Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Libya: On Ground Updates - March 30, 2011

Libya: On Ground Updates
Libyan Rebels Just Can’t Advance Without Air Support - Obama/Cameron Consider Sending Arms to Rebel Forces
- Operation Odyssey Dawn -
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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DOD graphic by Paul Sherman
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Three things have become clear in the international air campaign to protect Libya’s uprising against Muammar Qaddafi: [1] Foreign airstrikes decisively tip the battlefield in the untrained, if eager, rebel army’s direction. [2] The rebels can advance easily along the sparsely inhabited desert running west towards Sirte, Qaddafi’s hometown, as long as foreign warplanes are plowing the road in front of them. [3] Absent that air support, Qaddafi’s army drives them relentlessly back...
Read this CSMonitor.com report in full at link below...
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* Bloomberg.com had this report posted up on their website this Wednesday afternoon and it starts off like this... Libyan rebels retreated under fire from Muammar Qaddafi’s troops as U.S. President Barack Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said they may consider sending arms to the opposition forces... “We will be providing them direct assistance,” Obama said in an NBC “Nightly News” interview yesterday. Asked if this meant sending weapons to the rebels, Obama said: “I’m not ruling it out. But I’m also not ruling it in.”...
Read the rest of this report at link below...
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* BBC.co.uk had this report posted up on their website early evening, Wednesday and it starts off like this... Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa is in Britain and "no longer willing" to work for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the Foreign Office says... He flew into an airport near the capital earlier on Wednesday... He has subsequently spent hours talking to British officials... His apparent defection comes as rebels in Libya are retreating from former strongholds along the eastern coast as Colonel Gaddafi's forces advance... The rebels have now lost the key oil port of Ras Lanuf and the nearby town of Bin Jawad, and are also in full retreat from Brega. In the west, the rebel-held town of Misrata is still reportedly coming under attack from pro-Gaddafi troops, reports say...
Read the rest at link below...
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* Libya Up-to-Date News Coverage *
LOTS of up-to-date info/videos/photos and more can be found in this section
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* Ministry of Defense Special Section:
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* DoD Special Section:
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* LIVE Coverage at...
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* The Telegraph brings us LIBYA NEWS LIVE HERE
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* Aljazeera.net...
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* Today’s Videos *
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Libya - World powers debate arming Libyan rebels
About this News Video: France and the US agreed that providing anti-Gaddafi rebels with weapons was a possibility Tuesday, as the dissident fighters... emboldened by western airstrikes... were forced to retreat 40 kilometers during an attack by pro-regime forces.
This video posted on YouTube by france24english
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* Today’s Photos/Slides *
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- CSMonitor.com -
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- BBC NEWS Slideshow -
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Safe Flying to all our Coalition Pilot Friends
AubreyJ.........
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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Libya: On Ground Updates - March 27-28, 2011

Libya: On Ground Updates
Libya Rebels On The March
- Operation Odyssey Dawn -
Originally posted on...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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Picture Credit-Senior Aircraftman Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright-MOD 2011
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- Forces Accomplish No-fly Zone Mission, Gates Says -
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    WASHINGTON, March 27, 2011 - U.S. and coalition forces have accomplished the no-fly zone aspect of the United Nations mission in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a television interview aired today.
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  Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and discussed what coalition nations have achieved as actions in Libya enter a second week.
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  U.S. and coalition partners have suppressed Moammar Gadhafi’s air defenses in Libya and have not seen his planes in the air since the no-fly zone was put in place March 19, Gates said.
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   “We’ve also been successful on the humanitarian side,” the defense secretary said. “We have prevented his forces from going to Bengahzi, and we have taken out a good bit of his armor.” He added that, “I think we have, to a very large extent, completed the military mission, in terms of getting it set up.”
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  Gates said no decision has been made about supplying arms to Libyan forces opposing Gadhafi, though the U.N. Security Council resolution establishing the no-fly zone permits such action.
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  “I think the president’s policy is it’s time for Gadhafi to go,” he said. “That’s not part of our military mission, which has been very limited and very strictly defined.”
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  While a number of diplomatic efforts are underway to help resolve the situation in Libya, Gates said, “One should not underestimate the possibility of the regime itself cracking.”
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  Clinton said she’s confident the operation in Libya prevented Gadhafi from killing potentially tens of thousands of Libyan civilians and creating a refugee crisis that would have destabilized the region.
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   “He was intending, by his own words, to ‘show no mercy,’” she said. “I think we prevented a great humanitarian disaster.”
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  Now, because of the “good work of the coalition,” Gadhafi’s forces are turning back and the opposition is regaining ground it had lost, she said.
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  The military mission has been very well coordinated, and NATO is now taking command over it, she said, adding that “at the same time, we are pursuing really strict economic sanctions … [and] we have a political effort underway.”
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  Clinton said the African Union has called for a transition to democracy in Libya, and the Arab League will join “others of us who are supporting this effort” for talks in London Tuesday to focus on how to manage such a transition.
