The New Dark Age

24 March 2011 — Stop NATO

New U.S.-NATO Strikes Kill Libyan Civilians, Including Rescue Workers
Libyan Quagmire Could Drag More U.S. Forces In
White House Hands Libyan War Command And Control To NATO
How “Humanitarian” Is Western Intervention In Libya?
AFRICOM Chief Visits 14-Nation Libyan War Air Operations Center In Germany
Egypt: Pentagon Chief Gates Meets With Military Commander-In-Chief/Supreme Military Council Head
Global Navy Positioned U.S. For Libyan Strikes: Admiral
336 U.S., NATO Air Sorties, Missile Strikes In Libyan “Battle Space”
NATO Partners To Play Larger Role In Multiphased Libyan Attacks
Libyan War: China Must Rally World’s Anti-Intervention Voices

New U.S.-NATO Strikes Kill Libyan Civilians, Including Rescue Workers

english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/24/47889286.html

Voice of Russia

March 24, 2011

Coalition strikes again

The international coalition forces delivered more strikes on civilian and military targets in Libya on Wednesday with many civilians reportedly killed and wounded in the Tadjura residential area east of the capital Tripoli.

The list of those injured also includes several rescue workers who were looking for survivors in previous such strikes.

A residence of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Adjdabiya was also damaged.

Meanwhile, the NATO Council remains divided on the scope of the ongoing military operation.

On Tuesday it agreed to impose a sea blockade on Libya…

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Libyan Quagmire Could Drag More U.S. Forces In

en.huanqiu.com/opinion/commentary/2011-03/637383.html

Global Times

March 24, 2011

Libyan quagmire could drag more US forces in

Shi Yinhong

Professor of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China

Recently some scholars are talking about a coalition split over Libya operations, saying that the US and the UK are not pleased with France’s attempts to sidestep NATO at the beginning of the military operations against Libya. Some believe that France has hijacked Western operations against Libya. I strongly disagree.

The US has taken the lead in the Libya action, and it conducts most of the air strikes. It is too early to talk about split among the US, the UK and France at the moment. Gaddafi’s strength humiliated these Western powers. The coalition has to lend a hand to the Libyan rebels, so that they can continue to fight against Gaddafi.

In the future, divergence may emerge within the coalition. If Gaddafi overwhelms the rebels again, and the West has to send ground forces, they may quarrel among themselves, because every nation involved is reluctant to do this. So far the three powers largely share a consensus and operate in accordance with each other.

I don’t think the US will withdraw from the operations, either. It has sent aircraft carriers and war planes, and will continue the air-sea assault to prevent Gaddafi’s operations.

Gaddafi has called for a cease-fire again, but has been refused by the US. The no-fly zone is a strategic measure with a very clear objective – the coalition can use the zone to prevent Gaddafi from choking rebel forces.

Every war causes political controversy. You shouldn not listen to what Westerners say – you only need to watch what they do. Even if Gaddafi continues to last, he can only control part of Libya. The West won’t allow him to occupy the entire nation.

However, if the West continues to conduct the military intervention, some Arab countries that support the intervention may change their attitudes later.

The military intervention into Libya will become a risky precedent, and it may be abused by the West to interfere with internal affairs in other developing countries. But in the meantime, this is also a special case, due to Libya’s geological position.

If it were a country near Russia or China, and had closer relations with the two powers, they would probably have vetoed the no-fly zone resolution.

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White House Hands Libyan War Command And Control To NATO

www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1567183.ece

Press Trust of India

March 24, 2011

‘NATO’s role very important in command and control of Libya’

As U.S. prepares to hand over the command and control of the military operation in Libya in the next few days, the Obama Administration has said that NATO would have a very important role to play in this regard.

“There is an agreement that NATO is going to play a very important role in the command and control,” said Ben Rhodes Deputy National Security Advisor, adding that the terms and timeline of the transition is still being discussed at NATO.

“The exact structure and relative participation of different countries is what they’re continuing to discuss, and they will do so, again, tomorrow. But again, I think this is going to be a matter of days in which you see a movement towards a transition with regard to command and control,” he told White House correspondents travelling with the U.S. President on their way back from Latin American to the U.S.

