MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 21 Mar 11

• No Fly Zone Libya (1) – Canada’s name for the air group?  Task Force Libeccio
• No Fly Zone Libya (2) – According to CBC.ca’s live blog feed, “Canada’s six CF-18 fighters remain stationed in Trapani, Italy, and are awaiting orders on how they will be deployed, says (Canadian Defence Minister Peter) MacKay. The CF-18’s will be used primarily to take out airport runways, crippling access for the Libyan Air Force.” According to the Minister on CTV’s “Question Period”, ““The purpose here is clearly to disable the airfields and the use of Libyan air assets that could be brought to bear and used against civilians. So the clear indication is that we want to disable their air force and ensure that civilians are given the maximum protection,” he said.”
• No Fly Zone in Libya (3) – According to CBC.ca, “The CF-18s from CFB Bagotville, along with 150 personnel, arrived at a small airbase in Trapani, Sicily, around noon local time Saturday. The military had been considering moving the aircraft to a larger base in France, but defence sources said the jets are staying in Italy ….”
• No Fly Zone in Libya (4) – “…. If the Canadians are ordered to strike at Col. Gaddafi’s ground forces, collateral damage is almost inevitable, suggested Billie Flynn, commander of one of the CF-18 squadrons that fought in Kosovo. “Flying an airplane and dropping a bomb from 20,000 feet can seem a lot like a video game,” said the retired lieutenant colonel. “(But) at some point, you realize there are some serious consequences to what you’re doing…. The Canadians at Kosovo had extensive experience with that. We were responsible for our share of civilian casualties, as well-trained as we were, as disciplined as pilots try to be.” ….”
• No Fly Zone in Libya (5) – “Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to use Canadian military jets to help secure a Libya no-fly zone has given him the opportunity to stand prominently on the world stage as the “leader of the people,” an image the other parties must counteract if they hope to be successful in a looming federal election, political experts say. Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto said Sunday the opposition parties need to “change the channel,” and focus on the scandals that have battered the Conservatives in recent weeks. “This is excellent for Harper,” said Wiseman of the decision to send six CF-18 fighter jets to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone in Libya. “It gives him a stage on which to say, ‘I represent the government of Canada. I stand for the people of Canada.’ ” …. “
• No Fly Zone in Libya (6) – Commentary: “…. With only six fighter jets and one warship deployed to the Mediterranean, Canada’s participation will carry limited military and political risks but is still large enough to earn Canada kudos from allies and from its own citizens for being on the side of the angels ….”
• No Fly Zone Libya (7) – Who’s going to end up in charge of the mission? “…. U.S. Africa Command has taken the military lead in the initial fighting, (Defense Secretary Robert M.) Gates cited possibilities for a transition to leadership by the international coalition.  “One is British and French leadership, another is the use of the NATO machinery, he said. “We just have to work out the command and control that is most accommodating to all coalition members.”  Gates said the Arab League reaffirmed its support today of the military effort in Libya and that this action was “very important, because the initiative first came from those in the region.”  The coalition is not operating as a NATO mission, Gates said, because of sensitivity on the part of the Arab League to being seen to be operating under a NATO umbrella. He added it may be possible to “work out NATO’s command and control machinery without it being a NATO mission and without a NATO flag.” ….”
• No Fly Zone Libya (8) – March 12:  Arab League seeks no-fly zone over Libya.  March 17:  U.N. Security Council passes resolution approving no-fly zone over Libya.  March 20:  “The head of the Arab League has criticized international strikes on Libya, saying they caused civilian deaths.”
• No Fly Zone in Libya (9) – “The United States does not have Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on its ‘target list’ as Western nations intensify their military action on Libya, a top U.S. military official said on Sunday ….” On the other hand, “Moammar Gadhafi may be personally targeted with air strikes if there is no risk to civilians, Britain’s defence secretary indicated on Sunday. Dr. Liam Fox said coalition forces would not take a “gung-ho attitude,” but refused to rule out targeting Gadhafi if the opportunity arose ….”
• No Fly Zone in Libya (10) – Libya now calling for (another!) ceasefire! More here.
• The Taliban’s pot calling the kettle black when it comes to civilian casualties in Libya (text at non-terrorist site here).
• F-35 Tug o’ War, meet No Fly Zone in Libya:  “…. Enforcing a “no-fly” zone to shut down a dictator is an expeditionary air operation. Is that something Canadians want to be able to do in the future? If yes, you need an F-35, expensive or not ….”