French-led coalition forces on Saturday launched "Operation Odyssey Dawn" to enforce U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1973 to protect the Libyan people from that troubled nation's dictator, according to the Pentagon..
The military coalition is charged with preventing or repelling attacks by Libyan armed forces and mercenaries on Libyan citizens, many of whom are unarmed.
During a Pentagon teleconference with reporters and bloggers, military officials said that the coalition will attempt "to degrade the ability of Moamar Khadhafi's regime to resist a no-fly zone being implemented" as per the U.N. resolution passed on Friday.
While Defense Department officials claimed that U.S. military forces are on "the leading edge of the coalition operation," critics of the Obama handling of the Libyan crisis accuse the president of abdicating the role of the U.S. as a world leader to countries such as France and members of the Arab League.
"Whether you agree with Democrat presidents or not, they seem to have a propensity for placing U.S. forces under the command of foreign generals," claims former military intelligence officer, now a security firm owner, Sid Franes.
"Clinton placed U.S. troops under the control of the United Nations or foreign military commanders in Somalia, Kosovo, and other military actions. When former President Bush took the lead in both Afghanistan and Iraq, he was accused of 'going it alone' when he actually had a coalition except for France and Germany in Iraq," Franes stated.
One of the coalition's primary goals during the initial bombing missions is to take out Libya's integrated air and missile defense system, said the Pentagon. The bombing targets include radar installations and anti-aircraft sites around the capital of Tripoli, as well as and other facilities.
The U.S. portion of Operation Odyssey Dawn is being commanded by U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear aboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney. The Mount Whitney joined more than 20 other warships from Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom and France in launching the airstrikes.
U.S. submarines and frigates fired cruise missiles during the attack on the Libyan anti-aircraft system. In addition to the cruise missiles, the United States will provide command and control and logistics. American airmen and sailors also will launch electronic attacks against Libya defense systems.
Jim Kouri, CPP, is founder and CEO of Kouri Associates, a homeland security, public safety and political consulting firm. He’s formerly Fifth Vice-President, now a Board Member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, an editor for ConservativeBase.com, a columnist for Examiner.com, a contributor to KGAB radio news, and news director for NewswithViews.com.
He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at St. Peter’s University and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.
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