US Will Join the Attack on Libya

For days many of us have sat back in horror while Qaddafi has turned his troops loose to murder his own people, while the world has stood by and watched.  That is about to change, because the UN Security council has authorized military action against Libya, and it appears that the US will be assuming an counter air defense and counter air role while planes from other nations spearhead the attack.  The map is slightly outdated, because Ajdabiya has fallen to Qaddafi’s troops.

Only hours after the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and impose a no-flight zone to try to avert a rout of rebels by forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. French officials said on Friday that military action would start “within a few hours” and news reports said British and French warplanes would spearhead the attack.

On the ground, forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi unleashed a barrage of fire against the rebel-held town of Misurata in the west of the country while one of the colonel’s sons, Saif el-Islam, was quoted as saying government forces would encircle the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east.

François Baroin, a French government spokesman, told RTL radio that airstrikes would come “rapidly, within a few hours” following the United Nations resolution late Thursday authorizing “all necessary measures” to impose a no-flight zone.

But he insisted the military action “is not an occupation of Libyan territory.” Rather, it was designed to protect the Libyan people and “allow them to go all the way in their drive, which means bringing down the Qaddafi regime.”

The action seemed to have divided Europeans, with Germany saying it would not participate while Norway was reported as saying it would. In the region, Turkey was reported to have registered opposition while demanding ceasefire, but Qatar said it would support the operation.Reuters quoted Saif el-Islam as saying the Libyan Army would surround but not enter Benghazi and that “anti-terror” forces would be sent in to disarm rebels there. His comments were reported on Al Jazeera television. It was not clear where or when he had spoken.

After days of often acrimonious debate, played out against a desperate clock, as Colonel Qaddafi’s troops advanced to within 100 miles of Benghazi, the Security Council authorized member nations to take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians, diplomatic code words calling for military action.

Diplomats said the resolution — which passed with 10 votes, including the United States, and abstentions from Russia, China, Germany, Brazil and India — was written in sweeping terms to allow for a wide range of actions, including strikes on air-defense systems and missile attacks from ships. Military activity could get under way within a matter of hours, they said.

Benghazi erupted in celebration at news of the resolution’s passage. “We are embracing each other,” said Imam Bugaighis, spokeswoman for the rebel council in Benghazi. “The people are euphoric. Although a bit late, the international society did not let us down.”

The vote, which came after rising calls for help from the Arab world and anguished debate in Washington, left unanswered many critical questions about who would take charge, what role the United States would play and whether there was still enough time to stop Colonel Qaddafi from recapturing Benghazi and crushing a rebellion that had once seemed likely to drive him from power. After the vote, President Obama met with the National Security Council to discuss the possible options, European officials said. He also spoke by telephone on Thursday evening with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the White House said… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Rachel Maddow apparently had access to more recent information than the Times.  She and Steve Clemons from the New America Foundation fill in the blanks.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I have repeatedly opposed unilateral military action by the US.  However, I do support our joining an UN sponsored action to stop Qaddafi, as long as it is limited to air strikes, counter-air and supply of rebels by air.  However, three questions remain.  First, will Republicans oppose this move, because Obama supports it?  What other sections of the basic safety net will Republicans try to slash to pay for it?  What is the difference between Qaddafi murdering his people, and the Saudi/Bahraini murder of Bahrain’s people?

Update: Daffy Qaddafi has declared a cease fire.  I expect him to try to murder his people on the sneak, rather than openly.