UN Security Council passes no-fly zone resolution, air strikes expected 'within hours' - Polidicks

[b](This thread was originally made four hours before the resolution passed. The OP has been rewritten since then, and the thread was on page 9 when the resolution was adopted)[/b] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12781009[/url] [list][*]With 10 votes in favour and 5 abstentions, the UN Security Council has adopted a resolution which authorises "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians. [*]A no-fly zone will also be set up over the country. [*]NATO is expected to begin air strikes against Colonel Gaddafi's forces 'within hours'.[/list] [quote=BBC News]The UN Security Council has backed a resolution on Libya that supports a no-fly zone and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians. Meeting in New York, the 15-member body agreed "to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under threat of attack". It also supported a no-fly zone to help halt the advance of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces. Reports suggest air strikes may begin within hours of the resolution passing. The US, UK and France proposed the council resolution, backing action short of an invasion. It passed 10-0 with five abstentions. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, introducing the resolution, said: "In Libya, for a number of weeks the people's will has been shot down... by Colonel Gaddafi who is attacking his own people. "We cannot let these warmongers do this, we cannot abandon civilians." He added: "We should not arrive too late." Russia and China - which often oppose the use of force against a sovereign country as they believe it sets a dangerous precedent - abstained rather than using their power of veto. Earlier reports suggested that if the resolution was passed, air attacks on Col Gaddafi's forces by the British and French air forces could begin within hours. It is not thought that the US would be involved in the first strikes, but the British and French are likely to get logistical backup from Arab allies. Col Gaddafi's forces have recently retaken several towns seized by rebels during an uprising. Earlier on Thursday, addressing the people of Benghazi, the rebels' main stronghold, Col Gaddafi said his troops were coming "tonight" and there would be "no mercy". He told rebels to go home, adding that "whoever lays down his weapons" would be pardoned. Rebel leaders replied by saying their forces would stand firm and not be deterred by Col Gaddafi's threats. Late on Thursday, anti-aircraft fire and explosions were heard in Benghazi.[/quote] [highlight][u]ORIGINAL OP[/u][/highlight] [quote=Original OP]:siren: [b]SIRENS EVERYWHERE! [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12781009]THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED![/url][/b] :siren: :siren: [b][url=http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/index.html]LIVE STREAM OF THE MEETING AND VOTE[/url][/b] :siren: :siren: [b]UPDATE:[/b] :siren: This is much more than a no-fly zone. The [url=http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1070360-UN-no-fly-zone-vote-at-10pm-UTC-tonight-US-ready-to-begin-strikes-almost-immediately?p=28656225&viewfull=1#post28656225]text of the resolution[/url] includes a clause authorising member states "to take all necessary measures ... excluding a foreign occupation force" to protect civilian populated areas "including Benghazi" from attack. This would allow NATO to directly attack Gaddafi's ground forces, if they are used to attack cities (which they already are being used for). [url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703818204576206373350344478.html[/url] [list][*]The UN Security Council will vote on a resolution to establish a no-fly zone over Libya at 10pm UTC. [*]So far Russia and China, the most vocal opponents of the resolution, have shown no intention of vetoing it, and it is speculated that they may abstain from voting. [*]The US military is ready to launch strikes against Libyan ground and air targets "almost immediately", should the resolution be passed.[/list] [quote=The Wall Street Journal (excerpt)]The United Nations Security Council was set to vote at 6 p.m. on a resolution that would authorize airstrikes on Libya, several diplomats said, as Col. Moammar Gadhafi's air force bombed the opposition's capital of Benghazi in a push to end the month-long revolt against his rule. The U.S. joined Britain and France Thursday in pushing for the vote. "We need to act quickly," said Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong, the current Security Council president. Mr. Li didn't indicate how China would vote. Beijing has been considered a possible obstacle to passage of a resolution. French Ambassador Gerard Araud said there would no unanimity. "There will be some suprises and more than one abstention," he said. Diplomats speculated that as many as five nations could abstain, including China, Russia, Germany, India and South Africa. The measure would pass with nine votes and no vetoes on the 15-member council. In anticipation of authorization to use force, the Pentagon was fine-tuning military options for "serious" strikes against ground and air targets in Libya, military and defense officials said. A defense official said the U.S. military has enough assets in place to begin strikes almost immediately. "There is significant, serious planning going on right now," an official said. The options would be "more aggressive than a show of force," the official added. Options included using cruise missiles to take out fixed Libyan military sites and air-defense systems. Manned and unmanned aircraft could be used against Col. Gadhafi's tanks, personnel carriers and infantry positions. Sorties could be flown out of U.S. and NATO bases in the southern Mediterranean. Officials said the goal would be to protect civilians in Benghazi, push Col. Gadhafi's forces back, and sow enough confusion and disorder within military ranks that officers will turn against Col. Gadhafi. A Libyan defense committee, quoted on state television, said any foreign military intervention in Libya would be met with attacks against military and civilian ships and aircraft in the Mediterranean. "The Mediterranean Sea basin will be in grave danger not only in the short-term but in the long-term as well," the committee said. Libya's military could "cause harm but it is obsolete and it can be dealt with swiftly" by NATO assets, said Riad Kahwaji, of the Institute for Near East and Gulf military studies, in Dubai. Because of sanctions that lasted almost ten years and were only lifted in 2003, Libya hasn't been able yet to renovate its military arsenal, he said. In discussions with other U.N. Security Council members, the Obama administration has made the case that simply establishing a no-fly zone to ground Col. Gadhafi's air force would be "insufficient" to save Benghazi, in eastern Libya since Col. Gadhafi could strike the city with ground forces, officials said. The draft resolution, however, included the authorization of a no-fly zone, which would set up a ban on all flights in Libyan airspace "in order to help protect civilians," with the exception of humanitarian aircraft or planes evacuating foreign nationals. Leaders of the month-old Libyan uprising insisted that Benghazi, a city of 700,000 residents where opposition to Col. Gadhafi has always been strong, won't fall easily—even if the international community doesn't intervene. "Benghazi is a hard city to conquer, and we're not afraid," said Maj. Gen. Ahmad Gothrani, a senior commander in the rebel army. "We're fighting for a cause, while Gadhafi is fighting to keep a rusty chair." (full article at link)[/quote][/quote]

This is a declaration of war against Libya.

