Is the West backing itself into a corner here? If there is no intervention of any sort and Gaddafi puts down the uprising then is it really going to be business as usual with the Libyan regime?
I agree with this comment. I'd add that if a NFZ is imposed over Libya, aren't we (the West) opening ourselves up to calls from certain middle eastern countries to impose similar measures the next time the IAF goes to town in Gaza/Lebanon; I'd like to see the RAF enforce that one!
Is this "almost" civil war anything to do with the UK? I'd have thought that Gadhafi's arms shipments to the IRA in the 80's would have been cause for the UK to take action against him, but since then he managed to get into the West's good books, the UK even released a convicted murderer into Libyan "custody" and BP was trying to get oil contracts from the Libyan Government (I'm sure that the two events are not connected though). Now its good to hate Gadhafi again. Fickle thing world politics.
Anyhow, that all said and if my military history doesn't fail me, I seem to remember that the last UK venture in a North African country didn't turn out too well. Maybe someone should float the idea of subcontracting the NFZ to a local organisation that can point to recent success in/over several North African nations - the IAF!
Failing that, maybe give the NFZ task to the Reds, they could put on a good show, fly the flag for Air Command's PR dept and there would be no need to come up with new ROE, because lets face it, no-one in UK government actually wants to start shooting down Libyan aircraft, do they?
Does anyone know if Trim Stab is an ex Harrier mate, because that whine sure is familiar!
Lastly, well done to all the boys and girls who went in to rescue the expats. The CAF tried recently, but we made the mistake of asking to be let in!
CWD
Last edited by Canadian WokkaDoctor; 2nd Mar 2011 at 16:41.
Reason: Edited to remove the impression that I still live in the UK, which clearly I don't.