The New Dark Age

24 May 2011 — Stop NATO

• “Thought It Was Day Of Judgment”: Heaviest NATO Bombing Of Tripoli Yet
• 67-Day Air War: Over 8,000 NATO Air Missions, Over 3,000 Combat Flights
• Attack Helicopter Deployment Brings NATO Closer To Libyan Ground War
• Washington To Host Libyan Rebel Office
• U.S. Drone Attacks In Pakistan: 32 Strikes, At Least 234 Victims
• Polish Soldiers Face 12-Year Sentences For Slaying Afghan Civilians
• NATO Chief Makes Unscheduled Visit To Afghanistan
• NATO Military Plane Down In Afghanistan
• NATO-Standard Payloads: Iraq To Buy Czech Combat Jets

“Thought It Was Day Of Judgment”: Heaviest NATO Bombing Of Tripoli Yet

www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/world/africa/25libya.html

New York Times

May 24, 2011

NATO Bombs Tripoli in Heaviest Strikes Yet

John F. Burns

TRIPOLI, Libya: In the heaviest attack yet on the capital since the start of the two-month-old NATO bombing campaign, alliance aircraft struck at least 15 targets in central Tripoli early Tuesday, with most of the airstrikes concentrated on an area around Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s command compound.

The strikes, within a 30-minute period around 1 a.m., caused thunderous explosions and fireballs that leapt high into the night sky, causing people in neighborhoods a mile or more away to cry out in alarm.

Just as one strike ended, the sound of jet engines from low-flying aircraft in the stormy skies above the capital signaled the imminence of another. Huge plumes of black smoke rose and converged over the darkened cityscape.

“We thought it was the day of judgment,” one enraged Libyan said.

The intensity of the attacks, and their focus on the area of the Bab al-Aziziya command compound in central Tripoli, appeared to reflect a NATO decision to step up the tempo of the air war over the Libyan capital, perhaps with a view to breaking the stalemate that has threatened to settle over the three-month-old Libyan conflict.

As NATO intensified its airstrikes, the American State Department’s highest-ranking Middle East official, Jeffrey D. Feltman, was in Benghazi on Tuesday on a visit aimed at providing fresh impetus to the rebel cause. Speaking at a news conference, Mr. Feltman said that the Obama administration had invited the Libyan opposition to open an office in Washington, but stopped short of offering the formal recognition the rebels have been seeking.

“This step marks an important milestone in our relationship with the Transitional Council,” Mr. Feltman said, referring to the rebel governing body, who he said had accepted the American invitation.

…

On Monday, Mr. Feltman toured the rebel headquarters, a visit that coincided with an announcement by France’s defense minister, Gérard Longuet, that Britain and France would add attack helicopters to the NATO force as soon as possible…

As the rebels pushed for helicopter attacks, Tuesday’s airstrikes shook the center of the capital near Colonel Qaddafi’s compound. Libyan officials have accused NATO of repeatedly trying to assassinate Colonel Qaddafi with airstrikes on and near the compound, and Colonel Qaddafi himself has mocked the attacks, saying NATO cannot reach him as he “lives in the hearts of millions.”

…A government spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, said the strikes had hit a compound housing units of an auxiliary army force known as the Popular Guard. He said military commanders had largely cleared the compound in anticipation that it would be hit, and that casualties — which he gave as 3 dead and 150 wounded — were civilians from a nearby neighborhood.

…

Reporters taken to the Tripoli Central Hospital were shown three dirt-strewn male bodies in civilian clothes with gaping shrapnel wounds to their heads, and half a dozen other men being treated for what appeared to be light wounds. Mr. Ibrahim said that the other wounded had been treated and released before reporters arrived, or had been treated at another hospital.

…

NATO has called the targets military, and often designates them as “command-and-control” centers; Qaddafi government spokesmen say the bombs and missiles have hit civilian structures.

Despite more than 2,500 NATO airstrikes, and an increasing focus in the past two weeks on targets in Tripoli, there have been few signs of an imminent collapse of the Qaddafi government, and rebel forces in the east, despite recent gains around the city of Misurata, have shown no sign of a broader breakthrough to the west.

