Posted on 03/17/2011 8:53:52 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Canadian fighter jets heading to Libya
By DAVID AKIN, Parliamentary Bureau Chief
Last Updated: March 17, 2011 11:13pm
OTTAWA - Canada will send six CF-18 fighter jets to southern Europe to help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, defence sources told QMI Agency.
Fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec are expected to head to Europe as soon as various diplomatic clearances are obtained.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay, though, would not provide official confirmation of the mission.
"We do not comment on speculation and this is an unconfirmed story," said MacKay spokesman Jay Paxton.
After days of debate, the United Nations Security Council decided on Thursday to "establish a ban on all flights in the airspace" over Libya.
"Today the Security Council has responded to the Libyan people's cry for help," said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador the UN.
The mission for fighter jets from Canada and other countries could involve a combination of targeting infrastructure that is important to the Libyan Air Force, such as radar installations, or attempting to shoot down any Libyan Air Force jets.
That said, the mandate from the UN security council authorizes "all necessary measures" be taken short of invading Libya in order to protect Libyan citizens and rebels from attacks by forces loyal to Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi.
A day late and a dollar short ... but better than nothing. Maybe two days late. Enough to turn the tide?
there is something wrong with that airplane.
To late. By tomorrow Gaddhafi will have Benghazi
Who cares, as long as they don’t expect the US taxpayer to rebuild....
who am I kidding... that is exactly what they expect.
The US is paying for about 23% of whatever happens under the UN banner.
This is an act of futility. Momar has won a smashing victory. Just watch the Russians send a naval task force to the region and just watch the UN back down.
lol!
Who put the cockpit on the bottom??
Since when do you need a diplomatic clearance to wage war?
Since when do you need a diplomatic clearance to wage war?
When you are waging it from bases in a country with which you are not at war.
It’s an ESM pod
the plane is OK. It’s the earth is in the wrong place
they needed to turn the nose an extra half turn.
I’m no expert on these things, but in my Armchair General opinion, it’s probably much too late for a no-fly zone to make much difference.
Even if Libya’s air power is effectively squelched, Qadaffi has artillery (gun and rocket) to pound rebel positions with impunity. And there are plenty of Libyan tanks and IFV’s to crush what’s left of a foe that apparently has little anti-armor capability.
Doing GPS mapping so that Zero can focus like a lazer on the problem, just like all the other problems he’s faced and done zero about?
I can’t believe it. France and Italy are less than half an hour from Libya. GB is one hour. The cowardly Europeans have punted to the dilapidated Canadian airforce half a world away. Cowards!
Both of them?
j/k
We’ll be there in a fortnight eh!
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