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Africa North
McCain visits Libya for meetings with rebels
2011-04-22
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) landed in Libya on Friday for meetings with rebel fighters and opposition leaders who have been trying for two months to drive embattled leader Moammar Gadhafi from power.
Good for him; nothing like a tour on the ground for a political leader to see what's happening.
The Associated Press reported that the Senate Armed Services Committee's ranking member called rebel fighters his heroes as he left a hotel in Benghazi.

McCain is reportedly set to meet with members of the National Transition Council, the opposition group based in the eastern half of Libya. He is moving around in a heavily armored Mercedes jeep, and has been greeted by some Libyan citizens waving American flags, AP reported.

Prior to the mid-March start of U.S. and coalition bombing of Gadhafi's military and the establishment of a no-fly zone, McCain had been among the most vocal U.S. lawmakers calling for American intervention as the Libyan leader pushed back against rebel fighters. U.S. fighter aircraft and aerial gunships had been involved in the opening weeks of the campaign but recently took a backseat to NATO war planes as the alliance took command of the operations.

Some Libyan rebel fighters and National Council members, however, have criticized NATO for failing to provide the needed combat punch to help opposition fighters counter pro-Gadhafi forces.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  My Heros!
(eyes twitter)

I think the mission is a charm offensive against US detracters of Boots on the Ground.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2011-04-22 18:05  

#3  Highly hazardous. I wonder if McCain wants to be a martyr?
Posted by: Anonymoose   2011-04-22 15:35  

#2  If you are on a mission like that, you do not announce it to the media until after it is completed. More photo op and publicity than substance. This whole way that the Libya situation was and is handled by the US govt is sickening. Winging it won't work.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2011-04-22 14:50  

#1  Senator says they are 'my heroes' and world should do more amid fears of military stalemate with Gadhafi's forces.
Who sent McC there? Will AlQ make John a hero of the jihad? WTG, John.
Posted by: Muggsy Glink   2011-04-22 13:39  

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