[A-List] "US UK, French forces land in Libya"

[Tony B.]

http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=78009


Pakistan Observer
March 4, 2001
US UK, French forces land in Libya
Akhtar Jamal

Islamabad—The United States, Britain and France have sent several hundred 
“defence advisors” to train and support the anti-Gadhafi forces in oil-rich 
Eastern Libya where “rebels armed groups” have apparently taken over.

According to an exclusive report confirmed by a Libyan diplomat in the 
region “the three Western states have landed their “special forces troops in 
Cyrinacia and are now setting up their bases and training centres” to 
reinforce the rebel forces who are resisting pro-Qaddafi forces in several 
adjoining areas.

A Libyan official who requested not to be identified said that the U.S. and 
British military gurus were sent on February 23 and 24 night through 
American and French warships and small naval boats off Libyan ports of 
Benghazi and Tobruk.

The Western forces are reportedly preparing to set-up training bases for 
local militias set-up by the rebel forces for an effective control of the 
oil-rich region and counter any push by pro- Qaddafi forces from Tripoli.

Other reports claim that efforts to “neutralize” the Libyan Air Force were 
also underway to limit Qaddafi’s rule in Tripoli if not fully uprooted from 
the country.

Meanwhile, three Indian Navy warships, are also being dispatched to be 
deployed in the rebel-held areas of Libya.

According to reports the Indian Navy has already sent two warships plus one 
its largest amphibious vessel INS Jalashwa. According to defence experts 
“Jalshwa” is the largest ship of Indian Navy which was delivered by the U.S. 
four years ago. Jalashwa, formaly the USS Trenton, has the capability to 
embark, transport & land various elements of an amphibious force & its 
equipped with mechanised landing craft, Sea King helicopters & armed with 
raders, ship to air missiles & rapid firing guns.

Experts say that Indian ship Jalashwa has a Landing Platform Dock with a 
capability 1000 fully armed troops. The warship is also used for maritime 
surveillance, special operations, search & rescue and to undertake other 
tasks.


Interfax
March 3, 2011
Brief military operation in Libya may not be against intl law - Russian 
envoy to NATO

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - A brief military operation in Libya could be in 
compliance with international law, Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin 
said.
"If we talk about a special brief operation, there should be solid reasons 
for this," Rogozin said in an interview published in the Thursday issue of 
Izvestia.
Such reasons could be the protection of one's own citizens, their lives and 
dignity, the salvation of hostages, or the prevention of an act of sabotage 
against an embassy, he said.
"In these cases, international law does not rule out the use of special 
troops. But such an operation should be limited in space and time. If 
special forces start siding with one of the forces confronting each other in 
a civilian conflict, this would be gross interference in a foreign state's 
internal affairs," he said.
Rogozin also doubted that the developments in Libya could replay the Iraq 
scenario.
"What we saw in Iraq was an outright aggression against a foreign state on a 
farfetched pretext. Here we are talking about an attempt to climb the 
opposition's back to mess into the affairs of a state, which, by the way, is 
one of the largest energy exporters. Obviously would be better to refrain 
from saber-rattling. The sanctions that have been adopted by the [United 
Nations] Security Council are quite enough," he said.
"If the Americans understand that they might be dragged into a big war like 
the one in Iraq or Afghanistan, they will cross themselves and take to their 
heels. Perhaps now they believe a blitzkrieg won't damage their image. But 
this will backfire on them sooner or later," Rogozin said.