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NATO and US disagree on weapons for Libya rebels
Politiken ^ | 30. mar. 2011 KL. 11.02 | Julian Ishwerwood

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 NATO’s 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.

Obama’s statement came during an interview with NBC following the president’s 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 yesterday’s 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 Rasmussen’s 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 Rasmussen’s understanding of the resolution was also at odds with Britain’s 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”.

France’s 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. Gaddafi’s 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: obama0is0osama; presidentosama

1 posted on 03/30/2011 7:28:46 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
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To: DeaconBenjamin

“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!


2 posted on 03/30/2011 7:31:42 PM PDT by joesjane ((The strength of the pack is the wolf - Rudyard Kipling))
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To: DeaconBenjamin

The rebels are doomed. Tango Sierra.


3 posted on 03/30/2011 7:31:56 PM PDT by Broker (Mabuhay!)
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To: DeaconBenjamin

Oh what a web we weave
when we practice to deceive


4 posted on 03/30/2011 7:34:28 PM PDT by DaxtonBrown (HARRY: Money Mob & Influence (See my Expose on Reid on amazon.com written by me!))
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To: joesjane
Fogh Rasmussen said ... not to arm them”.

The reason he's opposing zer0bama is because he's not one to give arms to muslim extremists. Perhaps he's not a muslim.

5 posted on 03/30/2011 7:35:36 PM PDT by C210N (0bama, Making the US safe for Global Marxism)
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To: Broker

Good.


6 posted on 03/30/2011 7:36:52 PM PDT by omega4179 (Did Obama promise to cut the availability of energy by 30% Coal Nuclear and Oil are just 30%?)
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To: DeaconBenjamin

Hell...just give em nukes and be done with it.


7 posted on 03/30/2011 7:37:45 PM PDT by Dallas59 (President Robert Gibbs 2009-2011)
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To: DeaconBenjamin
Arming the rebels is a STUPID idea.
8 posted on 03/30/2011 7:38:31 PM PDT by Tzimisce (Never forget that the American Revolution began when the British tried to disarm the colonists.)
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To: DeaconBenjamin

"Army Major (Hasan) Played Role in Presidential (Obama) Transition"

9 posted on 03/30/2011 7:39:16 PM PDT by Diogenesis ("The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people''s money." M Thatcher)
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To: Dallas59

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.


10 posted on 03/30/2011 7:43:53 PM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: Cvengr

This is insanity. Arm who? With what?

I am in a state of flabbergast.


11 posted on 03/30/2011 7:47:33 PM PDT by DJlaysitup
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To: Broker

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.


12 posted on 03/30/2011 7:52:37 PM PDT by DJlaysitup
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To: DeaconBenjamin

Obama is disarming US Christians and arming Al Qeda Muslims.

He needs to be arrested tonight!


13 posted on 03/30/2011 8:03:25 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Impeach Obama & try him for treason / Homosexuals reject diversity / Unions finally caught for theft)
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To: NoLibZone

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?


14 posted on 03/30/2011 8:12:01 PM PDT by hal ogen (1st amendment or reeducation camp?)
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To: DeaconBenjamin

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.


15 posted on 03/30/2011 9:00:19 PM PDT by gusty
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To: DeaconBenjamin

Dollar to a donut ground troops are next.


16 posted on 03/30/2011 9:07:38 PM PDT by pankot
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To: DeaconBenjamin
What kind of magic weapon can you give a ragtag bunch of AQ rebels. Seems to me they want uncle sugar to take the damn country and give them the key. Where as I think if push come to shove daffy will go to ground and start a ten are twenty year gorilla war. He has more money than old Ben and we have not been able to get him either.
17 posted on 03/30/2011 11:16:11 PM PDT by org.whodat
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To: gusty
The last military using them was south Africa, and all the other little countries there used them as well. So you could say anywhere. They still use them in Pakistan as well.
18 posted on 03/30/2011 11:21:20 PM PDT by org.whodat
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To: DJlaysitup

POTUS will flail and WE will pay dearly for his evil ways.


19 posted on 03/31/2011 4:08:18 AM PDT by Broker (Mabuhay!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; Delacon; ...

Thanks DeaconBenjamin.


20 posted on 04/04/2011 4:54:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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