be eatin' those words when they break out the comfy chair™!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:15 | 1064826 Atomizer
Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:15 | 1064828 monopoly
monopoly's picture

The President, the President, Ohhh, you mean Obama. Hmmm, let me make the call.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:14 | 1064832 Bubbles...bubbl...
Bubbles...bubbles everywhere's picture

This will be WAR! And anything will go, including attacks in Europe, America and the ME. I would suspect the G'daffys to have something under their sleeve. And they will have time too, since a ground invasion will take more time.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:16 | 1064841 Dangertime
Dangertime's picture

Hopefully Gaddafi at the least has some good NCAA picks going for him.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:18 | 1064847 Broker NotBroke
Broker NotBroke's picture

I got the saudi's and china in the final 4

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:21 | 1064860 Dangertime
Dangertime's picture

Germany is my Dark Horse pick.  They always make it to the end of the tournament before finally losing.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:48 | 1065008 FrankIvy
FrankIvy's picture

That would make them the Pitt of the international theater.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:59 | 1065065 PY-129-20
PY-129-20's picture

How dare you! But...you're right. *sigh*

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:17 | 1065147 serotonindumptruck
serotonindumptruck's picture

Good pick. Germany has the industrial capacity and infrastructure to weather the coming storm.

Now if only there were a way to avoid that pesky Extinction Level Event that will destroy 90% of all life on Earth in the next couple of years...

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:20 | 1064856 Worker Bee
Worker Bee's picture

Man the I agree shit is fucked up but seriously guys..take a fucking breath.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:20 | 1064862 Judge Judy Scheinlok
Judge Judy Scheinlok's picture

Not one comment on the premature buildup in the Asian theater with existing conflicts in the ME?

Can you say HAARP?

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:23 | 1064878 Bugman82
Bugman82's picture

I'm young and have just saved my first $25,000.  This is a nightmare trying to figure out where to put my money :(    What a time for someone like me during these nutso times.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:41 | 1064962 avonaltendorf
avonaltendorf's picture

Half cash, half physical gold.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 02:59 | 1065623 slewie the pi-rat
slewie the pi-rat's picture

 

$10,500 bullion value US Mint-produced gold US coinage.

$10,500 ditto silver coinage.

$4,000 cash.

this assumes you are still "earning and saving" as when you saved the $25K, ok?

and, keep shopping for The Real. cash talks. it helps to be a savvy trader, even at the grocery store. 

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:26 | 1064883 Mercury
Mercury's picture

I'll believe it when I see it:  U.S. planes discharging ordinance over Libya or U.S. troops on Libyan soil that is...  Just don't think it will happen.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:27 | 1064891 navy62802
navy62802's picture

Good thing they were quick to the punch ...

Question - who thinks the UN is still relevant?

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 00:08 | 1065314 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

UN relevant??? ...it's where you send politicians that are so delusional you can't bare them in your country to embarras your Govt in front of voters... at the UN nobody pays any attention it's so irrelevant ....so we're talking the elite Goon Squad

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:27 | 1064893 Diamond Jim
Diamond Jim's picture

I didn't know the UN had an Air Force to enforce this "no-fly" zone.  I hope they do not figure we (the USA) are the ones to enforce this...let the Euroids or Arabs do it. Not our boys, not our jets, not our fuel.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:32 | 1064927 Judge Judy Scheinlok
Judge Judy Scheinlok's picture

Why not the lizard people of the holy land? We gifted them hundreds of F-14's, and billions of free USD's....

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:01 | 1065071 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

F-14"s with no parts. Those are awesome aircraft Judy. You know your flight deck. I'm impresssed.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:32 | 1065222 Judge Judy Scheinlok
Judge Judy Scheinlok's picture

Ai, me aft decks matie. Slewie the Pi-rat and ey will hijack a vessel in Mallorca and go pie ratin'.

http://www.yachtbooker.com/Yacht-Charter-majorca-palma-de-mallorca/jeann...