“You already see an increase in the extent to which the no-fly zone, the enforcement of the no-fly zone piece of the effort in Libya right now is being undertaken by allies and partners. You see, again, a number of allies stepping up with different contributions as well,” he said, adding that the U.S. and its international partners are working through the command and control issue.

…

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How “Humanitarian” Is Western Intervention In Libya?

english.peopledaily.com.cn/98670/102055/7327885.html

People’s Daily

March 22, 2011

How humanitarian is Western intervention in Libya?

Tang Zhichao

-Poor Libya is not the first “trial target” that the Western has attacked in the name of “humanitarianism.” Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and so on are all the former “targets.” Sadly, the “experiment” never really succeeded. As seen from the other two countries, this so-called “humanitarianism” is actually just the first step toward overthrowing of another country’s political power.

For days, British, French and U.S. forces have been conducting air strikes in Libya. Despite coalition claims that their actions have made steady progress, voices of dissatisfaction and opposition are increasingly louder due to casualties caused by a strike ostensibly carried out in the name of humanitarianism.

According to the U.S. Army, the operation “Odyssey Dawn,” which started on the afternoon of March 19, has largely weakened the capability of Libyan air defense. The first phase of the coalition’s mission to control Libyan air territory has achieved success, said Michael Glenn Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, on March 20.

The Western coalition emphasized that the first wave of the strike is “limited in scope,” but in fact it turned out otherwise, triggering great questions and doubts. Libya’s state-run TV station reported that 64 people died and 150 people were injured in the first day of the air strike. Such numbers are definitely going to increase with the ongoing strike.

The two main purposes of the current air strike are to destroy Libyan air defense facilities and lay the groundwork for setting up a no-fly zone, which will allow Western fighters to cruise on one hand. On the other hand, it aims to stop Gaddafi’s eastern aggression and force military troops loyal to Gaddafi to evacuate from Benghazi and other places occupied by Libyan rebels. However, neither of the purposes has been achieved as of now, and Gaddafi is not compromising, either.

The action implemented by the coalition was authorized by the U.N. Security Council in the name of “humanitarianism” to stop the killing of civilians by Gaddafi. However, the real situation is that casualties might be much higher than before Western interference. Aside from the deaths and injuries caused by the air strike, it will eventually turn into a humanitarian disaster because the interference might turn the civil conflict into a severe protracted civil war.

Poor Libya is not the first “trial target” that the Western has attacked in the name of “humanitarianism.” Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and so on are all the former “targets.” Sadly, the “experiment” never really succeeded. As seen from the other two countries, this so-called “humanitarianism” is actually just the first step toward overthrowing of another country’s political power.

The historical experience also tells us that such military interference is only for self-serving political and economic interests or even just out of dislike for some leaders, such as Saddam and Gaddafi, though it is veiled by a humanitarian guise.

However, it is definitely not under the pure name of “humanitarianism.” Then, who is going to clear the name of this cause?

Therefore, we could see the turning of Arab League’s sides from supporting to wavering and “regretting” within just a few days. In order to stop the bombing of civilians by Gaddafi, the Arab League appealed to the U.N. Security Council to set up a no-fly zone over Libya and provided a “legal” excuse for France and Britain to advance the 1973 no-fly ban.

But, the Arab League never expected that the air strike on Libya could cause such a big disaster, and they may have to share the burden of deaths first. So, the Arab League started to condemn the military attacks on Libya on March 20.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said what is currently happening in Libya has strayed away from the purpose of setting up no-fly zone approved by the U.N. Security Council. The council’s decision was done in order to protect civilians but not at the expense of sacrificing more civilians. The no-fly zone is expected but not bombs.

Apart from the Arab League, Russia strongly appealed all sides to cease fire to avoid hurting more civilians and opposes to use of military forces indiscriminately. Iran condemns the air strike on Libya and questions Western countries’ improper purposes. Hugo Chávez, the President of Venezuela, said the air strike could only cause more bleeding. Also, Turkey, as one member of NATO, opposes the behavior of its “partners” and warns NATO that the military interference would result in very dangerous consequences.

