LIBYA (Merged) Use this thread ONLY
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Eight SAS men in undercover mission are seized in Libya - by the rebel forces they went to help | Mail Online
Yeah... Some Foreign office drones decided to play at "Gertrude Bell, T. E. Lawrence, and the ignorant Arabs", and send off a junior minion with a few "dirty tricks blokes" to whisper in the ears of the desert tribesmen.... after all, it worked in 1917-19, why shouldn't it work in 2011?
And the college-educated, internet-savvy, modern leaders of the revolt slapped them in a cell, and called up Hague to tell him in no uncertain terms that the days of Imperialist Vaziers pulling the strings of wandering tribesmen were over... and if he wanted the ear of the Libyan rebels he had bloody well better formally recognize them in front of the UN as the legitimate government of Libya first!
8 SAS and UK diplomat 'detained' in Libya by rebel forces...
Details are slowly emerging about the incident on Sky news, The Sunday Times has an article on their website but you need a subscription to read it. Oh dear what a massive balls up!
"An eight-man SAS team was being held by Libyan rebel forces last night after being captured as they accompanied a junior British diplomat on an undercover mission which ended in embarrassment.
The elite troops had been escorting the diplomat through rebel-held territory in the east of Libya as he tried to make contact with opponents of Colonel Gaddafi.
The diplomat had intended to pave the way for a more senior British official to establish diplomatic relations with rebel forces. But last night the young Foreign Office employee and his armed SAS escorts were locked up inside a military base in Benghazi, the largest city held by opponents of Col Gaddafi.
It is understood the SAS incursion into rebel-held territory infuriated opposition politicians, one of whom told them to warn David Cameron’s Government that it should recognise the opposition as Libya’s legitimate leaders before attempting to open negotiations.
Sources admitted last night that there was huge embarrassment in Whitehall that the SAS mission had backfired.
But there was confidence that the SAS team and the diplomat would be released unharmed within 24 hours after the rebels had made their point. There were no plans last night for a second SAS team to be sent in to secure the release of their colleagues."
Details are slowly emerging about the incident on Sky news, The Sunday Times has an article on their website but you need a subscription to read it. Oh dear what a massive balls up!
"An eight-man SAS team was being held by Libyan rebel forces last night after being captured as they accompanied a junior British diplomat on an undercover mission which ended in embarrassment.
The elite troops had been escorting the diplomat through rebel-held territory in the east of Libya as he tried to make contact with opponents of Colonel Gaddafi.
The diplomat had intended to pave the way for a more senior British official to establish diplomatic relations with rebel forces. But last night the young Foreign Office employee and his armed SAS escorts were locked up inside a military base in Benghazi, the largest city held by opponents of Col Gaddafi.
It is understood the SAS incursion into rebel-held territory infuriated opposition politicians, one of whom told them to warn David Cameron’s Government that it should recognise the opposition as Libya’s legitimate leaders before attempting to open negotiations.
Sources admitted last night that there was huge embarrassment in Whitehall that the SAS mission had backfired.
But there was confidence that the SAS team and the diplomat would be released unharmed within 24 hours after the rebels had made their point. There were no plans last night for a second SAS team to be sent in to secure the release of their colleagues."
And the college-educated, internet-savvy, modern leaders of the revolt slapped them in a cell, and called up Hague to tell him in no uncertain terms that the days of Imperialist Vaziers pulling the strings of wandering tribesmen were over... and if he wanted the ear of the Libyan rebels he had bloody well better formally recognize them in front of the UN as the legitimate government of Libya first!
Not sure the point you're making there GreenKnight. After all it's no different from supporting the Mujhadeen in the war against the Russians or encouraging the marsh Arabns to rise up against Saddam (or indeed supporting any opposition party for that matter!).
Ultimately, IMHO, the rebels are the ones to have shot themselves in the foot - a country as generous with it's overseas aid as UK is not one to pi55 off (however much we belittle oursleves on boards such as these). Oil or no oil (the production of which I assume is slowly grinding to a halt now that the expats from countires various have got the hell out of dodge
) should they succeed in overthrowing the current regime (which as every day goes by, again IMHO, seems more and more unlikely) they are going to need a lot of help in establishing law and order again (and not just financial).
