Great Britain and Italy have joined the French in sending military advisors to Libya. Rebel leaders in Misrata have been pleading with NATO for soldiers to help them in defeating the Libyan regime’s army. Misrata has been under attack for more than 6 weeks. While President Obama says he supports our ally’s decision, he has no plans to put US boots on the ground.
While the US won’t send troops in, the US has plans to send the rebels up $25M in “urgent, non-lethal aid.”
Amid a debate over whether to offer the rebels broader assistance, including cash and possibly weapons and ammunition, the administration has informed Congress that President Barack Obama intends to use his so-called "drawdown authority" to give the opposition, led by the Transitional National Council in Benghazi, up to $25 million in surplus American goods to help protect civilians in rebel-held areas threatened by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces.
Initially, the administration had proposed supplying the rebels with vehicles and portable fuel storage tanks but those items were dropped from the list of potential aid on Wednesday after concerns were expressed that those could be converted into offensive military assets, the officials said.
The list is still being revised but now covers items such as medical supplies, uniforms, boots, tents, personal protective gear, radios and Halal meals, the officials said. Most of the items are expected to come from Pentagon stocks, they said.
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France: “We will help you”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to help the Libyan rebels end the stalemate at Misrata.
But the three European nations committing handfuls of troops to east Libya stressed they were being sent merely to advise the rebels on technical, logistical and organisational matters and not to fight.
In Paris, France's foreign ministry spokeswoman said: "France has placed a small number of liaison officers alongside our special envoy to Benghazi who are carrying out a liaison mission with the TNC.
"The precise objective is to give the TNC essentially technical, logistical and organisational advice to reinforce the protection of civilians and to improve the distribution of humanitarian and medical aid," she said.
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The French will send about 10 advisors and Great Britain plans on sending about 12.
US: This is not a blank check
"This opposition, which has held its own against a brutal assault by the Gadhafi forces was not an organized militia," she said. "It was not a group that had been planning to oppose the rule of Gadhafi for years. It was a spontaneous response within the context of the broader Arab spring. These are mostly business people, students, lawyers, doctors, professors who have very bravely moved to defend their communities and to call for an end to the regime in Libya."
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Currently, France and Great Britain are following a much more proactive mission in Libya. The US, so far, is not discussing sending in military advisors to Libya. As I read through the articles, it appears that the US is referring to NATO less often and to "our allies" more often. Regardless, at this point, it would seem that the US is not as eager to be involved in Libya as our allies.
More news on the siege of Misrata and other news on Libya at:
US to give Libyan rebels non-lethal aid
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Rebels: Libyan army shells western mountain towns
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Foreign military advisers head for Libyan rebel bastion
http://news.yahoo.com/...
For besieged Libyan city, the sea is sole lifeline
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Obama backs allies sending military aides to Libya
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Sarkozy tells Libyan rebels: "We will help you"
http://news.yahoo.com/...