Translated by Wang Hanlu

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AFRICOM Chief Visits 14-Nation Libyan War Air Operations Center In Germany

www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123248095

U.S. Air Forces in Europe

March 23, 2011

General Ham visits air operations center responsible for Operation Odyssey Dawn air campaign

by Staff Sgt. Stefanie Torres

17th Air Force Public Affairs

-”You can’t bring 14 different nations together without ever having prepared for this before.”

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany: U.S. Africa Command Commander Army Gen. Carter Ham and his top enlisted advisor, Command Chief Master Sgt. Jack Johnson Jr., paid a visit to their air component here March 22.

Air Forces Africa (17th Air Force) Commander Air Force Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward greeted General Ham at the 603rd Air Operations Center, where flying operations in Libya were on display, and work with coalition partners was taking place. Participants from coalition countries to include France, Great Britain, and Italy were present to greet the general as he saw firsthand how the air components all were working together in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

The 603rd, normally the AOC for 3rd Air Force and U.S. European Command, is hosting AFRICOM’s (and 17th Air Force’s) 617th Air Opertions Center. The two commands are working together on ODD…Together they form the air component of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn.

AFRICOM established the JTF to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of security council resolution. UNSCR 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces.

Although working with different countries in similar activities could warrant a difficult learning curve, General Ham said it was clear that this was not the case, and having preparation beforehand may have helped in this situation.

“You can’t bring 14 different nations together without ever having prepared for this before,” he said. “It’s amazing to see that even with such short notice what we have been able to come together and accomplish this task. There is no force anywhere on the planet that could pull this off.”

…

The 603rd AOC is playing host to not only the 617th AOC, but coalition partners as well…

“It’s amazing to see the many nations working together with extraordinary cooperation and dedication. But the work isn’t done yet…”

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Egypt: Pentagon Chief Gates Meets With Military Commander-In-Chief/Supreme Military Council Head

www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63280

U.S. Department of Defense

March 23, 2011

Gates Reaffirms U.S. Support of Egypt

By Cheryl Pellerin

-Rapid change in the region holds potential new opportunities for the United States, Gates said.

-Gates will meet tomorrow with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the nation’s commander in chief and chairman of the Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

CAIRO: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with Egyptian leaders here today as part of a visit officials said is designed to reaffirm U.S. support and advance the nations’ defense partnership.

“It’s always a pleasure to be back in this vibrant and historic city,” Gates said, “especially during a time of monumental promise and change both in Egypt and elsewhere in the region.”

America’s historic relationship with Egypt is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa, Gates said. The U.S.-Egyptian military partnership has grown over 30 years, he added, “and it is an integral part of the way our two countries pursue our common interests and advance stability in an often tumultuous region.”

Rapid change in the region holds potential new opportunities for the United States, Gates said.

“I would point to the longstanding relationship between the United States military and the Egyptian military and the constructive role the Egyptian military has played in the events of the past couple of months,” he said.

“For existing governments that undertake a process of reform and that we work with today, those relationships will continue,” Gates added. “And I think where change is underway we may have even greater opportunities.”

After his meeting today with Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and other Egyptian officials, Gates said the leaders “do see a need for economic assistance, not just from us, but from all their friends.” The Egyptian leaders see the connection between political progress and people seeing concrete improvements in the quality of their lives, which means a growing economy, the secretary added.

“The key here is the stability that the Supreme Council has brought and the naming of the interim government that we hope in the short term will allow for a return of the tourist trade, which is an important source of income,” Gates said.

As private industry observers see a process of democratization going forward, he added, they will see opportunities for investment in Egypt, “which is at the end of the day, both inside Egypt and from external investment, the long-term solution to their economic problems.”

Gates will meet tomorrow with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the nation’s commander in chief and chairman of the Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

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Global Navy Positioned U.S. For Libyan Strikes: Admiral

www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63272

U.S. Department of Defense

March 23, 2011

Roughead: Ships Were Ready for Odyssey Dawn

By Jim Garamone

-The actions against Libya marked the first time the converted ballistic missile submarine USS Florida was used in combat, and basing the coalition’s joint task force aboard the USS Mount Whitney has provided flexibility…

-Roughead said he also is pleased with the performance of the EA-18G Growler, the Navy’s newest electronic warfare aircraft. The five-jet squadron had been flying missions over Iraq, but was quickly moved and began flying missions in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn…

-”That’s what you get when you have a global Navy that’s forward all the time. We don’t surge, and we don’t ride to the sound of the guns. We’re there, and when the guns go off, we’re ready to conduct combat operations…”

-The global supply chain has worked well, [Navy Admiral Gary Roughead] said, adding that he anticipates no problem in keeping operations going.

