Posted on 04/21/2011 1:40:39 PM PDT by jazusamo
President Obama has authorized the use of aerial drone strikes in Libya to aid rebels fighting to oust dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday.
Gates stressed that even though the United States will begin using the armed Predator drones in Libya, American soldiers will not be deployed to the country. He said the Libyan people will have to remove Gadhafi themselves, though the U.S. "can provide them with some cover from the air."
The announcement falls in line with the Obama administration's pledge to not put American boots on the ground to remove Gadhafi from power. Obama has called for Gadhafi to step down, and authorized military strikes to enforce a no-fly zone but has repeatedly said that the U.S. would not deploy ground forces to topple the regime.
After the United Nations passed a Security Council resolution approving a multinational no-fly zone over Libya in March, the United States briefly took the lead in enforcing the no-fly zone before NATO assumed command.
Gates said that as of Thursday the U.S. had two armed predator drones flying on missions in Libya.
"They are uniquely suited for areas — urban areas where you can get low collateral damage, and so we're trying to manage that collateral damage, obviously, but that's the best platform to do that with," Gates said. "They're out there for a full day working the targets."
The announcement by Gates comes a day after other nations in the multinational effort to remove Gadhafi from power announced that they were sending military advisers to help the rebels. On Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa announced that their respective nations were joining Britain in sending military advisers to help the rebels.
Gates said the U.S. will not be following in their footsteps.
"They're not our boots on the ground," Gates said. "We never made that commitment for anyone else."
—Last updated at 4:13 p.m.
There is nothing stopping the current of a future President from using E.O.’s or existing precedent to execute drone strikes on American soil against American citizens.
Why would we be surprised a President would authorize it abroad?
I heard tonight on Judge Andrew Napalitano’s TV show that no less than 60% of the American people want NO MORE DEBT!!! ZERO—. That is huge. We must let our own congressman know — no more.
The oil spice must flow...
has authorized the use of aerial drone strikes in Libya to aid rebels fighting to oust dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi
Obama insisted we're not doing "regime change" and yet somehow he appears frustrated Gaddafi hasn't yet fallen.
We keep committing more and more resources for something that was sold as a "no fly zone" to prevent genocide of civilians. The emperor has no clothes. What will it take for the anti-war left to protest?
Hellfires are only about $68,000 per copy but operating costs of these drone attacks is more than just the missile cost. This is so clearly not about protecting civilians, I'm amazed anyone continues to repeat that pretence.
You'll know after a radical Al Qaeda led government emerges in Libya to replace a government that had not caused the US Government any problems for decades.
Same thing in Egypt, Obama supports the Muslim brotherhood who will direct their attention to the destruction of Israel.
The MSM will tell you he's trying when all the while he couldn't cause more economic havoc unless he tried. Or is he?
Riots in Iran were of no interest to our Closet Muslim POTUS as they are already committed to the destruction of Israel.
Far fetched you say? Naw, it's obvious but Americans can no longer think and face the obvious until the MSM tells them the answer.
Obama couldn't cause any more economic havoc unless he was trying. Or is that if he tried harder?
Cheers!
of course thats just too obvious and easy, being as though theres 2 whole cities for him to 'hide'...
On what authority is oBama opening a new front in an undeclared war against a foreign, sovereign nation?
Does no one in congress have the stones to stop this madman? (and I don’t mean Kadaffy).
Any lessons here?
Give up chemical and nuclear weapons and even NATO with six bullets per soldier can walk right into your country.
Sadly the lack of action by anyone in Congress makes the answer evident. Zer0 should be impeached now if for nothing else than to get his attention because there's little chance of him being found guilty in the Senate.
Will Hussein Obama promise to have all US troops OUT of Libya by the year 2020? I bet NOT!!
;’)
Can he at least wait until McCain lands there first?
The French and the Italians need Libyan oil, but to the Brits, it should make no more diff than it does to the US. It just drains the pool of availabe crude for everyone.
M I S S I O N C R E E P !
nobama is a killer.
nobama hates everyone.
nobama is the Reverse Midas: everything he touches turns to sh**.
Hm....
Mission creep comes to mind
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.