Posted on 03/30/2011 7:28:44 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
US President Barack Obama does not preclude the United States supplying weapons to Libyan rebels attempting to overthrow the Gaddafi regime, but NATOs Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says that is not part of UN Resolution 1973.
NATO has taken over the operational military leadership of an international coalition enforcing UN Resolution 1973 from the United States, and apart from enforcing a no-fly zone is also currently enforcing a general weapons embargo on Libya.
Obamas statement came during an interview with NBC following the presidents speech to the nation on Libya. I am not ruling it out, but I am not ruling it in, Obama said of possible weapons supplies, adding that it would be fair to say that if there was a wish to do so, it would be possible.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, however, disagrees. Following yesterdays meeting in London, Fogh Rasmussen said of the UN resolution that it calls for: the enforcement of an arms embargo. We are there to protect civilians, not to arm them.
Implicitly, Fogh Rasmussens statement suggests that were any foreign states to attempt to deliver weapons to either side in the Libyan conflict, NATO forces would be bound to stop them under the current UN Security Council resolution.
Fogh Rasmussens understanding of the resolution was also at odds with Britains Foreign Secretary William Hague who said that providing weapons to rebels would be consistent with the UN resolution to give people aid to defend themselves in certain circumstances.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is further reported as saying that the UN resolution 1973 amended or overrode the absolute prohibition on arms to anyone in Libya.
Frances Foreign Minister Alain Juppé was more in line with the NATO view, saying arming the rebels was not part of the UN resolution, although it could be up for discussion.
I remind you that this is not what is envisaged by Resolution 1973... so for the moment France has agreed to the strict application of these resolutions, Juppé is reported as saying, adding that a new UN resolution would be necessary if weapons were to be provided to the rebels.
Debate on arming the Libyan rebels comes as reports come in of a rebel attack on Col. Gaddafis home town of Sirte having failed.
A Danish TV2 News report direct from the advance on Sirte showed rebels in full flight as forces loyal to Col. Gaddafi lobbed heavy grenades at them. Rebels are now said to have retreated towards Ras Lanuf.
I am not ruling it out, but I am not ruling it in, Obama said of possible weapons supplies. This pretty much sums up his position on everything. This man stands for nothing!
The rebels are doomed. Tango Sierra.
Oh what a web we weave
when we practice to deceive
The reason he's opposing zer0bama is because he's not one to give arms to muslim extremists. Perhaps he's not a muslim.
Good.
Hell...just give em nukes and be done with it.
The French are probably arguing if they should give them pellet guns or BB guns, while Obama is probably pondering Poseidon or Trident launch ability.
This is insanity. Arm who? With what?
I am in a state of flabbergast.
Yep...
From what I have been able to piece together from the news, the Gaddafi forces have changed tactics and are now going at the “rebels” in small groups which are difficult to spot from the air. They are mortaring them and sniping them and “rebel” morale is in the proverbial sh!tter. Basically the “rebels” are running like scared rabbits.
Obama is disarming US Christians and arming Al Qeda Muslims.
He needs to be arrested tonight!
Gadhafi is killing al queda. Isn’t that a good thing? nobama, the great leader, wants to arm al queda? h clintoon, the world’s purported smartest woman, wants to kill those who want to kill al queda. Is this WTF foreign policy confused and FUBAR-ed or what?
I will like to know from the Ivory Tower crew in Washington is arm them with what. The Libyan rebels have no military value at all. This bunch probably do not know how or why they should clean their rifles. If it wasn’t for the AK 47 most of their weapons will be useless in a couple of days anyway. In an aside, someone is arming them now. I have noticed a lot of FN FAL’s in the hands of these rebels. I believe Libya was armed by the Soviet Bloc/Putin’s Russia. Where did the FAL’s come from.
Dollar to a donut ground troops are next.
POTUS will flail and WE will pay dearly for his evil ways.
Thanks DeaconBenjamin.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.