“Impunity” Has Been Declared
I have no idea why the military seized on “impunity”, but the use of the word equates to “air supremacy”, i.e. total control of the air space.
The BBC announces: Libya air force ‘unable to fight’
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s air force “no longer exists as a fighting force”, the commander of British aircraft operating over Libya has said.
Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell said the allies could now operate “with near impunity” over the skies of Libya.
He said they were now applying unrelenting pressure on the Libyan armed forces.
…Nato members have been holding talks about assuming responsibility for the no-fly zone over Libya, so far without agreement.
You’ve heard of “mission creep”? Well, in this case it would appear that many people have decided that Sarkozy is the “creep”. He really wants to go all Dubya over Libya, which is not what the others have in mind.
Since “impunity” has been declared, the US mission is over. We are packing up. The equipment, munitions, and personnel were designed to provide air supremacy, and they have. This is a package that comes off the shelf and is used for that one purpose. The “exit” is built in, and we have achieved it. Suppression of Enemy Air Defense [SEAD] is over, and now it is time for other people to take to the field.
NATO might consider handing over control to the Spanish Defense Minister, Carme Chacón Piqueras. She has a two-year-old at home, which qualifies her to handle Sarkozy.
3 comments
I think they must have simply misspelled “immunity.” Immunity is what US preznits always have, no matter what they do, no matter what constitutional violations they engage in, no matter what party they come from, etc. Maybe French presidents have it too.
“We are packing up.”
Don’t you believe it.
Beginning with Harry Truman and the Korean “police action” every President except Jimmy Carter has done this.
If, as it appears now, the US has finished its mission, it is well within the restrictions imposed by the 1973 War Powers Act.
Leaving now helps to improve the image of the US with the Arab people, as well as Arab governments. We are getting out before Sarkozy screws this up, by overreaching.
There is a significant Muslim minority in France, and Sarkozy may be attempting to improve his image with them before facing an election.
The US weapons mix was for a SEAD operation.
I could be even more certain if the 33rd Fighter Wing was still a combat wing, because they would be the ones called for an extended mission – they always were. The 33rd is transitioning to the F-35 and isn’t available, which means the US has fewer units available to extend the mission.
The Navy is now dealing with the situation in Bahrain and may have to move a fleet headquarters, so they don’t have any resources available.
We didn’t send a carrier, we didn’t deploy US-based fighters, we haven’t significantly increased our resources in Europe or the Mediterranean. The B-2s flew from and returned to their US base.
We don’t have the resources there for a sustained operation. All of the stuff that was in Germany is gone.
There are F-16s available from Italy, Norway, Denmark, and Belgium. F-18s are being supplied by Canada and Spain.
Mirage 2000s are being supplied by France and Qatar.
Tornadoes are there from the UK and Italy.
France is supplying Rafales and the UK is flying Typhoons.
France has an aircraft carrier on the way.
The US isn’t needed, and doesn’t want to be there. The good-bye phone calls have already taken place. Staying longer would require Congressional approval, and the Republicans would never agree unless the US was in command.
The US Sixth Fleet, AKA the USS Mount Whitney [Yes, that single ship is the entire Sixth Fleet], is sitting off the coast with some other US ships that happened to be in the area, but there is no carrier task force available.
Rumfeld stripped Europe. We don’t have any extras, or reserves which is a major reason why we resisted being involved.