So why didn't we go into Zimbabwe, what are we doing about the tanks that have been deployed in the Yemen this morning?
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So why didn't we go into Zimbabwe, what are we doing about the tanks that have been deployed in the Yemen this morning?
Caporegime
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It couldn't provide effective defence against air attack by looking at the pictures.
Anyway,the systems Libya have are probably quite old and have not been updated. Since Cuban SA8 lauch vehicles were captured in the late 1980s the system has probably been compromised over 20 years ago.
Considering that Iraq had many of the same systems and that the USA and UK have probably bought some of these systems for evaluation means that their effectiveness has been seriously degraded.
If you look at the SAMs Libya has most were competent by 1980s standards but not now against a modern air force with modern electronic warfare abilities.
I personally think that the threat has been overstated especially since most of the equipment of the Libyan armed forces is antiquated due to a lack of investment.
In a few years it would have changed as Libya was re-equiping its military with much better equipment from Europe and Russia. Hence,I think the coalition took the opportunity to strike now.
I would suspect the main anti-aircraft threat would be still the flak and the SA16 missiles the Libyans have ATM.
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Caporegime
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What do you propose, fight 6 wars at the same time?
exactly its going to be the new taliban
Don't you read the news? Nothing because there isn't one of these:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10200.doc.htm
Zimbabwe kicked off years ago, what are we waiting for? Libya kicks off and within weeks we have aircraft carriers and submarines and jets over there.
Firestar if you think we should have a selective hypocritical foreign policy where we do what's best for our energy supplies etc. then fair enough, just be up front about it and don't pretend it's about protecting bloody civilians as some of us weren't born yesterday.
Caporegime
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So, just because you can't 'fix' or 'help' all of the countrys you shouldn't 'fix' or 'help' any?
I think our country actions need to swing with the political feel and interest within the world, the UK can't go these things alone and nor can we be left in the dark.
Agreed
You must have been born yesterday because that is what it is about. Protecting civilians from getting bloody. Maybe you should read this:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10200.doc.htm
They are the worlds 4th largest oil producer, this is why.
People who think this has nothing to do with oil, are just too naive.
So naive.
Wait, what? We're attacking the US now?
You don't know that the one pictured was destroyed by a jet or not.
The SA-8 is a much greater threat than AAA or shoulder mounted SAMs (MANPADS). It has it's own aquisition and tracking radars meaning if it has a supporting long range radar attached to the unit it could attain threats hundreds of km away. Upgraded missiles also increases it's operational ceiling to well within that what our jets operate. Regardless of whether the pictures suggest otherwise, that kit is a serious air threat. To jets, AAA and MANPADS pose a very tiny threat in contrast.
Are we stopping the rebels from attacking pro Gadaffi fighters?
Caporegime
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We already had access to his oil, Several companies in Europe already has block's, teams, and drilling programs in Libya.
Libya is rated as the 12th largest oil exporter iirc, but yes reserves are large, but as i say we already had access to large blocks of this anyways.
Yes we did until The East of Libya decided to start a fight with the West and we had to pull out all our oil workers.
Are you forgetting the phone calls over skype from Britains in Libya begging to be brought home?
The most recent estimates place Libya's oil reserves at 60 billion barrels. Its gas reserves at 1,500 billion m3. Its production has been between 1.3 and 1.7 million barrels a day, well below its productive capacity. Its longer term objective is three million b/d and a gas production of 2,600 million cubic feet a day, according to figures of the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
The (alternative) BP Statistical Energy Survey (2008) places Libya's proven oil reserves at 41.464 billion barrels at the end of 2007 which represents 3.34 % of the world's proven reserves. (Mbendi Oil and Gas in Libya - Overview).
An invasion of Libya under a humanitarian mandate would serve the same corporate interests as the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq. The underlying objective is to take possession of Libya's oil reserves, destabilize the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and eventually privatize the country's oil industry, namely transfer the control and ownership of Libya's oil wealth into foreign hands.
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) is ranked 25 among the world’s Top 100 Oil Companies. (The Energy Intelligence ranks NOC 25 among the world’s Top 100 comp...)
The planned invasion of Libya, which is already underway is part of the broader "Battle for Oil". Close to 80 percent of Libya’s oil reserves are located in the Sirte Gulf basin of Eastern Libya.
Libya is a Prize Economy. "War is good for business". Oil is the trophy of US-NATO led wars.
Wall Street, the Anglo-American oil giants, the US-EU weapons producers would be the unspoken beneficiaries of a US-NATO led military campaign directed against Libya.
Libyan oil is a bonanza for the Anglo-American oil giants. While the market value of crude oil is currently well in excess of 100 dollars a barrel, the cost of Libyan oil is extremely low, as low as $1.00 a barrel (according to one estimate). As one oil market expert commented somewhat cryptically:
"At $110 on the world market, the simple math gives Libya a $109 profit margin." (Libya Oil, Libya Oil One Country's $109 Profit on $110 Oil, EnergyandCapital.com March 12, 2008)
Foreign oil companies operating prior to the insurrection in Libya include France's Total, Italy's ENI, The China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), British Petroleum, the Spanish Oil consortium REPSOL, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, Hess, Conoco Phillips.
Of significance, China plays a central role in the Libyan oil industry. The China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) had a workforce of some 400 employees. The total Chinese workforce in Libya was of the order of 30,000.
Eleven percent (11%) of Libyan oil exports are channelled to China. While there are no figures on the size and importance of CNPC's production and exploration activities, there are indications that they are sizeable.
More generally, China's presence in North Africa is considered by Washington to constitute an intrusion. From a geopolitical standpoint, China is an encroachment. The military campaign directed against Libya is intent upon excluding China from North Africa.
Also of importance is the role of Italy. ENI, the Italian oil consortium puts out 244,000 barrels of gas and oil, which represents almost 25 percent of Libya's total exports. ( Sky News: Foreign oil firms halt Libyan operations, February 23, 2011).
Among US companies in Libya, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) decided barely 6 months ago (October 2010) not to renew their oil and gas exploration licenses in Libya. (Why are Chevron and Oxy leaving Libya?: Voice of Russia, October 6, 2010). In contrast, in November 2010, Germany's oil company, R.W. DIA E signed a far-reaching agreement with Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) involving exploration and production sharing. AfricaNews - Libya: German oil firm signs prospecting deal - The Af...
The financial stakes as well as "the spoils of war" are extremely high. The military operation is intent upon dismantling Libya's financial institutions as well as confiscating billions of dollars of Libyan financial assets deposited in Western banks.
So Simulatorman, who is naive now.
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