-Tomahawks will be replaced from the existing inventory, Roughead said. More than 3,200 Tomahawks are in the inventory…

WASHINGTON: While Operation Odyssey Dawn brewed up quickly, the U.S. Navy already was positioned for operations over Libya, the chief of naval operations said here today.

Navy Adm. Gary Roughead told the Defense Writers Group that having Navy ships and submarines in the Mediterranean Sea enabled a quick response to the order that began Operation Odyssey Dawn.

“The need, for example in the opening rounds, for the Tomahawk strikes, the shooters were already in place,” Roughead said. “They were already loaded, and that went off as we expected it would.”

The Navy’s top officer said he is pleased overall with the operation so far. The actions against Libya marked the first time the converted ballistic missile submarine USS Florida was used in combat, and basing the coalition’s joint task force aboard the USS Mount Whitney has provided flexibility, he added.

Roughead said he also is pleased with the performance of the EA-18G Growler, the Navy’s newest electronic warfare aircraft. The five-jet squadron had been flying missions over Iraq, but was quickly moved and began flying missions in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn just 47 hours after recovering from operations over Iraq, he said.

The admiral also praised the tactical recovery of two F-15E Strike Eagle airmen who ejected over Libya when their jet had mechanical problems. The USS Kearsarge launched a V-22 Osprey that got in quickly and made the recovery, he said.

“The way it came together, the synchronicity of operations, the involvement and coordination among the different participants [went] quite well,” he added.

Roughead said the Navy can continue supporting operations as long as it takes.

“That’s what you get when you have a global Navy that’s forward all the time,” he said. “We don’t surge, and we don’t ride to the sound of the guns. We’re there, and when the guns go off, we’re ready to conduct combat operations…”

In the run-up to the operations, the admiral told the group, the Joint Chiefs of Staff deliberated on the military actions that would be required. Roughead said he was particularly concerned about Moammar Gadhafi’s integrated air and missile defense system…

Logistics was another concern, Roughead said, but the Navy’s robust presence in the Mediterranean comes with re-supply ships afloat and depots ashore. The global supply chain has worked well, he said, adding that he anticipates no problem in keeping operations going.

From a funding standpoint, Roughead told the defense writers, the operations are not especially costly.

…Tomahawks will be replaced from the existing inventory, Roughead said. More than 3,200 Tomahawks are in the inventory, and the missiles used in the operation represent “relatively minor increases in cost,” he added.

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336 U.S., NATO Air Sorties, Missile Strikes In Libyan “Battle Space”

www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=63269

U.S. Department of Defense

March 23, 2011

Pentagon Tallies Coalition Actions in Libya

By Karen Parrish

WASHINGTON: By the fifth day of coalition task force operations…the 13-nation alliance had flown more than 300 sorties in the North African country, Pentagon officials said yesterday.

By 3 p.m. EDT yesterday, the United States had flown 212 sorties, other coalition sorties totaled 124, and Tomahawk missile launches numbered 162, officials said.

Officials said the 336 sorties included 108 strike sorties, meaning they encountered opposition from Moammar Gadhafi’s forces.

…

Task Force Odyssey Dawn, including forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada and Arab states, immediately shifted from humanitarian and refugee evacuation missions under way since March 4 to military air operations enforcing the resolution.

…

With the no-fly zone established and “robust,” the admiral said, “we are looking at the battle space as it changes, looking at the disposition of … Gadhafi’s forces that are not complying with the U.N. Security Council resolution, and we are able to produce more of an effect.”