Low-flying helicopters, including Britain’s fleet of American-built Apaches and France’s Tigre gunships, would give allied air commanders more flexibility to strike at government targets than the fast combat jets used until now.

Kareem Fahim contributed reporting from Benghazi, Libya.

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67-Day Air War: Over 8,000 NATO Air Missions, Over 3,000 Combat Flights

www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_05/20110524_110524-oup-update.pdf

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

May 24, 2011

NATO and Libya

Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ

…

Over the past 24 hours, NATO has conducted the following activities associated with Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR:

Air Operations

Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 08.00GMT) a total of 8019 sorties, including 3077 strike sorties, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 23 May: 149

Strike sorties conducted 23 May: 52

…

A total of 21 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

7 Vessels were hailed on 23 May to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no diversion) were conducted.

A total of 1025 vessels have been hailed. 50 boardings and 7 diversions have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

…

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Attack Helicopter Deployment Brings NATO Closer To Libyan Ground War

english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/24/50752489.html

Voice of Russia

May 24, 2011

NATO deploys attack helicopters to Libya

Vladimir Gladkov

Britain has announced its intentions to deploy Apache attack helicopters to Libya. This move reflects the frustration of coalition chiefs over their inability to break the stalemate in the troubled region.

A blitzkrieg-style military operation turned out to be an exhausting endless confrontation between the Libyan rebels supported by NATO air forces and Gaddafi troops…At the same time the use of the helicopters takes the NATO offensive much closer to the ground, which goes against the promise of not sending troops into the country.

The decision to send Apaches to Libya demonstrates the late admission by NATO commanders that bombing from an attitude of more than 4500 meters has small chances of protecting civilians…

Apaches, which are being used in counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan, have good mobility and can attack small targets in built-up areas. They are also equipped with night vision equipment and electronic guidance systems, which makes them an effective weapon against enemy targets…

The Apaches will join the Tigers and the Gazelles – French helicopters of a similar class. According to French sources, the battleship Tonnerre, carrying the helicopters, left Toulon last week.

“Our strategy is to step up the military pressure in the weeks ahead…,” – said Alain Juppé, France’s foreign minister, adding that 12 French helicopters would allow the allied forces “to better adapt our ground attack capacity with more precise means of striking”.

His position has been backed by the British foreign secretary William Hague, who, attending an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, stated that “we certainly agree with France, and indeed with all our partners, including all our partners at the EU meeting here today, that it is necessary to intensify the military, economic and diplomatic pressure on the Gaddafi regime.”

The deployment of helicopters along with the heavy bombing of the Libyan capital Tripoli may be seen as an attempt at an adequate response to the progress recently made by the Gaddafi forces. According to Reuters, government troops intensified operations on the western front, moving troops closer to the mountain region bordering Tunisia. A rebel spokesman also claimed that Gaddafi artillery had started the shelling of the town of Zintan, controlled by rebel troops.

In response, NATO air forces started a bombardment of Tripoli that has already been described by observers as the heaviest attack on the Libyan capital since the beginning of the campaign.

According to British and French officials, even the unveiling of plans to use the helicopters has a chance to break the morale of pro-Gaddafi forces. Considering the developments in the Libyan campaign, such a forecast sounds a little bit naïve, however the move could satisfy, at least temporarily, the rebels’ demand for more effective military support from NATO. The helicopter trick seems to be the last chance for the NATO chiefs to keep their promise. While the officials keep denying any possibility of deploying troops, the failure of the helicopter plan would leave NATO no other option.

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Washington To Host Libyan Rebel Office

en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1881063.html

Trend News Agency

May 24, 2011

Libyan opposition to open office in Washington: U.S. diplomat

The visiting U.S. assistant secretary of state Jeffery Feltman on Tuesday said that at the invitation of U.S. president Barack Obama the Libyan opposition will establish a representative office in Washington, Xinhua reported.

“This step marks an important milestone in our relationship with the National Transitional Council,” Feltman told the reporters at a press conference at the end of his visit in Libyan opposition’s base Benghazi.

Feltman reiterated that Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi had lost legitimacy to rule, calling him to step down immediately and allow the Libyan people to determine their own future.

