Bully for the French
Bully for the French. Who’d have thought they would turn out to the heroes in this crisis?
We knew that Britain would rise to the occasion. We knew that the Italians would cringe and cower behind their mother’s skirt (while being sure to wear a vest and scarf).
But the Americans? The rest of Europe? And when it comes to bad PR, the last thing the Germans needed was to wheel out that foreign minister with the central-casting ‘Allo ‘Allo accent to remind us that Germany doesn’t want to end up on the slippery slope to war.
“That’s right,” I thought to myself, unable to get my head around the Pavlovian response to his Inglorious Basterds accent. “Your lot haven’t caused enough trouble in your time, so do be sure to cause some more.”
Agence France-Presse has just reported “a French diplomatic source” as saying that targetted air raids on Libyan army positions could take place as soon as the United Nations approves the use of force.
“From the moment the resolution is adopted, military actions could begin in the hours that follow,” the French source told AFP. “Strikes could take place as soon as this evening or tomorrow, Friday,” another source, described by AFP as “knowledgeable”, told the news agency.
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110317/local/un-vote-could-clear-way-for-libya-strikes
I somehow feel that what really changed the sentiment at the UN was Saif Al Islam Gaddafi’s cocky responses to his interview yesterday, with all that talk about 48 hours and giving people a chance to flee to Egypt. Bad mistake on his part.
Seif looks like an extremely bad parody of Benito Mussolini. The UN must have figured out that if Gaddafi stepped down, bil-kelma it-tajba, the prospect was much worse…….son and heir Seif!
Thing is, the resolution has not been forthcoming as of yet. On the other hand, precision bombing of specific pre-selected targets should not be but more than a few minutes away. Then it will be up to the freedom fighters to finish the job.
They should start with bombarding the compound of the commander in chief. That should paralyse the whole government-led Libyan military machine, and get the mad dog out of his hole and on the run.
times ofmalta.com is not working office hours today. At 21.17 it was still updating the site.
I wonder if, following the bombings, Gaddafi’s media would not produce the familiar ‘innocent’ victims of the evil west’s air attacks. I hope that even his media would be sent to oblivion. I am sick of 42 years of lies.
In all probability, the kraut with the ‘allo ‘allo accent felt reluctant about taking decisive action against the son of a Bedouin Nazi-collaborator.
With Gaddafi’s threat to attack civilian planes and shipping it is now clearer than ever that anything short of precision strikes annihilating Gaddafi’s military assets will only make things worse.
Let’s hope that good sense prevails at the UN this evening. There has been word that China and Russia would abstain. If so the resolution is almost certain to be approved.
What is not clear to me though is whether they will be decideing on a mere no fly zone or a full scale attack against all Gaddafi’s forces. Hopefully it will be the latter.
A little off subject but maybe we shall soon find out by how much Maltese politics has been tainted / compromised with Gaddafi money over the years .
Waiting for comments from Frans Sammut on timesofmalta.com about this one.
The expectation seems to be that Russia and/or China will not use their veto but will abstain.
The ensuing result will enable all those with guts to step in and harness this dangerous criminal and his family.
This will include Malta. With a Security Council resolution our neutrality clause is automatically put in abeyance.
We will then be in a position to offer all our facilities. These will be required especially if the French and British do this on their own. If the US joins in the fray Malta’s help will not be really necessary.
Incidentally, does anybody out there know whether the USS George H W Bush has left its home port in Norfolk Virginia ?
Any news on this would be very interesting indeed.
Malta’s collaboration/authorisation/acquiescence/connivance is still needed if French or British aircraft fly through our airspace. Especially if they fly from Solenzara to Benghazi, a journey of 1500 km as the crow flies, and the crow passes directly over Malta.
Let’s just hope some fossilized Maltese politician doesn’t phone Gaddafi when French Mirages enter Malta’s airspace.
Planes taking off from aircraft carriers presently at Gaddafi’s doorstep do not need to pass through Malta’s air space.
Apparently, the UN will decide on a no-fly zone at around 10 pm GMT. If the resolution is approved, the French would make a quick move to destroy Gadaffi’s air power. Vive la France!
Obama, not to be left behind and outdone seems to be also moving in the right direction. Clearly, the USA has lost its world leadership and Europe has regained its honour.
Oh dear… banking on the traditional surrender monkeys… what has the world come to?
The future of a country on hold. Disappointment or a breath of relief by the morning ….
Why on earth did the UN have to wait for things to get to this stage? Shouldn’t have this been decided at least three weeks ago?
As for President Obama, as somebody very aptly wrote yesterday, he has shown himself to be weak and indecisive, much in Jimmy Carter style. If Reagan or George Bush- senior or junior- still had a say in all of this, that filthy murderous bastard Gaddafi would already be history by now.
Speaking of Carter, I was expecting him to volunteer as a mediator between Gaddafi and the rebels.
He’s too busy building houses
The French are brilliant – can’t help being surprised at this ‘going against’ the French stereotype. Whatever their reasons… bully to them!
Par souci de tout peuple français la lecture de ce et peut-être l’ambassadeur Rondeau: Merci nous avons besoin d’une action décisive comme ça!
Rondeau ne s’intéresse qu’au titre d’Immortel…
Je ne sais pas ce que vous entendez, mais peut-être vous laissez entendre sur le fait qu’il n’est pas un diplomate de carrière, mais plus d’un philosophe.
Ça fait logtemps qu’il vise un siège à l’Académie française. Il s’est fait envoyer à Malte – le Club Med du Quai d’Orsay – par son pote Kouchner. Ce dernier est parti, mais Rondeau, lui, il est resté.
Baxxter, c’est le temps pour toi de prendre le siege. Pourquoi pas?
Hah! I’d need to be over sixty, be deeply intellectual, be tall and slim in that French way, or alternately be Senegalese, talk bullshit, be a leftwinger, and be incredibly well-connected.
Which of these qualities do I possess? (I can think of one.)
Good luck Freedom Fighters. Good luck Libya. Hope the French, British etc show “No Mercy”. And KMB, for once in your life do the right thing: Shut up!
Resolution passed.
Thank God for that.
Vive la France! Prepare the guillotine.
Chapeau! France was right to recognize the Libyan rebels. They will be finally, vindicated.
France recognition of the Benghazi council has nothing to do with the UN no-fly+ resolution.
Why have the others (at least in the EU) not immediately follow France’s ‘lead’?