Lib'ya her we come!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:39 | 1064950 machineh
machineh's picture

Of course they do ... and it's backed up by an infantry consisting of the pope's brigades.

Swiss guards, bitchez.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:51 | 1065283 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

No one expects the Knights Templar calvalry! :>D

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 00:03 | 1065306 gwar5
gwar5's picture

The UN specifically requested Charlie Sheen, the F-18.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:30 | 1064915 DeweyLeon
DeweyLeon's picture

I've got the saudi's making it to the light sweet sixteen

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:40 | 1064961 franzpick
franzpick's picture

Well, after 4 weeks of inaction on GoDhaffi, at a cost of 1000's of innocent civilian lives in our American supported penal colony in Libya, a UN 'no-fly' imposition comes not a minute too soon.

Lord help us if we ever had, oh say, a multi-reactor hydrogen/oxygen explosion-meltdown-nuclear-chain-reaction developing, and authorities waited 4 weeks to respond to an escalating breakdown threatening worldwide radiation disaster, which is fortunately just beyond comprehension.

(Snark off button not responding, probably due to electrical failure of back-up generators.)

 

 

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:44 | 1064981 putbuyer
putbuyer's picture

We need to focus on Barry's bracket picks

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:46 | 1064987 Tail Dogging The Wag
Tail Dogging The Wag's picture

That's probably how long it will take for a decision to be made once something goes wrong with a nuclear plant in the States. Another Brownie.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:45 | 1064991 Judge Judy Scheinlok
Judge Judy Scheinlok's picture

Did you study sarcastics in college?

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:03 | 1065084 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

You have my respect. Be patient and use your wisdom.Thank you Judy.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:17 | 1065154 franzpick
franzpick's picture

Yes, indirectly: Dostoyevsky said, sarcasm was "usually the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded".

Do you really believe that our corrupt kleptocratic, lying world leaders and taxpayer funded cabalistic experts (denying the fatal dangers of both fiat-credit-binge economics and under-protected and designed nuclear facilities) deserve more?

"Understanding the subtlety of this usage (of sarcasm) requires second-order interpretation of the speaker's intentions. This sophisticated understanding can be lacking in some people with certain forms of brain damage, dementia and autism...", from which you, fortunately, along with with other contributing ZHers can of course be considered excluded. (from Wikipedia, for what that's worth). 

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:49 | 1065006 AldoHux_IV
AldoHux_IV's picture

Notice how it's just for Libya-- God forbid these fucks give a damn about the innocent unarmed protesters who are being gunned down by Saudi and Bahraini forces.  What a joke-- these institutions continue to be motivated by the assets they seem to gain from intervention rather than keeping the peace.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:55 | 1065043 Tail Dogging The Wag
Tail Dogging The Wag's picture

Shhh hush, hush. We don't want to wake up Iran.

Nice parking lot for the US 5th Fleet.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:58 | 1065056 Mentalic
Mentalic's picture

+1 ...Selective help...

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:25 | 1065194 CrockettAlmanac.com
CrockettAlmanac.com's picture

Here's all you need to know about the US State Department's Orwellian stance on peaceful protest:

 

Ray McGovern dragged out of Hillary Clinton "Freedom Speech"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My29YT1T4R4

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:53 | 1065023 LostWages
LostWages's picture

The whacky Gaddafi has already snuffed out all the rebels so he won't need airpower  any more.  He'll finish the mop up with ground forces.

Good job UN.....you're a couple of weeks late.

