US GUNSHIPS MARK CHANGE OF TACTIC IN LIBYA AIR STRIKES
The Guardian (guardian.co.uk) – today
US GUNSHIPS MARK CHANGE OF TACTIC IN LIBYA AIR STRIKES
AC-130 gunships and A10 tankbusters, of the kind used in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been deployed by the US
By Richard Norton-Taylor
AC-130 gunships are better suited than high-flying fighter bombers to attack targets in built-up areas. Photograph: US department of defence/EPA
The US has been giving the impression that it has backed away from the bombing campaign in Libya. It has now emerged that while the initial intensity of the high-altitude air strikes and cruise missile attacks has diminished, the US has not let up. In a dramatic and significant escalation of the assault on Gaddafi’s forces, the US has deployed low-flying, heavily-armed aircraft against Libyan armour.
It is a deployment far removed from the initial concept of a “no-fly” zone.
The Pentagon has revealed that AC-130 gunships and A10 tankbusters, of the kind used in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been deployed in Libya. “We have employed A10s and AC-130s over the weekend,” Vice-Admiral Bill Gortney, said.
The aircraft are better suited than high-flying fighter bombers to attack targets in built-up areas without so much risk of civilian casualties, defence officials say.
(…)
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Read the full report here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/29/gunships-mark-change-tactic-libya
Meanwhile:
1610GMT : The French ambassador appointed to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi has been named as Antoine Sivan, a 53-year-old Arabic-speaking diplomat, AFP news agency reports, quoting a senior official source. Mr Sivan has held several posts in the region including that of French ambassador to Qatar.
They’re not bluffing.
Or are they?
Qatar is another undemocratic country.
Hmmm. Should they come to our help when we refused to go to theirs?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110329/local/illegal-migration-malta-appeals-to-international-community-for-assistance-with
Malta keeps bleating the wrong message. If Malta can’t cope with an influx of immigrants, then it is the immigrants – and not Malta itself – who need help.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110329/local/busuttil-calls-on-european-commission-to-activate-solidarity-mechanism
Meanwhile, on the local front: BirdLife attacks Ornis Committee, hunters strike back.
This one’s going to be messy.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110329/local/birdlife-boycotting-ornis-committee-meeting
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110329/local/libya-opposition-sets-out-post-gaddafi-vision
Good luck to all Libyans – may all that is written in the link above become reality.
Below is a comment from the same link above:
“Bill Khan(17 minutes ago)
Well it is sure to become a paradise soon after ghadafi has gone. Libyans enjoyed free education, free health and free housing with monetary benefits for each adult despite all the sanctions imposed on Libya. It will be interesting to see few years down the line what Libyans would be getting. It will have a new set of rulers subservient to the french and the British and of course lots of toruism indeed. True patriotic Libyans will be be sent to the gallows so they could not take part in free elections.”
L-aqwa li b’xejn, man! What a complete tool.
“Bill Khan” is a troll.