Archive for March 31st, 2011
Obama’s secret order to support Libyan rebels.
Libyan rebels
This story broke yesterday afternoon and it appears to be BIG…although the White House is denying it (of course). Several government officials let it slip that Obama had signed an order at least 2-3 weeks ago to “support” the anti-Gaddafi rebels. Wasn’t that before we “publicly” entered into the kinetic-military-action?
( Reuters ) Obama signed the order, known as a presidential “finding”, within the last two or three weeks, according to government sources familiar with the matter.
Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. This is a necessary legal step before such action can take place but does not mean that it will.
As is common practice for this and all administrations, I am not going to comment on intelligence matters,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement. “I will reiterate what the president said yesterday — no decision has been made about providing arms to the opposition or to any group in Libya.”
The CIA declined comment.
News that Obama had given the authorization surfaced as the President and other U.S. and allied officials spoke openly about the possibility of sending arms supplies to Gaddafi’s opponents, who are fighting better-equipped government forces.
The United States is part of a coalition, with NATO members and some Arab states, which is conducting air strikes on Libyan government forces under a U.N. mandate aimed at protecting civilians opposing Gaddafi.
Interviews by U.S. networks on Tuesday, Obama said the objective was for Gaddafi to “ultimately step down” from power. He spoke of applying “steady pressure, not only militarily but also through these other means” to force Gaddafi out.
Obama said the U.S. had not ruled out providing military hardware to rebels. “It’s fair to say that if we wanted to get weapons into Libya, we probably could. We’re looking at all our options at this point,” he told ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer.
In Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted to reporters that no decision had yet been taken.
U.S. officials monitoring events in Libya say neither Gaddafi’s forces nor the rebels, who have asked the West for heavy weapons, now appear able to make decisive gains.
While U.S. and allied airstrikes have seriously damaged Gaddafi’s military forces and disrupted his chain of command, officials say, rebel forces remain disorganized and unable to take full advantage of western military support.
Hmmm…who are these rebels?
I hope we’re not giving weapons to Al-Qaeda.
Bill Ayers gets schooled
This is awesome. This lady knows her stuff and she came fully prepared. Bill Ayers didn’t know what hit him.
Love it!
Thursday Open Thread: March 31st, 2011
Love it!
What’s on your minds this Thursday?
What are people talking about in your part of the country?