The UN idiots couldn't find their ass with both hands.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 01:03 | 1065454 Milestones
Milestones's picture

Bingo!! We have a winner.       Milestones

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 01:19 | 1065487 lincolnsteffens
lincolnsteffens's picture

WTF!! I think it is about time that Europe and Middle East nations took care of shit like this with US lending at most a supporting hand. Maybe the world is fucked up but it sure is here too. Are we going to go stomping around  in every country where people want to throw off tyrants. We are headed down the chute with our own abundance of oligarchs and thieves. Two wars currently, a rapidly decaying economy, on edge with Iran and North Korea and an empire of military bases spanning the globe. Seems like were headed for the Hundred Years War II. All this while world monetary systems are headed toward critical mass.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 03:34 | 1065639 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

LMAO!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:54 | 1065038 Dave
Dave's picture

Unless the western world is prepared to spend upwards of 50% of their income on food and fuel perhaps our "leaders" should re-examine the wisdom of enforcing a no fly zone over Libya.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 22:58 | 1065047 XRAYD
XRAYD's picture

Since Russia and China will veto the no fly resolution ... how can it work?

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:27 | 1065202 serotonindumptruck
serotonindumptruck's picture

Is China opposed to this resolution? I haven't read anything to that effect. Just askin'.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:03 | 1065073 Weimar Ben Bernanke
Weimar Ben Bernanke's picture

Well this was too late to begin with. K-daffy Duck is chasing the rebles back to Benghazi and will wipe out every last citizen there so a no fly zone will do very little. Second why the hell doesn't Europe do this job except us? What is the point of the British,French,German,Spanish,Italian,Portugese air force. I mean what do they do all day? Why can't these Europeans do a coordnated airstrike against Libya earlier instead of waiting for us to play broke-ass Globocop again? For fucks sakes can't these europeans grow balls and just do it on their own. What is the point of these European nations to have a military when they wait on us to do everything?

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:05 | 1065087 PY-129-20
PY-129-20's picture

We Germans have some bad experiences with starting wars, you know...

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:28 | 1065200 ZakuKommander
ZakuKommander's picture

On the other hand, in Libya, Rommel and the Afrika Korps did some nifty work.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:59 | 1065296 gwar5
gwar5's picture

"We Germans have some bad experiences with starting wars, you know..."

Don't let it get you down. Let's face it, the Germans were damn good at starting wars. They just had bad luck finishing them.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 08:17 | 1065957 Dangertime
Dangertime's picture

I'd be more than happy to have the Germans as allies in a war.  Those bastards can fight!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:06 | 1065094 Verum
Verum's picture

If you are upset about dollar devaluation, write your congressman now! Tell them all that is needed for a strong currency is a few nuclear disasters to occur in the country.

It also helps if you have 200% plus debt to gdp ratio and will need to import all of your energy, incrementally more of your goods post disaster and your economic model relies on exports. This is indeed the key to a strong currency. Thanks for the blueprint japan.

/sarcasm

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:07 | 1065098 Arch Duke Ferdinand
Arch Duke Ferdinand's picture

""We Germans have some bad experiences with starting wars, you know...""

Our 'Defense' Industry: The Great Untouchable….

http://seenoevilspeaknoevilhearnoevil.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-defense-industry-great-untouchable.html

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:53 | 1065286 gwar5
gwar5's picture

"We Germans have some bad experiences with starting wars, you know..."

No, no, no! Germans were really good and had great experiences starting wars. They just sucked at finishing them.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:09 | 1065109 spongeBOB
spongeBOB's picture

The French is dragging the US into a civil war that they have no business being involved in.  Sarkozy made so many statements against qaddafi and embraced the revolution that he is scared shitless if qaddafi stays in power.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:20 | 1065169 JR
JR's picture

Libya: Five Reasons Not to Intervene: Lead us not into temptation (but deliver us from blowback, amen)  by Justin Raimondo | March 16, 2011 | Antiwar.com

As Moammar Gadhafi’s thugs move toward Benghazi, the rebel stronghold, and the provisional government calls for arms and other assistance from the West – principally the United States – we are told to put all doubts aside and simply respond to the alleged moral imperative of preventing a slaughter. This, intone the interventionists, is an “emergency,” which means: we must stop thinking, and respond emotionally to the call to “do something.”

