World

U.S. to End Air Campaign in Libya as Rebels Set Ceasefire Terms

WASHINGTON (AP/THE BLAZE) — The Pentagon will soon stop firing Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libya, in addition to pulling its attack planes out of the international air campaign, two U.S. defense officials said Friday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Thursday announced in congressional testimony the decision to withdraw U.S. combat aircraft from the NATO-commanded mission as of this coming Sunday.

U.S. to End Air Campaign in Libya as Rebels Set Ceasefire Terms

They made no mention of putting the Tomahawk-firing ships and subs on standby as well. But the U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military planning, said the Pentagon won’t fire the powerful long-range missiles unless the situation changes.

This news comes quick on the heels of Libyan rebels setting terms for a ceasefire. Fox News reports:

Libya’s rebels will agree to a cease-fire if Muammar al-Qaddafi pulls his military forces out of cities and allows peaceful protests against his regime, an opposition leader said Friday.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, head of the opposition’s interim governing council based in Benghazi, spoke during a joint press conference with U.N. envoy Abdelilah Al-Khatib. Al-Khatib is visiting the rebels’ de facto stronghold of Benghazi in hopes of reaching a political solution to the crisis embroiling the North African nation.

After the U.S. standdown takes effect on Sunday, Navy ships and submarines armed with Tomahawks will remain in the Mediterranean in position to resume firing if requested by NATO and approved by the Pentagon, the officials said. U.S. attack aircraft at land bases in Italy and aboard a Navy amphibious ship will also be at the ready, the officials said.

The U.S. military will continue providing a range of support, including aerial refueling and aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. NATO aircraft will perform the combat role as well as patrol a no-fly zone.

As of Friday morning, a total of 221 U.S. Tomahawks had been launched since the military campaign began March 19, according to Pentagon figures. In addition, British naval vessels had launched seven Tomahawks. The cruise missiles use satellite navigation devices to find their targets, which have included air defense sites along the Libyan coast and at inland locations, as well as surface-to-surface missile storage facilities.

With the U.S. pullback, the expectation is that Britain, France, Denmark, Belgium and other NATO partners can bear the full air-combat burden.

Also on Friday, the State Department said it was encouraged by the defection to England of Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said U.S. officials had not yet had direct contact with the Libyan.

“We believe that Moussa Koussa’s departure is yet another sign of fracturing within the regime, and we would urge others within the regime to follow his example,” Toner said

“We’ve been very explicit in saying that we believe they should read the writing on the wall that they should step down, that time is not on their side. … It’s quite clear that they need to step aside and that Colonel Gadhafi himself is de-legitimized and needs to step down.”

Some in Congress questioned Gates and Mullen on Thursday about the wisdom of bowing out of a key element of the strategy for protecting Libyan civilians and crippling Moammar Gadhafi’s army.

“Your timing is exquisite,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said sarcastically, alluding to Gadhafi’s military advances this week and the planned halt to U.S. airstrikes. “I believe this would be a profound mistake with potentially disastrous consequences.”

Gates said no one should be surprised by the U.S. combat pullback, since it was planned all along, but he called the timing “unfortunate” in light of Gadhafi’s battlefield gains. He noted that the air attacks are a central feature of the overall military strategy; over time they could degrade Gadhafi’s firepower to a point that he would be unable to put down a renewed uprising by opposition forces, he said.

The number of U.S. Navy ships involved in the campaign had shrunk to nine as of Friday, compared to 11 at the start of the operation, and it is likely to shrink further in the days ahead, other defense officials said. Among targets struck in western Libya overnight Thursday by U.S. Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighters were a radar site and a military vehicle that transports and elevates missiles into firing position, one of the defense officials said.

Marine Harrier jets dropping 500-pound bombs have targeted mainly Gadhafi’s tanks, armored personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery. The Harriers have flown off the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious warship in the Mediterranean.

Mullen and Gates stressed that even though powerful combat aircraft like the side-firing AC-130 gunship and the A-10 Thunderbolt, used for close air support of friendly ground forces, will stop flying after Saturday, they will be on standby. Mullen said this means that if the rebels’ situation become “dire enough,” NATO’s top commander could request help from the U.S. aircraft.

Comments (70)

1 2
  • pwatkins
    Posted on April 2, 2011 at 1:58am

    Remember we need chaos in the middle east for the intoduction of the mahdi and our commander-in-chief wouldn’t want to upset that by using our mlitary.

