4 May 2011 — Stop NATO

• Libya: Over 5,000 NATO Military Flights, 2,000 Strike Sorties
• NATO’s First African War Clears First 5,000 Sorties
• Video And Text: NATO Plans Ground Operation, Libya Vows Stiff Resistance

Libya: Over 5,000 NATO Military Flights, 2,000 Strike Sorties

www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_05/20110504_110504-oup-update.pdf

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

May 4, 2011

NATO and Libya

JFC Naples, SHAPE, NATO HQ

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Air Operations

Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 08.00GMT) a total of 5047 sorties, including 2042 strike sorties have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 03 May:161

Strike sorties conducted 03 May: 62

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Key Targets and Engagements

03 May: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Ammunition Storages.

In the vicinity of Zintan: 2 Ammunition Storages, 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle.

In the vicinity of Misurata: 3 Ammunition Storages, 3 Tanks.

In the vicinity of Sirte: 2 Tanks.

In the vicinity of Ras Lanuf: 2 Rocket Launchers, 1 Tank.

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A total of 20 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

33 Vessels were hailed on 03 May to determine destination and cargo. 3 boardings (no diversion) were conducted.

A total of 790 vessels have been hailed, 29 boardings and 5 diversions have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

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NATO’s First African War Clears First 5,000 Sorties

www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/05/04/356232/libya-nato-operation-clears-first-5000-sorties.html

Flightglobal

May 4, 2011

LIBYA: NATO operation clears first 5,000 sorties

By Craig Hoyle

Coalition aircraft have flown more than 5,000 sorties since NATO began its Operation Unified Protector campaign on 31 March to protect Libyan civilians, the alliance has confirmed.

In its latest daily operations update, NATO said the total number of missions flown has now reached almost 5,050, including 161 conducted on 3 May.

NATO has classed over 2,040 of the sorties to date – 40% of the total flown – as having been offensive in nature. “Strike sorties are intended to identify and engage appropriate targets, but do not necessarily deploy munitions each time,” it said.

The number of such missions performed in the last 24h period was 62, it added. Key targets included ammunition storage sites near Misrata, Tripoli and Zintan, plus armoured fighting vehicles, main battle tanks and rocket launchers at various locations also including Ras Lanuf and Sirte.

In addition to those partner nations that have committed aircraft for offensive operations over Libya to restrict the movement of ground forces loyal to leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, Unified Protector also has assets assigned to enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone imposed over the country.

Nations involved in the NATO air operation include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands (F-16 pictured above), Norway, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the USA.

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Video And Text: NATO Plans Ground Operation, Libya Vows Stiff Resistance

rt.com/news/nato-ground-operation-libya/

RT

May 4, 2011

NATO discusses ground operation, Libya promises hell

Video

The aerial bombardment of Libya has reached a dead end, which has intensified talk among NATO members about a possible land operation, a move that threatens to escalate massively the violence that already exists there.

The alliance’s spokesman has admitted there is still little sign of progress for either side in the conflict, so there is a need for a new UN resolution to approve sending foreign troops in. In the meantime, civilian casualties from allied bombing continue to mount as fresh NATO air strikes have been heard in the Libyan capital overnight.

At a video conference with Russian students, a NATO spokesman revealed his organization’s proposed solution: send in ground troops.

“The UN Security Council should adopt a new resolution on Libya. Resolution 1973 does not envisage land operations. We need a new resolution,” professed James Appathurai.

Western forces planned that all along, says a leading US international law professor, Francis Boyle, of the University of Illinois.

“Clearly what we are seeing unfolding in Libya is a pre-existing war plan, by NATO, by the British, by the French, by the Americans to attack Libya,” Boyle claimed.

“And now everything is going according to plan, which is why I believe that since they have failed to depose Gaddafi with their steps so far, the next stage will be moving into a ground invasion.”

NATO powers have duped the international community into supporting war, notes author William Engdahl.

Protecting civilians was the claim, but grabbing the country’s resources is their real goal.

“This is one of the most brazen transgressions of rights of nation national sovereignty in international law we have seen in the post-WWII period,” he said.

“The West: the US, France and Britain have been covertly – according to the evidence that is leaking out – arming the opposition to Gaddafi in hopes of grabbing control of the oil and different parts of Libya,” William Engdahl insists.

The Libyan government promises “hell” for NATO if it sends in ground troops. Some agree such a war may be tougher, than expected.

“We will see increased military activity not only in the air but also on the ground and maybe this will solve the problem from the perspective of the NATO countries, but mayby we will simply get into a deeper imbroglio,” shared Professor Mark Almond of Bilkent University.

Bombing from 30,000 feet, coalition pilots feel fairly safe, but anti-war activists warn putting troops on the ground risks not just more civilian killing, but NATO deaths as well.

“The further they get from hi-tech, the nearer they get to low-tech – the greater the danger of casualties on both sides,” warns Jim Brann from the Stop The War Coalition.

Turkey, China and Russia have all criticized the bombardment of Libya.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov thinks NATO’s already gone far beyond the first UN resolution to maintain a no-fly zone. He hints a second resolution to move in ground troops may not come as easy, now several nations feel tricked.

“If anybody wants to ask for this mandate, welcome to the UN Security Council. We will discuss, try to understand what is planned, because the digressions from the mandate that we are seeing now are enough to learn lessons,” Sergey Lavrov railed.

With international opposition on the rise, NATO states face an uphill task to make the case for more war.

While Britain’s prime minister ruled out ground troops, now his Defense Secretary Dr Liam Fox tells Parliament they plan exactly that. But UN members are angered at the number of civilian deaths from NATO bombing, and are unlikely to welcome an escalation of the conflict.