Ultimately, IMHO, the rebels are the ones to have shot themselves in the foot - a country as generous with it's overseas aid as UK is not one to pi55 off (however much we belittle oursleves on boards such as these). Oil or no oil (the production of which I assume is slowly grinding to a halt now that the expats from countires various have got the hell out of dodge
) should they succeed in overthrowing the current regime (which as every day goes by, again IMHO, seems more and more unlikely) they are going to need a lot of help in establishing law and order again (and not just financial).
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It is now reported that whole escepade was personally authorised by W Hague. Having arrived by night with weapons, comms kit and multi-identity passports they said they were looking for a hotel! They are now on their way, allegedly minus all their kit including the helicopter!
If the new government is to learn the valuable lesson, that all military operations come with risks attached, I for one would rather they learned it in a no loss of life, "egg on face", type scenario then in some operation to which thousands of troops are committed, large loss of life occurs, and it takes us 10 years to extricate ourselves afterwards!
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Of course he didn't plan it, but, as a diplomat and the authorising person I would have thought he might have asked for some details as to how much poo might result if it didn't work out! Answer - a lot and it didn't!
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The MOD have created a NoFly zone in Libya.
But it only applies to UK forces.
By chopping all the bits that are needed to support a NoFly zone in Libya and making all the rest of the Boys & Girls too busy to help out, the MOD have ensured there will be no (British Military) flying going on.
So that's a positive spin on it.
Zero casualties. Zero cost. Zero room to move if something else comes along.
By chopping all the bits that are needed to support a NoFly zone in Libya and making all the rest of the Boys & Girls too busy to help out, the MOD have ensured there will be no (British Military) flying going on.
So that's a positive spin on it.
Zero casualties. Zero cost. Zero room to move if something else comes along.
he might have asked for some details as to how much poo might result if it didn't work out
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The ancient and honourable concept of the man at the top, who authorises some action, carrying the can when/if it goes wrong is obviously long gone! I bet he'd have been quick enough in the queue from some bauble or honour if it had gone well, which it didn't. PS Who's got the helicopter and what is that worth?
I would have thought he might have asked for some details as to how much poo might result if it didn't work out! Answer - a lot and it didn't!
The FS usually just signs off the submission - he would never get involved in requesting further detail.
out of the SAS just now on the kids TV newsround. 
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Hague may have authorised the operation but I doubt if he actually planned it.
The UK must be a right laughing stock around the world.
You've got Hague trying to give it the big one with his (put on) deep serious voice, when really everyone is just imagining him as a 7 year old kid in shorts skipping off to school, the fecking bell end.
No one gives a flying what the UK 'govern'ment thinks, even people in the UK don't care what they think, why would a bunch of ethnics blatting off AKs ???
edit1: Nice pic of the SU btw
edit2: The porridge w0g is incorrect, you would need a bearing of approx 135 deg to hit Warton from Blackpool tower.
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I did have to laugh yesterday afternoon when Haig, vainly, attempted to explain that, to the effect, this had been a routine/customary diplomatic welcoming and/or calling upon the regime in and around Benghazi.
The opposition voiced that if new neighbours moved in to Haig's street would he introduce himself by ringing the doorbell or climbing over the back fence during the middle of the night!!!!
Utter bullsh1t on the part of Haig, if had they nothing to hide then they could have arrived in to Benghazi harbour by RN warship ... are the UK government on drugs whilst actually believing we believe their bullsh1t?
The opposition voiced that if new neighbours moved in to Haig's street would he introduce himself by ringing the doorbell or climbing over the back fence during the middle of the night!!!!
Utter bullsh1t on the part of Haig, if had they nothing to hide then they could have arrived in to Benghazi harbour by RN warship ... are the UK government on drugs whilst actually believing we believe their bullsh1t?
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Military intervention is gathering steam. Libya looks headed towards a stalemate, but everyone wants Gaddafi to go.
USAF AWACS already deployed. Appears its going to be like Afghanistan in late-2001: irregulars supported by air.
America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels - The Independent
New Warnings From Obama as Qaddafi Forces Attack Again - NY Times
US, allies edge toward military options for Libya - washingtonpost.com
USAF AWACS already deployed. Appears its going to be like Afghanistan in late-2001: irregulars supported by air.
America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels - The Independent
New Warnings From Obama as Qaddafi Forces Attack Again - NY Times
US, allies edge toward military options for Libya - washingtonpost.com
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NFZ
The terrible thing is that the UK is likely to be as arrogant as ever telling everyone how it should be done but when it comes to actually doing anything there will be very little in our cupboard. I wonder how long it will take us to learn that no one will be interested in what we have to say if there we cannot back it up with generating Forces.