    Report Post »  
  • JustaThought
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:52pm

    Good thing that’s over with ’cause now Obomber needs to Tomahawk the Ivory Coast. And I love their soap.
    International Red Cross says 800 killed this week in Ivory Coast:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12944669

    Report Post »  
  • Bret
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:52pm

    Another lie! Have you ever heard of the retreating side “setting the cease fire terms”? This is obvious Obama Media propaganda to support his new “cut and run” policy…

    Report Post » Bret  
  • Codetrader
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:36pm

    JZS, your zipper is down and things don’t look too good for ya. Maybe you need to be thinkin about a tansplant.

    Report Post »  
  • CANADAUSAPATRIOT
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:27pm

    Sorry, did not mean to repeat myself. Didn’t think my first comment took.

    Report Post »  
  • CANADAUSAPATRIOT
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:25pm

    Something is very wrong here. A guy called in to the Andrew Wilkow show this week saying a military friend’s unit was being deployed to Libya for 6 months to a year. So much for “no boots on the ground”. Americans are being lied to straightfaced by clinton, obama and gates. Things are being set up to take out Israel; timeline around September.

    Report Post »  
  • tarbush
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:22pm

    So are the special ops guys that are on the ground going to be extracted too?

    Report Post »  
    • Bret
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:54pm

      Yes, and FYI they are wearing flip flops, not “boots”. ;)

      Report Post » Bret  
  • HostileLogic
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:18pm

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MD02Ak01.html
    Exposed: The US-Saudi Libya deal

    You invade Bahrain. We take out Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. This, in short, is the essence of a deal struck between the Barack Obama administration and the House of Saud. Two diplomatic sources at the United Nations independently confirmed that Washington, via Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, gave the go-ahead for Saudi Arabia to invade Bahrain and crush the pro-democracy movement in their neighbor in exchange for a “yes” vote by the Arab League for a no-fly zone over Libya – the main rationale that led to United Nations Security Council resolution 1973.
    ——————————————–

    I highly recommend this article. It puts a lot of things in perspective. It’s long, but well worth the time it takes to be read.

    Report Post »  
  • republic2011
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:58pm

    Ok… so.. NATO is taking over, but it is the US ships and forces that are on standby to attack if NATO asks… Since when is NATO the commander and Chief of our armed forces. I don’t remember that being in the Constitution. Be very concerned, America, the “One World” cooks are winning. We need to stop them dead in their tracks if we want our country back.

    Report Post »  
  • headbtweenlegs
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:21pm

    This was not cheap…

    Report Post » headbtweenlegs  
  • headbtweenlegs
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:20pm

    So we did all this for…..? Very costly misunderstanding I guess.

    Report Post » headbtweenlegs  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:29pm

    something is fishy here

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • Gabby in Florida
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:21pm

    Obama wasted all that money on anything Bush can do I can do better.. HEY Bozo not this time you messed up.. Quadaffi has many friends in the ME you picked the wrong game bully bozo.. YOU picked a bully that is bigger and badder than you and has been at the game longer??
    Fire Obama 2012.

    Report Post » Gabby in Florida  
  • rdk
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:07pm

    So, the rest of the world will take over? Maybe they will learn how to fight.

    Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:02pm

    221 Tomahawks, at $1.5 million each… that’s about $330,000,000 and counting… expensive “theater.”

    Report Post » jim  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:06pm

      @jim, i beat it was one heck of a light show.

      Report Post »  
    • chickenlittle
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:16pm

      Cheaper than a “stimulus” though… now we gotta make some more! Can’t buy a little car company for that.

      Report Post » chickenlittle  
  • hauschild
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:01pm

    I think this is good news short term. I’d much rather have the Qaddafi in there than Al-Q.

    Report Post »  
    • chickenlittle
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:10pm

      Just wait… if Daffy has to sell out to the brothers, he’ll do it in a heartbeat… he’s got what they want. This is just a respite to let them get organized.

      Report Post » chickenlittle  
    • hauschild
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:25pm

      You’re probably right. But, never underestimate the power of vanity, pride and greed.

      Report Post »  
  • bitter clinger
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:57pm

    Obama will go down in history as the great military leader who finaly took down the fierce and mighty Libya

    Report Post » bitter clinger  
  • chickenlittle
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:55pm

    Well, they all have their nice track record of keeping ceasefire agreements over there. Admiral Mullen is basically considered a traitor to the military for many reasons… he‘s always the first to go along with the PC crap that’s putting our military at risk. Anything to let Obama keep playing Risk without having to commit to anything. The libs will be cheering tonight, but it doesn’t sound like much in the way of demands on the part of the rebels… so something’s fishy again. Time for Al Quada to get organized is more like it.

    Report Post » chickenlittle  
  • ellietoo
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:51pm

    Oh, come on now! We have only blown half a billion dollars on this war and now they are going to surrender? Let us dump some more money in the ocean first! When a group of middle eastern hot heads decide to overthrow their government perhaps they should count the cost first and not blame the rest of the world for not helping them when they get the pants beat off them. Obama! Stay out of the middle east! Turn off your radio and go play basketball! We can’t afford to have you playing commander and chief!

