An unnamed NATO official admits that members United Kingdom and France sent in ground troops, into Libya, long ago.
The NATO official said it would be “unfair to call them NATO forces.”, implying that Britain and France are acting totally independent of U.S. led NATO, and the United Nations.
The United Kingdom’s Inner City Press revealed a 10 page document that shows a United Nations backed ground force operation is about to begin in Libya. It will involve 200 military observers, 190 UN police officers and 61 civilians.
The operation is awaiting approval by the UN Security Council, and an official request from Libyan rebels. It also details the creation of a new Libyan government, by the United Nations, not the rebels.
The 10 page “Martin report” also claims that the Libyan rebels committed war crimes, by killing prisoners and looting. It also “doubts” that Gaddafi used mercenaries.
The report was apparently written on August 22, but was officially denied until Inner City Press got its hands on an official copy.
“We are afraid that the resolution could push the most radical Syrian opposition forces to more active operations to topple the government. Just because of that, we categorically do not accept the aims our Western colleagues try to attain with that resolution.”–Vitali Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations
Russia, as well as China, have stated that they oppose any UN Security Council resolution against Syria.
Russian officials say they have information that the United States, and European Union, will sidestep the UN Security Council, because they can not get enough votes of support for their planned attack on Syria. Instead it is highly likely that the U.S. and EU will use language under NATO rules to justify an attack on Syria. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not part of the United Nations.
Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi says government forces leaving Tripoli is a tactical move, the war is not over. He also says NATO sent no fewer than 64 air strikes against the Bab al Aziziya military compound, in the recent fighting.
Reports coming from Tunis. Tunisia has closed its border crossings, because rebel forces, near the border, are under heavy attack by Libyan government forces, including artillery attack.
Some BBC reporters are saying the water supply for Tripoli is contaminated, possibly poisoned. Two people were taken to hospital after drinking tap water. Some rebel checkpoints are warning people not to drink the water.
There are reports that Libyan government forces, and pro-Gaddafi tribes, are leaving Gaddifi’s hometown of Sirte, to attack rebels in Tripoli.
At the same time, other reports say rebels are trying to stop government forces coming from Sirte. NATO bombed Sirte “heavily”. Rebel officials say they need another 72 hours to fully “liberate” Libya.
Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said Gaddafi’s forces remain dangerous.
Some unconfirmed reports out of Libya: Rebels have entered the Libyan government military compound in Tripoli, and NATO claims the Libyan army launched SCUD missiles.
Unfortunately announcements by rebels, in the past, have a poor track record of truth. But there are many reports that they’ve broken into the large military compound in Tripoli, and one report said they made it inside Gaddafi’s office.
Another report says Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi is not in the compound.
Other reports say the Libyan army fired SCUD missiles at Misrata. Those reports come from NATO. They “confirm” that at least three SCUD missiles were launched.
Jane’s Defence estimates that Libya has 240 of the ballistic missiles, with a range of about 300km (186 miles).
Despite Libyan rebel’s claims that they detained Gaddafi’s sons, at least one escaped, another is leading counter attacks and a third just made a surprise appearance in Tripoli.
Seif al Islam showed up outside the Nixos hotel. In a live interview with Fox News, Seif said his father is alive and well: “Yes, he is in Tripoli, he is alive and well and we are winning. The rebels have been lured into a trap and we will crush them.”
Reports that NATO is now rushing boatloads of fresh rebel fighters from Misratah to Tripoli.
A day ago a Reuters reporter revealed that NATO sent in at least 200 rebels, to Tripoli by sea, at the beginning of the assault on Tripoli.
Rebels had claimed they detained three of Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi’s sons. Now one of those son’s, Mohamed Gaddafi, was rescued by the Libyan army.
Another son, Khamis Gaddafi, is leading the surprise counter attack, and has pushed rebels out of 80% of Tripoli.
I wonder how many people have realized that the western media has reported many times in the past that Gaddafi’s sons were killed by rebels? Now we’re being told the rebels captured them in Tripoli, the very sons that had been killed. And one of those sons is leading a counter attack. One blogger counted 17 previous times the western media reported that Gaddafi’s sons were killed.
Also, the western media has reported many times that Gaddafi has been killed or has fled the country. The most recent western media report said that Gaddafi was in Tunis. Lies, lies and more lies, it turns out that Gaddafi is still in Tripoli, taking part in the counter attack.
U.S. President Obama just stated that he expects the situation in Libya to continue to require NATO forces to help even after Gaddafi is gone.
Obama said they expect fighting throughout Libya to continue after Gaddafi is gone, and U.S. military officials will work with NATO to support the new government of Libya.