And the last rebels will die before the first airstrike comes. I am calling it.

Let's see if it's not already too late. [QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28654452]And the last rebels will die before the first airstrike comes. I am calling it.[/QUOTE] Well, you're wrong, then. They aren't going to be standing in a line formation for Libyan aircraft to grind them up. This war isn't really about killing everyone anyway. It's about crushing rebel sentiment. Seeing international support against the Libyan loyalists will give that sentiment a massive boost. It's a lot easier for your average citizen to support a cause that isn't completely hopeless.

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28654452]And the last rebels will die before the first airstrike comes. I am calling it.[/QUOTE] 'Leaders of the month-old Libyan uprising insisted that Benghazi, a city of 700,000 residents where opposition to Col. Gadhafi has always been strong, won't fall easily—even if the international community doesn't intervene.'

Sit back and get ready to enjoy the show. [img]http://www.tinygif.com/data/media/19/scarjo_popcorn.gif[/img]

[QUOTE=smurfy;28654464]'Leaders of the month-old Libyan uprising insisted that Benghazi, a city of 700,000 residents where opposition to Col. Gadhafi has always been strong, won't fall easily—even if the international community doesn't intervene.'[/QUOTE] Ok, glad to hear that. I thought that this was a miserable attempt in some few thousand city. I hope Ghadaffi gets his ass kicked.

[QUOTE=Explosions;28654444]This is a declaration of war against Libya.[/QUOTE] We're literally fucked if Libyan's allies will suck Gadaffi's cock.

[QUOTE=Fedly;28654711]We're literally fucked if Libyan's allies will suck Gadaffi's cock.[/QUOTE] Well I have a feeling World War 3 is on the rise..

This is a step in the wrong direction.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to war... ...maybe.

I'm in favour of a no-fly zone, but not of a military invasion.

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28654708]Ok, glad to hear that. I thought that this was a miserable attempt in some few thousand city. I hope Ghadaffi gets his ass kicked.[/QUOTE] Notably the currently raging Battle of Ajdabiyah is the first battle where those defected army units from way back at the start have been involved - previously the battles have been hundreds of miles away from them. Likely there will be a very large concentration of them in Benghazi. Without an air force Gaddafi could have some real trouble capturing the city.

[QUOTE=Chickens!;28654772]I'm in favour of a no-fly zone, but not of a military invasion.[/QUOTE]Hopefully that won't be necessary, depending on the success of airstrikes against Gaddafi's forces. If we continue to see defectors in their military, I figure they'll have the land portion well and truly sorted if airstrikes can wipe out Gaddafi's advantage in equipment.

[QUOTE=Chickens!;28654772]I'm in favour of a no-fly zone, but not of a military invasion.[/QUOTE] The Obama administration says they support everything short of "boots on the ground"

What will happen is that they won't agree on what to do. They will agree to start getting aircraft ready in preparation and will file some paperwork. They will hold multiple meetings and talks and decide to finally implement the no fly zone policy. By this time Gaddafi will have died from old age.

Gotta love us Americans flaunting the penis.

Well with The US's $668 billion Defense budget, they'll probably destroy them all in the first minutes.

I hope the rebels will stop the loyalist advancement with the airsupport from the UN dudes. Maybe even push them back enough to where they were before the airstrikes started?

Russia and China proposed their own alternative to the no-fly zone - a resolution calling for a ceasefire. [img]http://imgkk.com/i/k7mj.gif[/img]

I have a feeling we might be a little too late for it to matter.

[QUOTE=booster;28654898]Well with The US's $668 billion Defense budget, they'll probably destroy them all in the first minutes.[/QUOTE] Like Vietnam amirite?

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;28655071]I have a feeling we might be a little too late for it to matter.[/QUOTE] i have a feeling you are wrong

[QUOTE=hegrec;28654605]Sit back and get ready to enjoy the show. [img_thumb]http://www.tinygif.com/data/media/19/scarjo_popcorn.gif[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] This isn't something you sit back and enjoy watching. It's people being killed, asshole.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;28655088]Like Vietnam amirite?[/QUOTE] thing is we're fighting an organized military here in wide open urban areas, which is where our warriors excel more like what happened in the 90s with the US wrecking Saddam's shit

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;28655088]Like Vietnam amirite?[/QUOTE] More like The Gulf War. ^ What he said ^

[QUOTE=n0cturni;28655120]This isn't something you sit back and enjoy watching. It's people being killed, asshole.[/QUOTE] trolled lmao [editline]17th March 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=booster;28655133]More like The Gulf War.[/QUOTE] high five

'bout fucking time

[QUOTE=Kung Fu Jew;28655128]thing is we're fighting an organized military here in wide open urban areas, which is where our warriors excel more like what happened in the 90s with the US wrecking Saddam's shit[/QUOTE] Also Libya is an already crippled and isolated enemy rather than a strong country with Soviet support

I think it's too late at this point. I can't really blame the UN though, it's easy for idiots on an internet forum to talk about the simplicity of putting a no-fly zone in place, actually drafting a resolution and planning it out is a completely different matter.