U.N. Security Council Authorizes No-Fly Zone in Libya

[Amby 490]

The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution Thursday evening authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya and other measures military action against Libya.

The vote was 10-0 with five abstentions, including Russia and China.

The United States, France and Britain pushed for speedy approval because Muammar al-Qaddafi's forces are advancing toward opposition-held Benghazi. The Libyan leader vowed Thursday night to oust the rebels from their eastern stronghold.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said if the resolution was approved, France would support military action against Qaddafi within hours. The U.S. said it was preparing for action.

Congressional officials, speaking after a briefing for members of the Senates, aid they expected the U.S. effort to enforce a no-fly zone and ground Qaddafi's air force could begin within a few days.

Earlier Thursday, Libya's defense ministry warned that any military action against the Qaddafi regime will be met with retaliatory strikes on air and sea traffic in the Mediterranean region.

Reuters reported that a statement by the regime of Qaddafi broadcast on Libyan television warned that "the Mediterranean basin will face danger not just in the short-term, but also in the long term."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya "requires certain actions taken to protect the planes and the pilots, including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems."

The move comes as Qaddafi forces have made "significant strides" against the rebels in Libya. Qaddafi forces said it would cease military operations on Sunday to give rebels a chance to surrender, without giving further details about the offer, Reuters reported, citing Al Arabiya TV.

The Obama administration had said it would not act without Security Council authorization, though it would be willing to cooperate on measures "short of boots on the ground."

Russia and China have expressed doubts about the U.N. and other outside powers getting involved and either one could have vetoed a resolution.

That possibility spurred concerns by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who in particularly blunt terms questioned Undersecretary of State Williams Burns at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday about whether the U.S. would have the wherewithal to take action absent approval from other nations. During the tense exchange, Rubio said Russia and China aren't interested in trying to end the violence in Libya, and asked if the U.S. doesn't step in, who would.

Burns responded that he is confident the U.N. Security Council will pass a resolution.

"I'm not assuming that it's going to fail," he said. "I think we can produce a resolution. I hope we can today."

The undersecretary noted that forces loyal to Qaddafi are roughly 100 miles from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. Burns said Qaddafi is taking full advantage of his military firepower in turning back rebels in Libya.

Libyan rebels shot down at least two bomber planes that attacked the airport in their main stronghold on Thursday, according to residents who witnessed the rare success in the struggle against Qaddafi's superior air power.

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, who has been pushing the Obama administration to impose a no-fly zone for weeks, questioned Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz at the committee hearing on why that move would now be too little too late.

Schwartz did not say that the U.S. military should have implemented a no-fly zone but he did agree that if one were to be imposed now it would require additional military action.

"A no-fly zone would not be sufficient," Schwartz said.

"As opposed to a few weeks ago when it would have been," McCain replied.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/17/seeks-resolution-authorizing-wide-range-strikes-libya/

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Idiots. Nothing but idiots running the world these days.

[Ban Hammer 13,545]

Idiots. Nothing but idiots running the world these days.

pretty much. another conflict for the us to be involved in. more people to hate us every day.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

pretty much. another conflict for the us to be involved in. more people to hate us every day.

I just said the same thing to my husband. Great, they hate us enough....now we're going to go in with the military. More of our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, sisters, and brothers will die....for us to be the BAD GUYS...yet again. Why they HELL can we not just stay out of things for once???

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I wonder if anybody told Obama that this won't help him get reelected next year.

Edited March 17, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Amby 490]

Well on the news they're saying the French and British are going to be leading. The US is going to help with refueling midair and stuff but they're not going to be bombing anything. Apparently France uses a lot of some type of oil that's refined in Libya and they have a huge interest in this so they've been pushing for this to happen.

[Amby 490]

from BBC

Senior UN sources said British and French war planes could be in the air within hours to carry out initial air raids on Libyan positions, possibly with logistical support from Arab allies.

A draft UN resolution tabled by the UK, France and Lebanon on Tuesday proposed a ban on all flights in Libya, authorised member states to enforce it and called on them to participate in it.

But on Thursday the US, which had been cool on the effectiveness of a no-fly zone, said the UN should go further and a new strongly worded draft resolution was put forward calling for "all necessary measures short of an occupation force" to protect civilians under threat of attack from the Gaddafi regime.

It would permit air strikes on Libyan ground troops or allow attacks on Libyan war ships if they were attacking civilians, the BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12770467

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The whole of MENA (except for Saudi Arabia) should be Europe's concern alone.

December 2010 Import Highlights: Released February 25, 2011

Monthly data on the origins of crude oil imports in December 2010 has been released and it shows that four countries exported more than 1,000 thousand barrels per day to the United States (see table below). The top five exporting countries accounted for 72 percent of United States crude oil imports in December while the top ten sources accounted for approximately 88 percent of all U.S. crude oil imports. The top five sources of US crude oil imports for December were Canada (2,064 thousand barrels per day), Mexico (1,223 thousand barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1,076 thousand barrels per day), Nigeria (1,024 thousand barrels per day), and Venezuela (825 thousand barrels per day). The rest of the top ten sources, in order, were Iraq (336 thousand barrels per day), Angola (307 thousand barrels per day), Brazil (271 thousand barrels per day), Algeria (262 thousand barrels per day), and Colombia (220 thousand barrels per day). Total crude oil imports averaged 8,631 thousand barrels per day in December, which is an increase of 23 thousand barrels per day from November 2010.

Canada remained the largest exporter of total petroleum in December, exporting 2,713 thousand barrels per day to the United States, which is an increase from last month (2,510 thousand barrels per day). The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Mexico with 1,365 thousand barrels per day.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html

Edited March 17, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Idiots. Nothing but idiots running the world these days.

France is behind all of this. Will you stop eating French Toast in protest?

Edited March 17, 2011 by 8TBVBN

[Ban Hammer 13,545]

Apparently France uses a lot of some type of oil that's refined in Libya and they have a huge interest in this so they've been pushing for this to happen.

warmongers!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

France is behind all of this. Will you stop eating French Toast in protest?

I don't eat bread.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

When will our government ever learn ? Iraq, Afghanistan, and now this bs. It's like some kid who keeps sticking their finger in the light socket...over and over and over....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't eat bread.

Well shoot, you'll have to find another way to protest the froggy French then.

[Amby 490]

maybe it'll be freedom fries all over again!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

When will our government ever learn ? Iraq, Afghanistan, and now this bs. It's like some kid who keeps sticking their finger in the light socket...over and over and over....

The rebels need help and it looks like France and Britain are willing to provide most of the muscle. Hopefully, it will be minimal, contained and over once Gadhafi is gone.

maybe it'll be freedom fries all over again!

We'll have to call them something else, like Gadhafi fries, since in this case, the French are the freedom fighters and not the frogs.