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Operation Sophia / EUNAVFOR MED

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  • #31
    Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
    Service involvement in missions is always pro-active and fairly immediate in response, such as saving lives or allowing indigenous people get on with theirs. Politicians operate to expedients and self interest at a personal level and to National interests. It is unfortunate that the lead country in Op. Sophia was left carrying an unsustainable burden. However overall it is an EU mission and it's not over until it's over.
    Not forgetting that while the Taoiseach, Cabinet, the other Departments and the DF may be singing off one hymn sheet.... DoD will have an opposing view

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    • #32
      Originally posted by DeV View Post
      Not forgetting that while the Taoiseach, Cabinet, the other Departments and the DF may be singing off one hymn sheet.... DoD will have an opposing view
      As of now Libya is destabilised with Kalifha Haftar's forces securing the Oil region to the SW and attempting to seize Tripoli on the North coast with mobile units. Some sources say Russian forces are imbedded and that there may be an intention to push hundreds of thousands of refugees towards European countries at an opportune time. Between regionally displaced people and Africans south of Sahara in Libya, there are more than 3/4 million refugees looking for settlement. With involvement of various countries agents somebody must know the catalyst of the present conflict, it's goals, and potential effects on Europe and us.

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      • #33
        I was just listening to an interview on Radio 4 with a Lybian ex-prime minister who claimed there was French backing for the rebels...
        'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
        'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
        Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
        He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
        http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

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        • #34
          I recall reading that the Haftar forces received technical support and spare parts to restore mirage F1's to operational status from France, I don't have a source at the moment, I'll see if I can dig it up. Our old girl could end up seeing action out there yet. Back when Gaddafi was being overthrown they used a frigate to ferry hundreds of men to Tripoli, a similar move could be on the cards now too.

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          • #35
            Sure the West was conducting air strikes in support of the rebels

            Rightly or wrongly, the West was an active participant in the Civil War which has created the mess

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            • #36
              Originally posted by DeV View Post
              Sure the West was conducting air strikes in support of the rebels

              Rightly or wrongly, the West was an active participant in the Civil War which has created the mess
              It has been reported that Khalifa Hafter's forces are on the outskirts of Tripoli and may have taken control of Tripoli Airport, although nothing much happens there commercially. There is a US Naval group in the Mediterranean and it is also reported that two USN LCAC vessels entered the coastal town of Janzour, close to Tripoli, loaded and left possibly to a Landing ship Dock type vessel. The LCAC can lift 75tonnes or hundreds of troops.The presumption is they removed US military personnel from the conflict area.
              Last edited by ancientmariner; 10 April 2019, 21:06.

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              • #37
                Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
                It has been reported that Khalifa Hafter's forces are on the outskirts of Tripoli and may have taken control of Tripoli Airport, although nothing much happens there commercially. There is a US Naval group in the Mediterranean and it is also reported that two USN LCAC vessels entered the coastal town of Janzour, close to Tripoli, loaded and left possibly to a Landing ship Dock type vessel. The LCAC can lift 75tonnes or hundreds of troops.The presumption is they removed US military personnel from the conflict area.
                I’m talking about the 2011 NATO intervention

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                • #38
                  Originally posted by DeV View Post
                  I’m talking about the 2011 NATO intervention
                  I was just stating the latest news and tagged it to last entry, not in a critique but for convenience. I do recall UN resolution 1973 and the largely Nato intervention in March 2011 of Belgium, Canada, Denmark , France, Norway Spain, Quatar, UK, US , Italy. They had stated humanitarian reasons but it all went wrong as the country turned on itself and remains out of control. It did also show that no matter how well armed with surface to air technology you are, if you are not skilled in its use then it is useless. They had hundreds of missile launchers but no kills in a mainly air war.

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                  • #39
                    All naval forces have temporarily been withdrawn (as at 29 Mar 19)

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                    • #40
                      Originally posted by DeV View Post
                      All naval forces have temporarily been withdrawn (as at 29 Mar 19)

                      https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/p...eptember-2019/
                      Giving aid and training to the Libyan Forces is fraught--who exactly are they?? They have one of our ships which they claim to have recovered to it's proper home!!!

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                      • #41
                        Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
                        Giving aid and training to the Libyan Forces is fraught--who exactly are they?? They have one of our ships which they claim to have recovered to it's proper home!!!
                        I assume the international recognised Government’s forces but you have a point.... but what is the alternative? An EU occupation of Libya!

                        Which ship?

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                        • #42
                          Originally posted by DeV View Post
                          I assume the international recognised Government’s forces but you have a point.... but what is the alternative? An EU occupation of Libya!

                          Which ship?
                          Aisling was sold to them (or one of the factions) by the shipping agent that bought her from the auction.
                          And yeah short of putting in a full occupation force I don't see much option given how Libya has gone post intervention.
                          Last edited by Sparky42; 21 May 2019, 13:55.

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                          • #43
                            A former Naval Service ship, auctioned off to a private broker, has ended up in Libya under control of a man who has been described as his country’s most potent warlord.

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                            • #44
                              Military hardware, including ocean going vessels with long range should not be sold by civilian auction. It can be sold and resold and wind up in Nigeria or Libya and put to aggressive use. The State should sell it's unwanted materials in Defence Journals and choose recipients carefully or go for a SINKEX.

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                              • #45
                                This week's podcast was on Operation Pontus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLhqInmnXEE

                                Really impressive interview.

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