    Report Post » ellietoo  
  • Whostolemypig
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:50pm

    Interesting, the US is playing on both sides in this war (kinetic military action). Oh well, let’s hear it for the new world order.

    Report Post »  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:48pm

    o boy, what a bunch of horse crap, i have seen more gunships fly over my house in the last two days than i have ever seen since desert storm, so if it is the end of the campaign,then why so much equipment heading towards houston??? there have been a lot of trucks coming from fort hood,headed for houston,why?????? we hope it is over,but remember the two face lair is in charge,

    Report Post »  
    • CANADAUSAPATRIOT
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:11pm

      Something is very wrong. A guy called in to the Andrew Wilkow show this week and said a military friend’s unit was being deployed to Libya for 6 months to a year. So much for “no boots on the ground”. Americans are being lied to straightfaced by clinton, obama and gates. They are setting things in place to take out Israel. The “responsibility to protect” doctrine. Timeline appears to be September.

      Report Post »  
  • Jscools
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:47pm

    Is Obama still President? Call me when it’s over.

    Report Post » Jscools  
    • J Z S
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:42pm

      I’ll call when he is finished cleaning up bushes mess

      Report Post »  
    • midcoastmainepatriot
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:52pm

      jzs……Hey Troll…. nobody cares what you say…..Nobody likes you ( I mean in your WHOLE life too) ..SCREW!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » midcoastmainepatriot  
  • HippoNips
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:39pm

    People losing do not get to set a cease fire. It‘s called a surrender when you’ve lost.
    Libya would be idiotic if they agreed to one now.
    I suspect they will pretend to mull it over as they round up what’s left of the 1000 or so rebels.

    We should never have been involved in this in the first place.

    Report Post »  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:29pm

      Hipponips
      You got it right. I thought that was called surrender also. I have no idea why we are there. There was a time when they wanted our help more than a week before Obama started trying to get “permission” that if we had gone in and took out their planes etc. that could have made it more of an even fight. But I’m not sure that would have been the right thing either. I am worried about who will take over after this crook is out of office. I am afraid it will be even worse. I do not believe if I had been in office I would have intervened.Looks to me like we coiuld have negotiated for oil if we helped them out. I cannot believe we spend all this money on these countries and loss of lives and get nothing for it. That to me is insane.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:32pm

    So Obama‘s real objective of being useless while claiming credit for a ’success’ and causing major amounts of chaos in the area are successful.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:52pm

      @snowleopard, don’t forget the money involved. by the way it has been a great friday,hope for rain next week , and thanks for the prayers, also,nice painting ,i just wish i could paint that well, i am a one color type of painter,{ ha,ah, } one coat at a time.

      Report Post »  
    • M-O-O-N Spells Moon
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:41pm

      And of course making America look weaker and less offensive to the rest of the world. Whether it was a planned withdrawla or not, coming immediately after Ghadaffi reclaiming cities makes us look like losers. But then again, to everyone outside of the US, Obama makes us look like weak losers all the time, so why should this worry me?

      Report Post » M-O-O-N Spells Moon  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:01pm

      Yes ….. SNOW!

      please watch ….

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIA5aszzA18&feature=player_embedded

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:52pm

      How much does 221 Tomahawk missiles cost? Don’t they cost 100,.000 each – thats a lot of money to replace those! http://maboulette.wordpress.com

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:30pm

    Let’s see how it goes.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
    • Creestof
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:37pm

      Meanwhile, back on the farm, the CIA is interviewing the rebel leaders to see which would be the best puppet for us to support…shades of Vietnam.

      Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:38pm

      Also on Friday, the State Department said it was encouraged by the defection to England of Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa.
      ————
      So THIS is the
      “ Curveball”
      we are supposed to rely on this time , right ?

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • ISeeDanger.com
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:40pm

      Why do I smell a “setup” coming?
      We’ll be following this one closely.

      http://www.ISeeDanger.com

      Report Post » ISeeDanger.com  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:43pm

      Cheez

      Mark Steyn killed Mossa yesterday and today on the maha’s show. Got a couple of good cousa recipes also. I never could hit a curveball

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:46pm

      Cease fire … or surrender? Really I don’t think we know.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:53pm

      Only thing I can see happening here is that, no matter how it goes, save for Quaddafi just giving up and going away from Libya, there will be a mess of people lost among BOTH sides.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • redneck
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:57pm

      And the CIA?

      Report Post » redneck  
    • midcoastmainepatriot
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:58pm

      Another dem military win!!!!! They really are GREAT at this kinetic military action stuff….I feel so safe now that our beloved halfrican leader (may peace be upon him) has saved us all !!!! Matthews et all will be positivily damp and swooning this weekend……

      Report Post » midcoastmainepatriot  
    • G.W. Dobbs
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:03pm

      Is anyone CURIOUS about how “Rebels” were so quickly armed with AK-47s? And how all the “UPRISINGS” in the region of the Mid-East were coordinated to occur shortly after any other? And how were THEY armed? It appears to me that some government or governments have been hard at work
      to assure Fire Works and rebellions in multiple nations; these things don’t just happen. They are planned and executed.

      Report Post »  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:05pm

      Everything Obama does is about politics. On Monday he told the world that Gaddafi’s advances have been stopped. Yet we have watched the rebels being pushed back all week. It was Obama’s “mission accomplished” moment, even worse actually. The bottom line with the liberals is summed up in the Youtube video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGMl5TBfepc titled Bush war bad, Obama war good. Kind of says it all.

      Report Post » lovenfl3  
    • chickenlittle
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:07pm

      More time for Al Quada and the MB to get organized is more like it… without having to worry about those pesky airplanes and Patriots raining down. The same ones that determine whether the protests are considered “peaceful.”

      Report Post » chickenlittle  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:15pm

      13th Imam
      Got a couple of good cousa recipes also. I never could hit a curveball
      ——
      Missed Steyn today, but I hope he checks out koosa ( in urban dictionary) :D

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:15pm

      Rebels in retreat is win for Obama!

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:26pm

      So if one were to start a revolution here then help could be expected from France,England etc? They all hate us over there. Leave the dictators alone,I say. Gadhaffi our enemy was bombing our same enemy. What the hell was wrong with that senario?

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:29pm

      The “mutha” of all no flight zones.
      LOL, what a JOKE !

      Kadaffy, will “negotiate” until the world get’s bored, and then disappear the rebels.

      Obama will keep the ships there, so he can “protect” the coming flotillia and gazan-hammas from the big bad Israelis.

      BTW, there hasn’t been a legit “palistinian since Goliath…
      They are a created race/state when Israel was Established 14 May 1948 and the muslim nations opened up their jails and shipped them off to cause strife ever since…

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • happyboy
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:31pm

      OBAMA’s BIG DEFEAT

      How many American troops got killed? How many Libyan children were killed by Obama during the bombing campaign to save lives. The blood of our troops and the blood of these Libyan people are on the hands of all Americans for allowing Obama to do this and get away with it. The German people will always be held guilty for what Hitler did. The Jews have and will remain guilty for the Cucifixtion. Unless we punish Obama history will condem the American people for eternity.

      Report Post »  
    • avenger
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:49pm

      very humorous…gives gaddafi to arm up…hey gang…the rebels are al queda…

      Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:52pm

      @ chickenlittle
      Exactly.
      The jihadies are entering into a
      “ HUDNA” .
      Its an islamic war tactic. They act as if they want peace but actually strengthen and replenish their war machine to come back even deadlier and stronger .
      I’m sure Q-daffy knows .
      Wonder if the politicians in our military know .

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • J Z S
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:39pm

      We are in this worldwide mess because of george bush. If he wouldnt have went worldwide starting trouble none of this would be happening.

      The only thing we have going for is President Obama. Bless his sole.

      And to the troll that told me Obama did not go to Congress before getting drug into Lybia is ignorant.
      Obama addressed Congress SEVERAL times before trying to clean us bushes mess

      Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 6:40pm

      Nothing good can come of this fiasco!

      Report Post »  
    • redneck
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 7:00pm

      @ J Z S – Because YOU drive a car, Libya is YOUR fault

      Report Post » redneck  
    • restorehope
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 8:38pm

      This stand-down won’t last for long. This admin wants the rebels to win at all costs, not knowing or caring apparently if they are al Queda. They will have our military jumping right back into the fray with any provocation as an excuse. Letting France and Britain being shown carrying on the fight is an admin strategy to take the heat off Obama as a warmonger. He can’t have bad press just as the 2012 election is coming up, can he?

      Report Post »  
    • jackrorabbit
      Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:05pm

      Yeah, that’ll work… NOT. Qaddafi isn’t a rational being. This one is a kill or be killed situation, and Obama started it(well his speech did). I though and still think that we should have stayed out of it, but we are in it, so just finish the job our way and then let them sort it out. Bring the rest of all of our troops home(Japan, Germany, Korea, and the Middle East) a storm is coming and I want them out of harms way. We can always redeploy later when the threat has shown its ugly face.

      Report Post »  
    • TheLascone
      Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:17pm

      And to think that Omar … ooops I mean Moammar thought he was gonna be King of Africa …
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630227@N06/5580298057/

      Report Post » TheLascone  
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