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NATO Partners To Play Larger Role In Multiphased Libyan Attacks

www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63279

U.S. Department of Defense

March 23, 2011

Coalition Partners Assume More Responsibility in Libya

By Lisa Daniel

-The coalition started out small, but quickly established the no-fly zone, obtained maritime superiority, put the embargo in place, interdicted ground forces, suppressed enemy air defenses…

WASHINGTON: Coalition task force operations in Libya continue to go well, and partner nations are picking up more of the workload, the chief of staff of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn told reporters today.

“Our efforts have been going well,” Navy Rear Adm. Gerard P. Hueber told Pentagon reporters by telephone from the USS Whitney in the Mediterranean Sea on the sixth day of operations. “This is a multiphased operation. Our coalition partners are assuming more and more responsibility.”

The 13-member coalition has achieved its objective to set up a no-fly zone over Libya…

Sortie airstrikes have rendered Libya’s air defense “severely degraded or destroyed,” the admiral said.

…

The coalition started out small, but quickly established the no-fly zone, obtained maritime superiority, put the embargo in place, interdicted ground forces, suppressed enemy air defenses…, Hueber said.

“This is a fully integrated coalition operation,” he said. “Coalition ships, aircraft and staff are focused on the single mission of enforcing [Resolution] 1973.”

The coalition has “accomplished quite a lot together,” the admiral said, “and will continue to work together” until the resolution’s objectives are met.

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Libyan War: China Must Rally World’s Anti-Intervention Voices

en.huanqiu.com/opinion/editorial/2011-03/636415.html

Global Times

March 22, 2011

Anti-intervention voices must be heard

-The Iraq invasion in 2003 went smoothly at first, but several thousand Americans died after the eradication of the Saddam regime. The war in Afghanistan has now lasted more than twice as long as World War I.

-Western supremacist interest has become more prevalent these years. In the current Middle East revolutions, Western governments rashly interacted with public opinion and hastily concluded Gaddafi would step down quickly. Now in order to maintain the authority of the West, they have to take the risk of military intervention.

China and Russia do not need to help the West find a way out in Libya.

-China should unite dissenting countries in uniting reactions against the air strikes. China should dare to do so, because the US, Britain and France first violated the no-fly zone resolution and the anti-military intervention camp can now occupy the moral high ground.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa criticized the US, Britain and France for their air raids in Libya on March 20. The coalition operations are facing increasing opposition from global public opinion. The veil of this military intervention under the banner of humanitarianism is rapidly being stripped away.

In this complex world, the situations in this region are much more complex than the description given by Western media. The US, Britain and France attempted to create a simple end in Libya that was beneficial to Western values, which, however, is contrary to reality. It means this military action cannot be as accurate and clear as a Tomahawk missile’s trajectory.

Within 24 hours of air strikes, the African Union, China, Russia, India and many other emerging countries stood out to oppose them. German displeasure has also been made clear. Moussa’s criticism indicates the dissatisfaction in the Arab world.

It is easy for the US, Britain and France to defeat the military power of Gaddafi, but the final outcome of military action in the Islamic world does not depend on the success or failure of military action alone. The Iraq invasion in 2003 went smoothly at first, but several thousand Americans died after the eradication of the Saddam regime. The war in Afghanistan has now lasted more than twice as long as World War I.

During the Iraq war, anti-American sentiment in the Arab world was severe, but the regulatory constraints in Arab countries limited the release of the discontent. But now with open public opinion, the people in Arab countries will soon understand that the real purpose of the Western air raids in Libya is not as pure as claimed.

Western supremacist interest has become more prevalent these years. In the current Middle East revolutions, Western governments rashly interacted with public opinion and hastily concluded Gaddafi would step down quickly. Now in order to maintain the authority of the West, they have to take the risk of military intervention.

China and Russia do not need to help the West find a way out in Libya.

With anti-American sentiment in the Arab world, the West cannot launch a ground war like in Iraq. The Arab world’s dislike of Gaddafi and aversion to the Western powers would balance each other out. Regardless of the fate of Gaddafi, a chaotic Libya will become an irremovable burden of the West.

China should unite dissenting countries in uniting reactions against the air strikes. China should dare to do so, because the US, Britain and France first violated the no-fly zone resolution and the anti-military intervention camp can now occupy the moral high ground.

Making full use of it, the West will give more respect to China’s opinion.