Under Fire By Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger
U.S. and Allies fire missiles on Libya and the battle begins.
French, British and American military forces have fired cruise missiles and fighter jets are engaged but Moammar Gadhafi is not backing down. He has promised to fight back against his aggressors. As many nations inclusive of Canada and Italy, band together to warn Gadhafi and begin measures to enforce a ‘no-fly zone’, over 110 tomahawk missiles were fired from American and British ships and submarines and hit approximately 20 Libyan air and missile defense targets in western portions of the country.
Word has it that the United States will conduct a damage assessment of the sites which include SA-5 missiles and communications facilities. It is thought that the missiles landed near Misrata and Tripoli, the capital and Gadhafi’s stronghold.
French fighter jets were engaged to fire as well. British Prime Minister David Cameron is in full agreement that his country will take whatever action is necessary. In his words, “I believe that we should not stand aside while this dictator murders his own people.”
Gadhafi turned the UN Charter around for his benefit and warrants that Libya will defend and arm itself.
President Obama has reiterated to the American people that the use of force was not the first choice but the necessary plan of action at this time due to the circumstances. However, there are no plans to deploy ground forces in Libya. He envisions the heavy artillery fire to only last days and not weeks and then we will play more of a supportive role.
In the next few days, U.S. Military officials expect to hand over control to a coalition commander.
The French have vowed to protect civilians as it appears that Gadhafi’s forces are starting to strike power stations and there is much unrest.
In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s office confirmed to CNN that Berlusconi has proposed the use of the NATO base in southern Italy as a command center for allied action in Libya.
Violence has raged in Libya following protests calling for democracy and freedom and demanding an end to Gadhafi’s almost 42-year-long rule.
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