Article

2011-03-19 Africa North

U.S. to deploy more ships to support Libya planning

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Posted by Steve White 2011-03-19 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 If we are NOT deploying "ground troops", then why the hell are we putting an ARG in harm's way? A Carriier and land based air form Sicily should be sufficient, with smaller SpecOps support onbaord another vessel for SAR for downed pilots.

Posted by OldSpook 2011-03-19 01:31|| 2011-03-19 01:31|| Front Page Top

#2 Having a carrier group and an Airborne Brigade is all I want sitting around over there. If our strategic masters wanted to stop some bloodshed, they are late - as were the "rebels" to ask for such assistance.
All kinds of ass-crappery may become before May - and having the Praetorian around is helpful if it spreads the wrong way.

Posted by newc 2011-03-19 02:13|| 2011-03-19 02:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Gotta hand it to Besoeker---I was sure Obama will chicken out.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2011-03-19 07:29|| 2011-03-19 07:29|| Front Page Top

#4 too late too help now. Just gave the rebels a reason too hate us later on if they end up winning. Should have armed them with some good anti tank missiles at least.

Posted by chris 2011-03-19 09:10|| 2011-03-19 09:10|| Front Page Top

#5 OldSpook, I'm certainly not mil/ex-mil so my opinion is very likely both stupid and worthless.

But I think they have two ARGs there for a couple of reasons --

1) it's what is available for the moment

2) the Bataan and Kearsarge are flight platforms; they can fly Harriers and helos from them to support a NFZ, rescue downed pilots, etc.

3) Both are also really useful to insert special forces.

Yesterday at work I informally polled my physician colleagues in casual conversation. Most of them are in the moderate to fairly liberal range (I'm certain I'm the only conservative). ALL of them, ALL OF THEM are against this intervention.

Posted by Steve White 2011-03-19 10:03|| 2011-03-19 10:03|| Front Page Top

#6 If I was a cynic (/sarc), I'd suspect a plan. Let Gaddafi and the radical Islamists work their way through the cannon fodder pool, then let Gaddafi root out the wannabe AQs in the towns, then intervene against the spent resources of who's left standing. That way the intervention forces don't fiddle around dealing with the AQ types in the aftermath, starting with a pretty clean slate to carve up interests in the oil fields. Give me a ~~hurrumph~~ 'no blood for oil', boys.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-03-19 10:14|| 2011-03-19 10:14|| Front Page Top

#7 Dr. Steve,

I am a card carrying conservative of somewhat libertarian tendencies on social issues. I supported, whole heartedly, Iraq and Afghan.

But, I would not support an intervention here at all, no way, no how. This is not our fight. It is not our business to try and police the world so that the bad guys don't oppress their populations. Who next, Saudi, Bahrain, Yemen, Ivory Coast, etc.?

Cheer them on, help them get supplies IF and only if they are truly an improvement over the dictator du jour.

I don't want to find out that we're supporting something similar to Khomeini over the Shah.

Posted by AlanC 2011-03-19 10:24|| 2011-03-19 10:24|| Front Page Top

#8 Alan, if the rebels turn out to be Khomeini-like, or al-Qaeda, then we'll have to flatten them. I hope the Euros understand that.

It would be hard, not impossible but hard, for them to be worse than Qadaffy.

Posted by Steve White 2011-03-19 16:34|| 2011-03-19 16:34|| Front Page Top

#9 It would be hard, not impossible but hard, for them to be worse than Qadaffy.

I'll take exception to that. Daffy gave us his nuke program. I doubt the newbies will do that. This will be a case of meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-03-19 16:44|| 2011-03-19 16:44|| Front Page Top

#10 The amphips have flight decks that you can launch predator drones, with hellfire missiles from. Then the folks in Nevada can do some tank busting. Dont know about landing on a moving platform - but they can probably make it back to Eygpt or Italy. Land em in Bengazi load em up on a chopper and back to the ship.

Posted by Retired LEO 2011-03-19 16:47|| 2011-03-19 16:47|| Front Page Top

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