There are several problems with this non-argument, the first being: how do we know the West isn’t already assisting the rebels? I would be very surprised if they aren’t. Libya has too much oil, and is too strategically placed on the Mediterranean shore, to be ignored by US policymakers. And they don’t always make their policy out in the open. Even as the Obama administration is being bombarded by busy-bodies the world over for its “inaction” on the Libyan front, there are reports Washington is acting through the Saudis, providing American military equipment to rebel forces. The British, whose “diplomatic” mission in the eastern half of the country was arrested and expelled, are almost certainly helping the rebels, and the French – who have already recognized the Benghazi rebel government – cannot be far behind.

In any event, even if Gadhafi succeeds in taking Benghazi – an unlikely scenario, because he doesn’t have the troops – the idea that he will have “won,” and can resume his reign of terror, is absurd. Some sort of “consent of the governed” is essential – yes, even in a dictatorship. The withdrawal of that consent is fatal to any regime – that was the lesson of 1989. Gadhafi can march his hired thugs up and down the streets of Libya’s cities all he likes, but actually ruling the country is quite a different matter. My guess is that he will soon be forced to withdraw from the east, and Libya will be divided – perhaps permanently – between Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. Both governments will claim to be the true and only legitimate representative of the Libyan “nation,” although, for all intents and purposes – as I explained in my last column – Libya as a unified country is finished.

Well, then – you ask – why not help the Libyans throw off the yoke of Gadhafi’s tyrannical rule?

I come up with five distinct albeit interrelated reasons (my readers are invited to add to the list in the comments below):

1) Because the moment we intervene, we’ll own what’s going on in Libya – just like we own Iraq. Neocons eager to acquire another Middle East colony are understandably eager to jump into the fray, but there’s less excuse for the centrist-to-leftish “humanitarian” interventionists, who argue in terms of our alleged moral obligation to prevent widespread bloodletting. I don’t hear these people calling for us to arm the rebels in Bahrain or Yemen, who are being murdered in large numbers as they protest peacefully.

Read more…

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2011/03/15/libya-five-reasons-not-to-...

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:49 | 1065275 gwar5
gwar5's picture

The SAS and a couple of British diplomats were already dropped into Libya last week.

Their mission was to meet up with the rebel leaders and see what they needed for assistance. 

Instead, the Libyan rebels captured and held them as prisoners before kicking them out of the country in disgrace.

The rebels are being routed and now they're crying out for help from the West. That ship has sailed. 

 

 

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:27 | 1065201 gwar5
gwar5's picture

The UN is a perpetual stupidity machine. The war is already over 24 hours from now. Muammar has won thanks to the dithering at the UN.  

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:51 | 1065280 destraht
destraht's picture

The system of government known as Facebook prevails!

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 23:59 | 1065299 fockewulf190
fockewulf190's picture

This is just a CMA move by the diplo-dinks so they can face the cameras later and say we tried.  By the time they even get a Pipercub into the air, Muammar will already be the new arabian version of Vlad the Impaler.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 00:13 | 1065332 Count Laszlo
Count Laszlo's picture

Brent at $120 plus by April 1st.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 00:54 | 1065438 Quantum Nucleonics
Quantum Nucleonics's picture

Ehh, it's a little late.  A no fly zone might have helped the rebels last week, before Qaddafi blasted his way to the rebel capital.  The rebels would need close air support, e.g. blowing up Qaddafi's tanks, to keep the rebels fom getting wiped out at this point.

 

How nice of Denmark to offer their F-16's.  Wonder how they'll get to Libya.  F-16's combat radius is about 250 miles, and its 1,800 miles to Libya from Copenhagen.

