Note To Self

If and when I ever travel to the States again, I must not fly.

It's All About...

oil car-be-ques.

More Countries

Spain, Norway and The Netherlands are in and on their way.

I'm Happy to Oblige

UPDATE: Conflicting reports about whether this was one of his planes.
=========================
In furtherance of the goal of humiliating and shining a light on the buffoon of Tripoli, here's a video of one of his planes going down over Benghazi.



Related: Just watching a live press conference with Libyan government officials. It puts me in mind of Baghdad Bob: "The U.N. resolution is invalid, but nevertheless we will comply."

Want Live, Continuous Reporting...

...of the fight in Libya, try:

BBC

Al Jazeera

Hopefully This Headline Will Read...

UPDATE: ...or Vive la France!
============================
Gadhafi ‘will regret’ International forces coming to Libya instead, in very short order.

"Moammar Gadhafi took advantage of international indecision to attack the heart of the five-week-old uprising on Saturday, sending troops, artillery and warplanes to swarm the first city seized by the rebels. Crashing shells shook buildings, and the sounds of battle drew closer to Benghazi's centre.

“Where is France, where is NATO?” cried a 50-year-old woman in Benghazi. “It's too late.”

Leaders from the Arab world, the United States and other Western powers are holding urgent talks in Paris over possible military action, and France's ambassador to the United Nations, Gerard Araud, told BBC Newsnight that he expected military action to begin within hours of the meeting. Mr. Gadafhi warned international forces: “You will regret it if you dare to intervene in our country.”

[---]

"In a joint statement to Mr. Gadhafi late Friday, the United States, Britain and France – backed by unspecified Arab countries – called on Mr. Gadhafi to end his troops' advance toward Benghazi and pull them out of the cities of Misrata, Ajdabiya and Zawiya. It also called for the restoration of water, electricity and gas services in all areas. It said Libyans must be able to receive humanitarian aid or the “international community will make him suffer the consequences” with military action."

In the meantime, Ghadafi is pulling a Saddam Hussein:

"Misrata, Libya's third-largest city and the last held by rebels in the west, came under sustained assault well after the cease-fire announcement, according to rebels and a doctor there. The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals, said Mr. Gadhafi's snipers were on rooftops and his forces were searching homes for rebels.

“The shelling is continuing, and they are using flashlights to perform surgery. We don't have anesthetic to put our patients down,” said the doctor, who counted 25 deaths since Friday morning."

Faster, please.

Well Halellujah!!

U.N. council approves no-fly zone over Libya

"The Russian and Chinese envoys said the resolution's backers had failed to answer questions about how the no-fly zone would work and what the rules of engagement would be.

Apart from the military measures, the resolution also expands sanctions against Gaddafi and his inner circle imposed in a February 26 Security Council resolution.

Among those whose assets the resolution orders frozen are the Libyan National Oil Corp. and the central bank, which the resolution said were "under control of (Gaddafi) and his family" and a "potential source of funding for his regime."

The resolution bans all flights over Libya except for humanitarian flights.

It allows states that have notified the United Nations and Arab League "to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in (Libya), while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.""

Better late than never, I guess, but I have a feeling this one may be no better than most U.N. resolutions. Nice on paper, but otherwise ignorable. The Arab Parallel Universe will see to that.

More details, here, such as this:

"“All necessary measures” were approved to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya and protect the civilian population. That amounts to a mandate for bombing runs to destroy tanks and artillery bearing down on the rebel-held cities of Benghazi and Tobruk.

U.S., French and British warplanes were expected to launch initial combat patrols overnight, operating from bases in Cyprus, Sicily and – perhaps – Egypt. Canada will send six CF-18s, last in action in 1999 as they bombed Serb positions to protect the Albanians of Kosovo."

This:

"There were 10 votes in favour, no votes against, and five abstentions, including veto-wielding China and Russia as well as Brazil, Germany and India."

And this:

"The resolution demanded an “immediate ceasefire,” but the most important language authorized nations “to take all necessary measures … to protect civilians … and civilian populated areas … including Benghazi.”"

And here's the best part:

"Col. Gadhafi seems to relish the looming military confrontation. “Any foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea to danger and civilian and military facilities will become targets of Libya’s counterattack,” he warned.

But the Libyan air force is aging, ill-maintained and no match for modern warplanes. The last time Col. Gadhafi sent a pair of his fighters against a U.S. naval battle group – in 1986 – they were shot down before even coming close to the U.S. warplanes."

I love it when frightened dictators go all bluster and bravado. Everyone can see he's pissin' his pants.

Huh???

A day late and a dollar short, me thinks. Anyway, I don't think it will hurt.

US pushing for air strikes, no-fly zone in Libya

Uh Huh

I'll believe it when I see it:

Hague: Libya No-Fly Zone Decision Near

"Mr Hague was speaking as Colonel Gaddafi's forces pushed deeper into rebel-held territory.

He said a no-fly zone to protect the rebels from Gaddafi's air force remained "one of the leading propositions", but also suggested that world powers might consider arming the opposition."

What we've seen so far is the Obama administration has abandoned America's role in the world and the Brits just don't have the right stuff anymore. Can they still pull off what's needed?

Or are they waiting for Canada to show up? /sarc

In fairness, though, I do like the way Cannon is thinking:

"And he wouldn't rule out endorsing military intervention without the support of the United Nations Security Council."

Hear! Hear!

Curious

Soldier in Leaks Case Will Be Made to Sleep Naked Nightly

"Pfc. Bradley E. Manning, the Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking government files to WikiLeaks, will be stripped of his clothing every night as a “precautionary measure” to prevent him from injuring himself, an official at the Marine brig at Quantico, Va., said on Friday.

Private Manning will also be required to stand outside his cell naked during a morning inspection, after which his clothing will be returned to him, said a Marine spokesman, First Lt. Brian Villiard."

After sleeping in the buff in his cell, what do they expect to find in the morning? An infestation of bedbugs?

Will he at least get a sleeping bag, or can he hang himself with that, too?

Anyway, too bad, so sad.

Things the British MSM Seems Worried About

Libya protests: No-fly zone - bluff or reality?

How I long for the days of Winston Churchill. Within three days of Hitler's invasion of Poland, Britain was at war. There was no waffling around and wringing of hands.

No-Fly Zone Still On The Table

Global call for Libya 'no-fly zone'

UK to work with allies on Libya no-fly zone options

As is, apparently, armed intervention: