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US Senator John Kerry wants allies to 'crater' airports
theaustralian.com ^ | March 8, 2011 | Brad Norington

Posted on 03/07/2011 6:38:31 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

THE Obama administration is under renewed pressure to impose a no-fly zone over Libya after a leading US senator disputed the Pentagon's view that it would require a military attack.

Senator John Kerry yesterday said the US should prepare for a no-fly zone, with its allies, to thwart attempts by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to massacre large numbers of civilians.

As the White House retreated from the proposal, the senator said the US should consider "cratering" Libyan airports to disable Colonel Gaddafi's air force.

"The last thing we want to think about is any kind of military intervention, and I don't consider the no-fly zone stepping over that line," Senator Kerry said.

His opinion carries weight as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and an important Democratic ally of President Barack Obama.

He contradicted Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who condemned "loose talk" about a no-fly zone last week, saying it amounted to military intervention. "A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defences," Dr Gates told a congressional committee hearing.

Speaking on CBS, Senator Kerry said: "That's actually not the only option for what one could do. One could crater the airports and the runways and leave them incapable of using them for a period of time."

The senator, a Vietnam War veteran and Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, was backed by senior Republican colleague John McCain.

(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: johnfkerry; libya
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Wow John.....That sounds very “Ghenghis Khan” of you.


41 posted on 03/07/2011 7:43:54 PM PST by Right Brother
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To: Free ThinkerNY
When I was over in Turkey the year Regan got shot A Libyan sub got inside the security area of an aircraft carrier. Talk is cheep.
42 posted on 03/07/2011 7:50:20 PM PST by Domangart
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To: Brilliant

Of course the Libyans are using helicopters not jets. I guess the great Senator and Viet Nam veteran doesn’t know that helicopters don’t need runways.


43 posted on 03/07/2011 7:59:25 PM PST by airedale
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To: Right Brother

44 posted on 03/07/2011 8:17:55 PM PST by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: Brilliant
Kerry ought to know what he’s talking about... He was in Vietnam.

And Cambodia. It was seared into his memory.

45 posted on 03/08/2011 4:22:47 AM PST by glorgau
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

That was my first thought. But I doubt he has the guts to challenge Hussein.


46 posted on 03/08/2011 4:27:37 AM PST by jersey117
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; Delacon; ...

Thanks Free ThinkerNY.
Senator John Kerry yesterday said the US should prepare for a no-fly zone, with its allies, to thwart attempts by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to massacre large numbers of civilians. As the White House retreated from the proposal, the senator said the US should consider "cratering" Libyan airports to disable Colonel Gaddafi's air force. "The last thing we want to think about is any kind of military intervention, and I don't consider the no-fly zone stepping over that line," Senator Kerry said.
He remembers how effective these tactics were back when he listened to the broadcast remarks of President Nixon in 1968.


47 posted on 03/09/2011 3:09:37 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: SunkenCiv

This washed-up, exposed, aging commie, idiot gigolo should sit down and shut up, or we should act as if he has.


48 posted on 03/09/2011 3:27:48 PM PST by TheOldLady
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