Lou Dobbs reporting news that the United Nations Security Council voted late this afternoon to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya, and the use of “all means necessary” to prevent Libyan Dictator Moammar Gadhafi from destroying rebel forces in Benghazi and the rest of the country.
United Nations approves ‘no-fly zone’
Security Council approved Thursday evening a resolution that would establish a no-fly zone over Libya, and would authorize the use of air strikes against Colonel Muammar Qadhafi’s forces targeting anti-government rebels and civilians.
The resolution authorizes the world body “to take all necessary measures… to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack” from forces loyal to the Libyan dictator, including Benghazi, a rebel stronghold Qadhafi has targeted. The UN did not specify when the air patrols over Libyan airspace would begin, or which country would take the lead, but there are several reports that British and French warplanes could strike pro-government positions as soon as Friday.
The White House, which was reluctant to engage in any military action without international support, did not have an immediate response to the resolution. Ten Security Council member countries voted in favor of the measures against Libya, including France, Germany, Britain and the U.S., while five — including Russia and China — abstained.
The U.N. resolution allows not only a no-fly zone but also any measures up to a ground invasion to halt attacks that might result in civilian casualties.
Lugar: No-fly zone requires declaration of war
Foreign Policy
Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee argued against implementing a no-fly zone over Libya on Thursday, and also said that Congress must pass a formal declaration of war if the Obama administration decides to take that step.
“Clearly, the United States should be engaged with allies on how to oppose the Qaddafi regime and support the aspirations of the Libyan people,” said Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) at the start of the committee’s Thursday morning hearing on the Middle East. “But given the costs of a no-fly zone, the risks that our involvement would escalate, the uncertain reception in the Arab street of any American intervention in an Arab country, the potential for civilian deaths, the unpredictability of the endgame in a civil war, the strains on our military, and other factors, I am doubtful that U.S. interests would be served by imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.”
Lugar pointed to the fact that 145,000 American troops are currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the annual U.S. budget deficit is already around $1.5 trillion.
“In this broad context, if the Obama administration decides to impose a no-fly zone or take other significant military action in Libya, I believe it should first seek a Congressional debate on a declaration of war under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution,” Lugar said.
Continue article CLICK HERE
.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
I haven’t seen Lou Dobbs new show yet, but I am glad he joined Fox.
Just what we need another Korea. This ought to cause a conflict at the white house, Jeremiah Wright/ Fairykhan and obama are friends with gadaffy. obama hasn’t said one word yet, but we maybe sending troops in there. It has got to be impossible to work with/for this Regime. The Blind leading the blind regime.
Doesn’t the CinC (coward in charge) o’quamba know our military is a little busy right now. And, has anyone questioned o’quamba’s mental stability or asked whether he needs his Xanaex does quadrupled to overdose levels?
Obamination is just following the crowd here. But is it smart? Is it the leadership the US needs right now, when we are fighting two wars, reigning in Iran, and being threathened by China and NKorea? Mmmmmh, does he really care?
I’m getting to the point of wishing America would go into isolation status. Just do only what is good for us and quit spending our blood and money being the world’s policeman. Then again, I wonder what might happen to the world’s precarious stability if we didn’t take action.
France wants us to help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. I remember when Reagan bombed Libya and France would not let us fly through their airspace or refuel at their airbases. That put extra stress on our pilots.
The 1986 American bombing of Libya (which killed Muammar Gaddafi’s daughter) was a direct immediate response to the Libya directed explosion in Berlin that injured 63 American military personnel.
Back then, we had a real American in the White House who said, “When our citizens are attacked or abused anywhere in the world on the direct orders of hostile regimes, we will respond so long as I’m in this office.”
Ronald Reagan didn’t dither for days, ponder who we might offend, wait around for United Nations approval or some kind of world consensus either. The military exercise and air strikes were done circumventing French air space.
Now the French want American military help to fight the same Gaddafi.
F..k the French.
We have no business there.
GREAT input thank you all sooooo much. I agree with all of you.