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  The United Nations will also send a special envoy to Benghazi and Tripoli in the next several days to send a “very clear message” to Gadhafi, she said.
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  The secretary of state also said the international community’s message to the Libyan leader is that “now is your time to get out of this and to help change the direction.”
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  As protests in Syria extend the wave of popular uprisings that have swept across Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other nations in recent months, Clinton said, the U.S. approach remains consistent: “We want to see no violence, we want to see peaceful protests … and we want to see economic and political reform.”
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  Clinton cited Egypt as an example of political transformation now under way. She and Gates have both visited Egypt in recent weeks, and offered assistance in reform efforts, she said.
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   “It is hard moving from being in the forefront of a movement to being part of a political process,” she said. “It’s hard in any country – but we’re going to stand with them and make sure … they get the support they need.” 
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Written by Karen Parrish - American Forces Press Service - Image by DoD
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* Ministry of Defense Special Section:
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* DoD Special Section:
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* LIVE Coverage at...
- Also on the BBC website today we find...
LOTS of up-to-date info/videos/photos and more can be found at above BBC links.
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* The Telegraph brings us LIBYA NEWS LIVE HERE
Above Link Automatically Updates Every 90 Seconds
Videos/photos and more at above link
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* Aljazeera.net...
LOTS of videos/photos and more at above link too!
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* Today’s Videos *
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Rebels Reclaim Oil Centers in Westward Push Toward Tripoli
About this Video: Libyan rebels seized back two key oil complexes and pushed west toward Tripoli on Sunday, gaining momentum after international airstrikes that tipped the balance away from Moammar Gadhafi's military. (March 27th)
This News Video posted on YouTube by AssociatedPress
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* SKY NEWS HD *
Lots of up-to-date info/VIDEOS/Slideshow and more at above link

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Post Update:
Monday, March 28, 2011
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* Guardian.co.uk brings us the following report this Monday and it starts off like this... Rebel Libyan forces were halted about 50 miles from Sirte on Monday as Britain and France called on Gaddafi's supporters to desert "before it is too late"... Revolutionary forces had advanced more than 150 miles in two days, helped by coalition air strikes, breaking the stalemate at Ajdabiya and paving the way for hundreds of men to stream forward along Libya's coastal road... But despite a Libyan rebel claim that Sirte had been captured, there was no sign on Monday that the opposition was in control of the city, which marks the boundary between the east and west of Libya and has great symbolic importance as Gaddafi's home city... Instead, pro-Gaddafi troops in Sirte were being rallied by forces travelling east from Tripoli and other strongholds in 4x4 vehicles with light weaponry mounted on the rear, a break from the heavier artillery used so far by Gaddafi's forces, which has been picked off with relative ease by coalition air strikes... After another wave of air strikes targeted Sirte on Sunday night and Monday morning...
Read this detailed report in full at link below...
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* BBC.co.uk has the following News Video Report...
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Libya Rebels celebrate taking Ajdabiya
About this Video: Libyan rebels celebrate after recapturing the strategic eastern town of Ajdabiya from Colonel Gaddafi's forces.
This Raw Video Footage posted on YouTube by telegraphtv
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It does my heart glad to see the peoples of Libya cheering all the new ground being taken from Colonel Gaddafi's forces yet let there be no mistake... It would NOT be happening, at all, if not for the might of all that Coalition airpower.
And again I say this...
Safe Flying to all our Coalition Pilot Friends
AubreyJ.........
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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Libya: On Ground Updates - March 26, 2011

Libya: On Ground Updates
Opposition Fighters Retake Ajdabiya After Entering Suburbs Overnight
- Operation Odyssey Dawn -
Saturday, March 26, 2011
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SOUDA BAY, Greece- Taken March 25, 2011: A Qatar Emiri Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet takes off as part of a Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn mission. Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. UNSCR 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces.
U.S. Navy Photo by Paul Farley
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Obama: Coalition Mission Succeeding in Libya
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WASHINGTON, March 26, 2011 - The military mission in Libya is succeeding and preventing further atrocities against the Libyan people by Moammar Gadhafi and his forces, President Barack Obama said today in his weekly radio address.
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Obama said that “because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians -- innocent men, women and children -- have been saved."
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The commander in chief credited the part played by U.S. troops in “Operation Odyssey Dawn,” which was launched March 19 by coalition forces to enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution to protect the Libyan people from Gadhafi’s forces.
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"Thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we’ve made important progress," Obama said, noting that he faces “no greater decision” than sending U.S. forces into harm’s way. He also said the U.S. “should not -- and cannot -- intervene every time there’s a crisis somewhere in the world." 
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Gadhafi’s brutality against innocent Libyan people, however, made the military action necessary, he said.
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"When someone like Gadhafi threatens a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region, and when the international community is prepared to come together to save many thousands of lives, then it’s in our national interest to act. It’s our responsibility,” he said. “This is one of those times."
