» Oh, and there are other costs, too: It costs a fighter jet thousands of dollars an hour just to get off the ground — for example, according to a 2009 estimate from The Washington Post, an F-22 (one of the types of fighter jets in use over in Libya) costs around $44,000 per flying hour. And that’s not even discussing manpower or intelligence or other technologies in use. War is expensive. Even a couple of hours in.
Video: President Obama’s statement on the beginning of military operations in Libya as carried by ABC News.
For those who wanted to see Chavez in a hard hat, here you go. Enjoy. The Venezuelan leader, a key ally of Gaddafi, took some time off from his tour of a road-building project in Caracas to let everyone know what he thinks of the Libyan airstrikes: “They want to seize Libya’s oil and they care nothing about the lives of the Libyan people. These are the men of war … what irresponsibility. Behind this is the hand of the United States and its European allies, instead of taking the path that we have modestly proposed.” In case you were wondering, that peace mission Chavez wanted to make didn’t go anywhere because Saif Gaddafi essentially said Chavez wouldn’t have any idea what was going on. source
As of now our aircraft are preventing [Gaddafi’s] planes from attacking the townFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy speaking at a press conference after the emergency Paris summit has confirmed that French fighter planes are already enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya, particularly Benghazi. (via newsflick)
Germany has again blocked Anglo-French plans for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.
Reports from talks held by G8 ministers in Paris said German objections, backed by Russia, meant the communique from the meeting would make no mention of a no-fly zone.
Speaking during the meeting, Germany’s foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said his country remained “very sceptical” about the prospect of a no-fly zone.
He recommended instead more “political pressure” against the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. He said Germany did not want “to get sucked into a war in north Africa”. [read more]
Germany: Always thinking about Number 1.
Crucial hours for Libya: A video from euronews that is, how shall we say, rather grim in its assessment of Libya’s rebellion. Reports have been coming out the last couple days that Muammar Gaddafi’s loyalists in the military can, and it seems increasingly likely will, be victorious over the uprising, absent international support. As we mentioned earlier, though, with France on board for a no-fly zone, and the Arab League endorsing the idea to the U.N. Security Council, it seems more and more likely that the international community will converge on Gaddafi- the question is, when? source
» With expected urgency: Reports out of Libya have suggested that rebel forces are significantly over-matched against the military forces still loyal to dictator Muammar Gaddafi, and this article suggests that by the time the international community makes its move, he may already have reasserted control. It’s hard to topple a strongman who, for all his incoherence, viciousness and bombast, still has enough military willing to shoot and bomb their fellow countrymen. France has lauded the Arab League’s request of the U.N Security Council in support of a no-fly zone, and hopes it will lead to expedient action.
Brega has been cleansed of armed gangs.A pro-Gaddafi military source • Offering a pretty stark sentiment of the fighting in the Western Libyan seaport of Brega on state television. Al Jazeera says they could not confirm this information, but any time a military figure uses the phrase “cleansed” in any context, it makes us greatly uncomfortable. source (via • follow)
The Arab League wants a no-fly zone in Libya. But will it fly?: While the U.S. and Britain approve of the latest push, the move needs to be approved by the larger international community at the UN, and it may not even be effective. source
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Here’s a hidden feature that shipped in...
Al Jazeera said one of its photojournalists had been killed in an ambush that took place near Benghazi, Libya.
The network identified the slain cameraman as Ali Hassan Al Jaber, who was shot along with another colleague when gunmen opened fire on the three-man news team while they were en route to Benghazi.
Al Jaber died while being transported to a hospital. Al Jazeera’s director-general has called the attack “an unprecedented campaign” against the network by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. [Al Jazeera]
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will propose air strikes on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s command headquarters to EU leaders, a source close to discussions has told AFP.
At an EU summit on the Libyan crisis, he will propose “striking an extremely limited number of points which are the source of the most deadly operations” by forces loyal to Gaddafi, the source, who asked not to be named, said on Thursday.
The three sites being considered are Gaddafi’s Bab al-Azizia command headquarters in Tripoli, a military air base in Syrte, east of Tripoli and another in Sebha in the south, the source said.
Of course, Drudge is already playing this up as Sakrozy “filling a leadership vacuum on Libya.” Dick.
Since they don’t consider Gaddafi the leader anymore, this makes sense.
France recognizes the National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. There will be an exchange of ambassadors between Paris and Benghazi.A spokesperson for French President Nicolas Sarkozy • Revealing that France now considers the opposition government, the Libyan National Council, the right one in Libya. This is a big step, considering that France is a major player on the political stage. It hurts Gaddafi further. So, who’s next? source (via • follow)
We’ve been defeated. They are shelling and we are running away. That means that they’re taking Ras Lanuf.A rebel fighter in the Libyan city of Ras Lanuf • Discussing how Gaddafi supporters took over the oil port city. It’s just one front in which Gaddafi’s folks have been trying to gain lost ground. The capture of this town, by the way, completely follows the playbook Gaddafi has been pushing lately. source (via • follow)
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