Obama asks Saudis to arm Libyan rebels

[ed1066]

Man, this is some dirty backroom dealing. Obama's Contra scandal? We'll see I guess...

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html

America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels
Obama asks Saudis to airlift weapons into Benghazi

By Robert Fisk, Middle East Correspondent
Monday, 7 March 2011


Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.

Washington's request is in line with other US military co-operation with the Saudis. The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban.

But the Saudis remain the only US Arab ally strategically placed and capable of furnishing weapons to the guerrillas of Libya. Their assistance would allow Washington to disclaim any military involvement in the supply chain – even though the arms would be American and paid for by the Saudis.

The Saudis have been told that opponents of Gaddafi need anti-tank rockets and mortars as a first priority to hold off attacks by Gaddafi's armour, and ground-to-air missiles to shoot down his fighter-bombers.

[billisonboard]

Mar 7, 2011 13:39:19 GMT -5 @ed1066 said:

Man, this is some dirty backroom dealing. Obama's Contra scandal? ...

Beyond restricting overt U.S. support of the Contras, the most significant effect of the Boland Amendment was the controversial Iran-Contra Affair, during which the Reagan Administration illegally circumvented the Amendment in order to continue supplying arms to the Contras, behind the back of Congress and the American public. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boland_Amendment

Not even close.

[burnsattornincan]

I also wasn't aware Khaddafy tried to assassinate Abdullah within the last year! Really?

I wondered how much truth there was to that. Never heard a thing about it at the time.

[deziloooooo]

Mar 8, 2011 22:12:37 GMT -5 burnsattornincan said:

I also wasn't aware Khaddafy tried to assassinate Abdullah within the last year! Really?

I wondered how much truth there was to that. Never heard a thing about it at the time.

`I thought it was a few years ago I thought , but it's true, so I am sure he would be offered Asylum there but once there...... ;D

[mmhmm]

Mar 7, 2011 14:23:15 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

I agree with bill. It doesn't even merit discussion in regard to Iran Contra.

However it is an interesting topic. I saw that a foriegn ship (British?) brought non military aid into Benghazi the other day. If the rebels don't prevail the surviving ones will meet a very sad end once the fighting is over.

I also wasn't aware Khaddafy tried to assassinate Abdullah within the last year! Really?

The plot to assassinate King Abdullah (then Crown Prince) of Saudi Arabia was in 2003, Demi. I don't think a lot is known about it. According to a Libyan who supposedly participated, it was developed by a couple of Gadhafi's inner circle. There has been rivalry between Libya and Saudi for years, though. Gadhafi pitched a hissy at the Arab summit in 2004, accusing Abdullah and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of all sorts of things before stomping out of the summit in a huff.

[mmhmm]

If there is going to be support for the rebels in Libya (and, IMO, there should be), it seems to me much more fitting that said support be supplied by other Arab countries than by the West. It's their fight, and has proven it can spread to other countries in the Middle East. Let them handle it.

[privateinvestor]

Obama asks Saudis to arm Libyan rebels


Is also called "Passing The Buck?" or "Being Overly Cautious" or "Weak Leadership"...?? take your pick..

[privateinvestor]

Hillary Clinton held a press conference on this subject and said she waiting for the UN to act on this issue about arming Libyan rebels....France and England appear to be taking the lead while China and Russia are against it as you would imagine...meanwhile the USA is just being cautious so as not to ruin appeasing the Muslim World which is a very bad thing.

[mmhmm]

Mar 9, 2011 11:41:29 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Actually we should be cautious with overt American or European intervention. The Libyan people remember colonialism- none too fondly- and Western intervention against Qaddafi will ironically drive up patriotic support FOR Qaddafi. And he will certainly exploit that dynamic for all it is worth.

Absolutely, Demi. This is a problem for the entire Middle East. There's no doubt of that. However, it is their problem and they need to deal with it in their way. It's not up to us to decide how that should be done, or when that should be done. While we might make suggestions, if asked, to our ally countries in the area, we're not responsible to jump in and handle the problem for them. We've gotten ourselves into enough messes doing that!

[privateinvestor]

Obama asks Saudis to arm Libyan rebels


And in the meantime Hillary is waiting for the UN to decide what to do...


This is a complex issue only made more complex by Obama who is being tested again on the world stage to see if he can provide some semblance of leadership....

[mmhmm]

Personally, I think the Arab League should be responsible for handling the situation. Libya is a member of that organization, I believe. Until they have acted, I don't even think the UN should get all that involved. Let these people work amongst themselves to solve their problems.

[deziloooooo]

Mar 9, 2011 11:22:29 GMT -5 @privateinvestor said:

Obama asks Saudis to arm Libyan rebels


Is also called "Passing The Buck?" or "Being Overly Cautious" or "Weak Leadership"...?? take your pick..

I am surprised with your back ground, forgetting your feeling on the POTUS, that to me is unimportant here, that you take that track.

From your experience any action by us militarily gets very complicated, loss of our people, as has been mentioned , if it's a "no Fly " then properly done, unless one is ready to just send these planes in{so expensive they are to bring up a non mentioned fact of life } the cost of flying them, refueling them, normal danger to the crews and support personnel} but done properly, defenses , missiles, enemy airfield, cratering if their fields have to be done first, meaning killing many plus the inevitable collateral damage that would ensue, then there is the political fall out that would fall on us unless it was a action taken with the support of other nations including Arab nations in the area.

There is no simple answer, yet you seem to put it all on the POTUS, he is a if he doesn't , just do it, shouldn't worry about the above or anything else or if he does then are you going to come down on him when problems arise, they would and will.

[ed1066]

This whole thread (and admittedly, it's my thread) just keeps making me think of the Libyans in Back to the Future, with their VW bus and RPGs... ;D

[workpublic]

[deziloooooo]

Mar 9, 2011 13:49:30 GMT -5 @ed1066 said:

This whole thread (and admittedly, it's my thread) just keeps making me think of the Libyans in Back to the Future, with their VW bus and RPGs... ;D

" it's my thread) "...Nope, once posted , it belongs to all here who read and post on it.

[privateinvestor]

Obama asks Saudis to arm Libyan rebels


It should be interesting to find out if the Saudis do in fact comply with Obama's quest to have them arm the rebels.....I rather doubt that the Saudis want to be involved with a civil war in Libya since they have more interest in boasting their oil production and make more $Trillions because of this crisis..

[ed1066]

Nope, once posted , it belongs to all here who read and post on it

Right, sorry comrade...

[workpublic]

don't the saudis have rebels of their own to worry about?

seems to me there are two types of "arab countries" left over there. those that were just overthrown by rebels and those that are fighting to preserve their dictatorships. so asking the "arab countries" or the arab league to support the protesters is ridiculous, imho.


maybe saudi arabia could handle the no fly zone over libya. but why would they stick their necks out to protect the rebels? wouldn't that be a little hypocritical to the rebels within SA?