Mission creep
AndyMFM sends a link to the Washington Post which reports now that the Libyans have grounded their aircraft, the US is deploying AC130 gunships and A-10 Warthogs to the battle. I thought Warthogs were going out of style. But anyway, those aircraft are used against strictly ground-bound targets;
The use of the aircraft, during days of heavy fighting in which the momentum seemed to swing in favor of the rebels, demonstrated how allied military forces have been drawn deeper into the chaotic fight in Libya. A mission that initially seemed to revolve around establishing a no-fly zone has become focused on halting advances by government ground forces in and around key coastal cities.
I’m just an infantryman, so I don’t understand all of the intricacies of planning, but these are two weapons that need troops on the ground to direct fire. They’re ground support aircraft, and there’s no one on the ground to support. Yet.
Just last night, the president was telling us how we had this grand air combat mission to execute and then we’re out, but it seems we’re being drawn in deeper.
In Libya, “we are determined to step up the mission, to attack his tanks and [troop] columns every day until he withdraws,” a French official said of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and the forces loyal to him.
Who is this “we” you speak of, Frenchy? Cortillaen sent us a link to a Ed Driscoll post in which Obama complained that “others” volunteered our armed forces for this mission in Libya. So who’s volunteering ground support?
Is it going to be another month before we get an explanation? To quote the Bush-Era Democrats; what will victory look like?
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Terror War
Yeah, mission creep is an understatement. I knew before we went into this that it would not stop at a no-fly zone. A no-fly zone to Bobo is much different than the no-fly zone over Iraq, back in the 1990s. When you start attacking ground targets as a mission objective, it stops becoming a no-fly zone and turns into war. Those Devil Dogs of the 26th MEU will prbably be on the ground, shortly.
BTW……Has Bobo gotten approval from congress, yet? I’m just askin.
Can we assume that the CAS ROE in Libya is the same as the CAS ROE in Afghanistan? That might be the link to troops on the ground.
Funny how quiet the usual suspects are now that they have their own man in the White House.
Well SOMETHING’s got to keep the military busy. 2 active campaigns aren’t enough along with presence/show-of-force, training, and that all important DADT and re-diversification all tangled up in ginormous budget cuts.
I wonder if the Red States will allow deployed servicemembers to vote in 2012. Naaaaaaw.
I know Rethink Afghastan is up in arms about this calling it illegal military action.
“Others” volunteered our armed forces? Holy shite, Bumbles, you’re the CiC, who the hell could “volunteer” them, except you? Oh, that’s right, it’s Bush’s fault.
Who is this “we” you speak of, Frenchy. Exactly Jonn, exactly!
The A-10 is not only CAS, but also performs a great role in SAR as well with its excellent loiter time. Should one of the flyboys get shot down again the A-10s were and are often used as support for SAR teams (along with gunships).