Still, the top U.S. military officer said the goals of the international campaign are “limited” and won’t necessarily lead to the ousting of Gadhafi.
Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether it was possible that the mission’s goals could be achieved while leaving Gadafi in power, Adm. Mike Mullen said, “That’s certainly potentially one outcome.” Pressed on this point later in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mullen was more vague, saying it was too early to speculate. He said the Libyan leader is “going to have to make some choices about his own future” at some point.
Gadhafi vowed to fight on. In a phone call to Libyan state television, he said he would not let up on Benghazi and said the government had opened up weapons depots to all Libyans, who were now armed with “automatic weapons, mortars and bombs.” State television said Gadhafi’s supporters were converging on airports as human shields.
I found an English blog that had some interesting comments about this Libyan War. See Mr. Simon Darby’s Blog: http://simondarby.blogspot.com
Below his comments on the Libyian conflict are posted a couple of short video clips from Mr. Andrew Brons, M.E.P. regarding the
rights of Greek Christians on the Isle of Cyprus.
[blockquote] French Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said Qatar warplanes will join the operation alongside French jets, as a “historic partner” of France in the Arab world. [/blockquote]
Looks like the French are making diplomatic hay…
At least it’s an improvement on France’s past record in respect of Africa.
“At least it’s an improvement on France’s past record in respect of Africa.”
What about France’s legacy in Senegal?
What about France’s assistance to Chadian forces resisting a Libyan invasion in the 1980s?
France’s legacy in Africa is ‘mixed’ (.i.e. good, bad, neutral) and ‘broad-brushed’ comments do not help readers to develop a clear view of France’s role in African history.
Actually, I think France’s legacy in Africa is overwhelmingly positive, as has been their involvment in the continent in the post-colonial era.
Oh come, there are “broad-brush” statements on this blog all the time, nor I am the worst offender in that regard.
I doubt if any country’s record is 100 percent negative, nor did I mean to suggest so. I don’t think, however, that France has covered itself with glory in terms of how it has related to West Africa since 1958.
Sorry Evan,
That wasn’t directed to you specifically. It seems we’ll have to agree to differ.
Jeremy,
No apology necessary. Always happy to disagree amicably.
The French and Germans have co-opted American foreign policy and are using US strategic and tactical assets to project their foreign policy ashore. Under the circumstances, I have no problem with the neo-cons in Europe running out foreign policy in lieu of our Eurpoean socialist president. But it is a very dangerous slope Mr. Obama is slipping down. As a “New Yorker” (not noted for their conservativism)cartoon recently said: “I always wanted to live the American dream; I just had no idea I was going to have to move to France to do it.”