Libya headed for civil war? Update: Gadhafi dead

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

Lol @ this woman on Al-Jazeera saying the West could have certainly negotiated with Ghaddafi to treat his people better. Yeah, they tried that, and he was outside a city of 1 million people declaring no mercy. Sorry, lady, sometimes the time comes when words aren't enough.

Finally someone who agrees with me.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Finally someone who agrees with me.

Well, I do believe in negotiation first, but not everyone is a logical, rational human being that will sit down with you, listen to your point of view, and suddenly be enlightened. Especially not when they've already committed to a course of action like Ghaddafi clearly had. If anything, the West waffled too long hoping for that crackpot to see the light.

[FlameOn]

So which Arab countries have contributed to the NFZ? Seems most of the action is French, British and American.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Qatar and UAE I think?

[HPLovecraft]

They mentioned on Al-Jazeera Turkey will lend support, whatever that means. Kind of funny how badly these Arab states don't want to be seen co-operating with the West. Kind of insulting, really.

[peter12]

To sort of take a break from some of the serious political and strategical analysis, who doesn't find this all so ridiculously bad-ass?

[metallicat]

I admit it, I do.

[burn_this_city]

Its been a crazy few months for events around the world.

[peter12]

I feel the same nerdy excitement that I feel when the Federation teams up to take down the Borg. Yep, I said it.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know if I get excited about it, because I always go back to the fact that its some poor stupid 20 year old ####### who not only thinks he looks good in a uniform, but thinks that he's doing to right thing because of the indoctrination that he has gone through maybe since he was a baby in a crib.

Its rarely the people that deserve to die that pay the price.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Well its pretty clear that the American's are not sitting this one out as they certainly got in some major punches today, I also have no doubt that the American Airforce is contributing Command and Control coordination.

Yup, plenty of American involvement. From @FMNCL on Twitter:

Currently 6 USAFE F-15E from 494FS Lakenheath UK entering French coast heading #Libya for Operation Odessy Dawn c/s PANTHER 69

3 USAF tankers joining up with the 6 USAFE F-15E Operation #Odyssey Dawn

USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker tail nr 57-1488 as EXXON 01 departed Mildenhall heading #Libya joining #F15E Operation #Odessey Dawn

USAF Boeing KC-135T Stratotanker tail nr 60-0342 as EXXON 02 #Libya joining Operation #Odessey Dawn

USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker tail nr 63-8019 as EXXON 03 #Libya joining Operation #Odessey Dawn

USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker tail nr 61-0304 as EXXON 04 #Libya joining Operation #Odessey Dawn

USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and 6 USAFE F-15E heading Aviano AB Italy #Libya joining #F15E Operation #Odyssey Dawn (via @cencio4)

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know if I get excited about it, because I always go back to the fact that its some poor stupid 20 year old ####### who not only thinks he looks good in a uniform, but thinks that he's doing to right thing because of the indoctrination that he has gone through maybe since he was a baby in a crib.

Its rarely the people that deserve to die that pay the price.

"I want you to remember that no ####### ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb ####### die for his country."
- Patton (Film version)

[Red Ice Player]

Of course Gadhafi is playing the Muslim card already...

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Of course Gadhafi is playing the Muslim card already...

He's playing every card known to man. The American card, the Jewish card, the Al-Qaeda card, the Islamic radicals card, the drug addicts card, the Muslim card . . . you name it.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Of course Gadhafi is playing the Muslim card already...

and this is why the Americans and the West couldn't go after him until all their ducks were in a row.

[HPLovecraft]

The UAE will contribute 24 fighter jets (Mirage 2000-9s and F-16s), and Qatar will be contributing between four to six jets (Mirage 2000-5s). Turkey may be contributing in some way, too. The UAE sure has been active lately -- me thinks there's a bit of a power move going on in Arab countries with these protests and likely Iranian interference in Bahrain.

Funny that the French revealed the UAE and Qatar being involved, with details. They might be getting sick of the Arab nations waffling.

[HPLovecraft]

African Union calling for an immediate stop on attacks on Libya.

[killer_carlson]

Is the African Union also calling for Libya to stop attacking its own civilians?

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Is the African Union also calling for Libya to stop attacking its own civilians?

The AU doesn't know what it's doing and it shouldn't be a surprise. They said before they were "deeply concerned" over the violence in Libya, but didn't want foreign troops in the country, and didn't condemn Ghaddafi. Then, in the UN, Nigeria, South Africa, and Gabon supported the no-fly zone. So, basically, the organization has an obvious rift in it, but that's not a surprise.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

They mentioned on Al-Jazeera Turkey will lend support, whatever that means. Kind of funny how badly these Arab states don't want to be seen co-operating with the West. Kind of insulting, really.

Turkey is not an Arab country. Turks aren't Arabs.

I read that the US/UK fired 112 Tomahawk missiles - at a cost of at least $569,000 (1999 price) that's nearly $64 million all at once.

Jeez, that's a lotta dough.