He delivered a message from Obama…

“President Obama also underscored the U.S. commitment to work with our international partners to support the National Transitional Council and efforts for democratic institutions, and he stressed the U.S. will continue to focus on finding ways to improve the National Transitional Council’s financial situations,” said Feltman.

Feltman was in Benghazi for talks with the opposition leadership during a three-day visit from Sunday to Tuesday. He said he has held talks with the National Transitional Council leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil and representatives from various groups.

The opposition is now seeking and gaining more international support in its fight against Gaddafi’s government. Following Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and the European Union high representative of foreign and security policy Catherine Ashton, Feltman is another high-ranking diplomats who visited the opposition’s base.

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U.S. Drone Attacks In Pakistan: 32 Strikes, At Least 234 Victims

news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/24/c_13890296.htm

Xinhua News Agency

May 24, 2011

7 killed in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: At least seven people were killed in a U.S. drone strike launched Monday evening in Pakistan’s northwest tribal area of North Waziristan, reported the local English TV channel Express.

According to the report, the U.S. drones fired two missiles at a vehicle in the Machi Khel area of the Mir Ali district in North Waziristan, a place bordering Afghanistan…

Monday’s strike is the 32nd of its kind in Pakistan in 2011. Up to date, at least 234 people, most of whom are believed to be suspected militants, have reportedly been killed in such strikes since this year.

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Polish Soldiers Face 12-Year Sentences For Slaying Afghan Civilians

en.rian.ru/world/20110524/164203223.html

Russian Information Agency Novosti

May 24, 2011

Polish prosecutor demands 12 years for Polish soldiers in Afghan war crimes case

Warsaw: Poland’s military Prosecutor General demanded on Tuesday 12-year sentences for seven Polish soldiers who shot civilians in Afghanistan in 2007.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers fired a heavy machine gun and a 60 mm mortar at the village of Nangar Khel in the Paktika province, killing six civilians, including a pregnant woman and three children. Three other women were left badly injured.

The troops say their commander ordered them to attack the village after their patrol was attacked by militants.

If found guilty, the soldiers face between five and 12 years in prison for violating international law. The Prosecutors are demanding 12 years for commanders and from 8-10 years for privates.

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NATO Chief Makes Unscheduled Visit To Afghanistan

english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/24/50736213.html

Voice of Russia

May 24, 2011

NATO Head in Afghanistan in surprise visit

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is currently in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit, is discussing the handover of responsibility for security in the Asian country to the Afghan authorities.

Currently, security is ensured by a NATO-led international military force. The handover of responsibility to the Afghans is due to be completed by the late 2014.

Meanwhile the situation in Afghanistan remains tense. The Taliban has recently launched another campaign against the foreign military force and the Afghan leadership.

At least 25 died in another explosion, in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, earlier today.

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NATO Military Plane Down In Afghanistan

en.trend.az/regions/world/afghanistan/1881012.html

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

May 24, 2011

NATO aircraft crashes in western Afghanistan, no injuries

A NATO aircraft crashed in western Afghanistan on Tuesday but caused no injuries among those aboard, the alliance said, DPA reported.

…

The reason for the crash was unknown and the military did not rule out the possibility of insurgents’ hostile fire.

“An investigation into the incident has been launched,” it said.

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NATO-Standard Payloads: Iraq To Buy Czech Combat Jets

en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110524/164189099.html

Russian Information Agency Novosti

May 24, 2011

DefenseIraq says ready to buy Czech-made combat jets

Mowcow Iraq is ready to buy light attack aircraft, offered for sale by the Czech republic earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said after talks with his Czech counterpart in Baghdad.

The visit to Baghdad by Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas, which began on Monday, focused on bilateral economic and political cooperation.

In mid-April, the Czech Republic announced its plans to offer Iraq 24 L-159 combat aircraft and help in modernizing the Iraqi helicopter fleet.

The single-seat L-159 ALCA is a light multi-role combat aircraft designed for a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions.

The jet was developed in the late 1990s by Aero Vodochody on the basis of the proven airframe design and aerodynamic configuration of the L39 Albatros and L59 family of combat trainers.

The aircraft is equipped with an advanced multi-mode radar for all-weather, day-and-night missions and can carry a wide range of NATO-standard payloads including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and laser guided bombs.