 

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 01:01 | 1065447 Quantum Nucleonics
Quantum Nucleonics's picture

4 F-22's, a single B-2, and a couple CIA guys with laser designators, and this thing would have been over 2 weeks ago.  But no, Obama has NCAA brackets to finish.  Contest for next month... who will be the first to spot the mass graves on google earth.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 01:38 | 1065516 Convolved Man
Convolved Man's picture

One Predator drone armed with hellfire missiles could have capped MQ during one of his hour long rambling diatribes.  Of course, there would have been some collateral damage.  Nothing a little money couldn't smooth over.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 01:16 | 1065485 NidStyles
NidStyles's picture

Who actually gives the UN the authority to commit act's of war? Who exactly do they answer to? Who oversee's them? These are question's that have never been answered for me honestly. All I ever get is the same run around about the council having to agree on it. Who elected these people to pass judgment?

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 01:38 | 1065526 lincolnsteffens
lincolnsteffens's picture

Why don't you know?? we're on a mission from God. We always are the good guys.
 

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 05:18 | 1065708 NidStyles
NidStyles's picture

Then they should review their contract with their God. I don't remember him requiring that they bomb and kill brown people when they are having enough trouble killing each other.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 03:10 | 1065628 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Sending four F-16s is a stupid move by the Dutch. 

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 03:16 | 1065632 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

I swear I saw an AARP commercial on CNN an what retired people would like to do in retirement and the retired woman at the end said she wanted to "bomb Gaddafi". 

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 04:06 | 1065659 gwar5
gwar5's picture

Reported:  The Associated Press --- immediately after the UN voted to support the "No Fly Zone" the security council imposed forced inspections of all pant zippers of those present.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 05:15 | 1065704 thegr8whorebabylon
thegr8whorebabylon's picture

So, if these ME uprisings were fomented by those who shall remain unnamed, what's the plan?...

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 05:50 | 1065726 Dollar Bill Hiccup
Dollar Bill Hiccup's picture

Every time you get on a plane say "Lockerbie" three times.

Then come back with reason to support Kh-Qa-Ga-Daffy.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 06:10 | 1065740 paulypaul
paulypaul's picture

Nowhere to retreat form Banghazi, lets hope it holds.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 06:12 | 1065743 Pants McPants
Pants McPants's picture

My guess is the "left" will be OK with this so long as a few pilots performing the bombing were admitted after don't ask/don't tell was repealed.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 07:44 | 1065795 Doode
Doode's picture

Who are these Lybian civilians? Everyone keeps talking about them, but the TV only shows people carrying Ak-47, bazookas, shooting AAA guns and driving tanks. Those are not civilians - it is state's duty to bring order back. Where is the evidence that peaceful civilians are being systematically attacked? I have not seen a single clip on CNN or elsewhere. Certain country bombs civilians along with terrorists almost on a weekly basis and issues each time a sincere appology - that is what Lybians should do as well. And it is a complete BS that Lybians are so oppressed - their per capita is not only the best in Africa (including South Africa), but also better than Brazil and Turkey. These people have a normal life unlike the Egyptians. Seems to me Wag the Dog movie case more than reality. And I am strongly pro GOP - pro Iraq, Afganistan invasions. But this one seem to be too much of a BS.

 

Updated: O'Reilly last night told all these civilian slaughter claims are completely unproven. There is no evidence of anything that rebels are telling to be true. So at least the reasonable folks agree with me.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 07:52 | 1065880 taxpayer102
taxpayer102's picture

When 'the bombing commences' transformation of Libya to another Afghanistan begins. 

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 08:11 | 1065940 Silverhog
Silverhog's picture

Air cover will be useless for the rebels if Daffy's Tanks and artillery are allowed to move closer and closer. Just last minute face saving by the UN before the slaughter.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 09:20 | 1066178 falak pema
falak pema's picture

Sarkozy has volunteered to ride the first nuke bomb dropped on Q-daffy just like that guy in Dr Strangelove...Vive la france! whose honor has been damaged by allegations that Q-daffy and S-frenchy were in bed together during election campaign financing of 2007. After riding bomb into Libya, Sarkozy has promised to fly immediately to Japan. His actual kamikaze schedule there is still top secret. Maybe he will uncork Mt Fujiyama... Impossible is not french!

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!