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Over the past week, Obama said that U.S. and coalition forces took out Gadhafi’s air defenses and stopped his forces’ advancement across the country. Libyan forces also were pushed back in Benghazi, a city of about 700,000 people, where Gadhafi threatened to show “no mercy” to the country's opposition.
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"Our message is clear and unwavering," he said. "Gadhafi’s attacks against civilians must stop. His forces must pull back. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach those in need. Those responsible for violence must be held accountable.”
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The president said that "Moammar Gadhafi has lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to rule, and the aspirations of the Libyan people must be realized."
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Obama explained that the role of American forces has been limited... and the U.S. is acting in concert with a multinational coalition.
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 “We are not putting any ground forces into Libya. Our military has provided unique capabilities at the beginning, but this is now a broad, international effort,” he said. “Our allies and partners are enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya and the arms embargo at sea."
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The president noted that "key Arab partners," such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have contributed aircraft to the effort.
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Obama said this is "how the international community should work, with more nations, not just the United States, bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding peace and security.
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"This military effort is part of our larger strategy to support the Libyan people and hold the Gadhafi regime accountable," he said. "Together with the international community, we’re delivering urgent humanitarian assistance. We’re offering support to the Libyan opposition."
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By freezing tens of billions of dollars of Gadhafi’s assets, the needs and aspirations of the Libyan people can be better met, he said, "and every day, the pressure on Gadhafi and his regime is increasing."
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Obama said that Libyans have begun expressing their gratitude for the mission.
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"Every American can be proud of the lives we’ve saved in Libya and of the service of our men and women in uniform who once again have stood up for our interests and our ideals," he said. "And people in Libya and around the world are seeing that the United States of America stands with those who hope for a future where they can determine their own destiny."
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Written by Terri Moon Cronk - American Forces Press Service
White House photo by Samantha Appleton
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* Bloomberg brings us the following report and their report starts off like this... Libyan rebels moved into the central city of Ajdabiya, near the strategic oil port of Ras Lanuf, and recaptured Brega in the east after U.S. and allied warplanes stepped up their bombardment of Muammar Qaddafi’s tanks, artillery and soldiers... Opposition fighters, who have struggled to move west from their eastern stronghold of Benghazi in the past week, retook Ajdabiya today after entering the suburbs overnight, Al Jazeera television and the Benghazi-based Breniq newspaper reported. The advance came after the U.S. military yesterday said coalition warplanes nearly doubled the number of strike sorties against Qaddafi’s forces in a seventh day of bombing...
Read this report in full at link below...
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* BBC.co.uk has the following report for us today and it starts off like this... Tripoli is hit by coalition bombs and missiles every night, yet there is little reliable evidence of any casualties. The coalition countries know that killing civilians would be disastrous in this war, and they are plainly making big efforts to avoid it... Libyan television often shows news pictures which purport to be those of civilian victims, but they are impossible to verify. The authorities here are anxious to persuade the outside world that large numbers of civilians are dying...
Read the full report at link below...
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* CNN.com had this report posted up on their website Friday afternoon and it starts off like this... NATO is set to take command of the U.N.-backed no-fly zone over Libya, seizing control from the U.S., which was keen to hand over the reigns... Under an agreement reached Thursday NATO forces will be able to close Libyan air space to all flights except humanitarian ones and will be able to use force in self-defense... The agreement follows days of political infighting among the coalition, with Turkey and the Arab League expressing strong reservations about a NATO-led force...
Read the full report at link below...
Lots of News Videos and more at above link...
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* The Telegraph had this take on the news Friday... Britain has launched a concerted attack for the first time on pro-Gaddafi loyalists besieging the key Libyan city of Ajdabiya, using laser guided weapons to destroy tanks on the ground... The attack which destroyed four tanks on the outskirts of Ajdabiya came as rebel fighting intensified inside the city and reports came in of fighting in a second city, Misurata...
Read the rest at link below...
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* Today’s Photos *
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* LOTS of Images/Photos can be found on the Pakistan Defense website...
Click them out HERE
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* Rediff.com...
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* Today’s Videos *
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Libyan rebels recapture Ajdabiya
About this short News Video: Anti-Gaddafi forces enter the strategic oil town after an all-night battle.
This News Video posted on YouTube by itnnews
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Libyan rebels retake Ajdabiya
About this short News Video: Libyan rebels said on Saturday that they have retaken the eastern town of Ajdabiya. The town is strategically important as it is in one of Libya's key oil-producing areas... It has been held by Colonel Gaddafi's forces but was subjected to heavy bombardments by coalition forces overnight. There are also reports of allied strikes on the capital of Tripoli, which remains a Gaddafi stronghold...
This News Video posted on YouTube by Euronews
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Safe Flying to all our Coalition Pilot Friends
AubreyJ.........
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