US Senator Visits Libya, Demands More Help for Rebels
John McCain says he will demand Obama Administration provide more funds for rebels to 'get this thing over with'
Edward Yeranian
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Cairo
April 22, 2011
Photo: AFP
US Republican senator John McCain (R) walks with Abdul Hafiz Ghoqa, spokesman of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC), during his tour to the rebel headquarters in their eastern stronghold city of Benghazi , April 22, 2011
U.S. Senator John McCain is meeting with rebel leaders in Benghazi Friday, pushing for more U.S. and Western support for their cause. The visit comes as rebel fighters made small gains on the ground in the besieged western Libyan city of Misrata and along the border with Tunisia.
The visit marks the highest level trip to the main rebel-controlled city by a top American official. It comes amid small, but significant steps to bolster the rebels and to protect Libyan civilians.
McCain told reporters that he had come to get a better picture of the rebels, whom he said he admires.
"I came here to get an on the ground assessment of the situation….We are meeting with the [rebel transitional] council, we're meeting with the military, we're meeting with lots of people. The [rebel fighters] are my heroes," McCain said.
Senator McCain's visit comes hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the U.S. Congress that President Barack Obama had approved the use of unmanned drone aircraft in Libya to carry out missile strikes to protect Libyan civilians.
NATO aircraft have had difficulty in making strikes in heavily populated urban areas, where fighting is taking place in cramped quarters, amid street to street battles. U.S. military officials say drone aircraft are better adapted to hit urban targets, in places like Misrata.
Rebel fighters in Misrata have urged NATO to provide more help to protect Libyan civilians. Hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded during over six weeks of fighting in Misrata.
In the Libyan capital Tripoli, government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim slammed NATO support for the rebels, vowing to turn the country into "hell" if NATO forces entered Misrata or any Libyan city:
"If NATO comes to Misrata or any Libyan city we will unleash hell upon NATO," he warned. "We will be a ball of fire. Libya will become one man, one woman fighting for freedom. We will make it ten times as bad as Iraq."
Libyan government television says NATO planes killed a number of civilian workers at a water plant in the port city of Syrte. There was no independent confirmation of the claim.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the conflict in Libya was "moving towards a stalemate," reiterating recent statements by U.S. and Western military commanders.
Mullen stressed that embattled Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi "has got to go," but was uncertain how long it would take to dislodge him.
I am not sue how unmanned planes are precious while we heard repeatedly many mistakes have been done by remotely operated planes in Afghanistan and Pakistan . I am afraid that the same mistakes could repeat itself in Libya . Flying low means that Gaddafi loyalists weapons will be able to target them and shoot them down . Borders should be control , if Rebels want to reduce the rhythm of this conflict . Gaddafi or his sons realized how much important the location of Misrata is .
Because that they are shelling Rebels in Misrata brutally without any mercy . Moussa Ibrahim announced that Rebels should expect strong onslaughts and attacks because they have been already armed by foreign weapons . It means that Gaddafi will not hesitate a second to use whole his power to eradicate Rebels under any pretext .
Even ceasefire will be vast chance which could be exploited by Gaddafi loyalists because they do not like their opponents to prepare themselves and strengthen their members . This is the logic of war . If you do not kill , you will be killed .
The audacity of hope has arrived at last in Libya.
Stop wasting million of dollars in some unnecessary war.... Gadhafi is going to stay until his last blood dropp......there's nothing NATO can do about it.....thank you.
Get out of Libya now apart from the fact that the UK/US is broke ,the WAR has nothing to do with US. It is a Arab problem and i and a lot of friends think the money we are spending on bombs is better spent on are Schools , Old, and just social services. The Politico's keep telling they need more tax's,well if it is to murder people it's time we told them to get stuffed enough is enough.
This was printed in today's newspaper found in South Korea and worldwide for the us military comunity to read. Obama Administration has announced the USA will give $25M in aid to Libyan Rebels. This comes after a budget crises where the gov't was literally going to Shutdown. Gov't civilians would not get paid but also the military members who are still fighting in Iraq and afghanistan. I remember back in the day a newscaster giving a nightly story on "Fleecing of America".
Why doesnt British queen step down from her long staying throne and shows a good example to Gadhafi? Thanks!
So we know behind all killing is America's hand
I would like to thank USA UK FRANCE and all NATO countries who sheilingKaddafi forces and as a Libyan we will have victory against kaddafy forces
to Winsor ( us Citizen) i am sure you are libyan not American citizan as you say you are one Khaddafi pro ,i am sure khaddafi will be dead by libyan peoble and libya will be come free and democracy country
"Earlier, McCain told reporters the rebels are his 'heroes' ". Senator McCain how about those Rebels who were harrassing and executing Black African migrant workers during the fighting in Libya? Are those killers "your heroes" also?
If you dont know History you are condemed to repeat the same mistake again, Mr. Mccain.......
sthe rebels will be chanting death to america.in a few years they all ways turn on us after we help them wake up stop being flunkies for the oil rich maniacs
McCain, was in Tripoli in 2009 with Lieberman, signed a treaty with Ghadafi where Ghadafi agreed to do more disarming and the USA agreed to protect Libya if it was attacked from outside. How many Libyans SUPPORT these al Qaeda backed rebels? Get out of Libya and let the Libyans decide who will lead them.
I don't believe that USA should be getting involved in Libya's war. We don't have a national interest in Libya, and we should not be getting involved in the internal conflicts of other countries. There are many countries run by dictators and we don't have the money to police them.
The American dream is to take oil from Libiya not to save civilians. It is up to Libiyan people if they want to destroy their country or not, but my brothers and sisters let me tell you one thing and that is " Don't trust western countries" the interest of US, UK and all NATO countries is oil and you have to understand that. Thank you
This may be the Only occasion upon which I agree with a Republican (McCain), but: WE MUST DO MORE TO POUND GADDAFI OUT-OF-TOWN. This "playing politically-safe" is Losing Libya.
who died and put mcain in the position to demand from the president. he (mcain) of all people should know the horrible effects of war, and yet little by little he will have our soldiers , put in a war that is for sure to go on for ever. i beleive that his true intentions, are to in someway, try to make our president look weak.
USA is friendly with dictators until the oil stops flowing. Then, it's "Let's install democracy!" Hypocrites. Gasoline should cost $12 per gallon in the US as in Europe, but that would be political suicide in the West.
As our friend John Lennon said, " what if they had a war, and no one came?" think about it.
Get the Americans out and let the country burn to the bare earth. We have electric cars now and don't need the oil.
Hassan from Pakistan, you are right. Oil is literally what makes the Western world go around. Everybody knows the best way to spread democracy is by showing a good example for the rest of the world to follow, but the best way to save oil supplies is to go in and take it. You're lucky Pakistan doesnt have enough oil to make it a target.
We don't know the the Rebel's political or social objectives. There is no long term benefit for any country to support of fund opposition to Ghadafi even if he is a tyrant. Cutting of the head of this snake will not assure change other than another snake. The unkown is: who will it bite?
Hasn't John McCain and every other member of Congress been screaming that we are out of money and must must must cut spending? Where, pray tell, is this money is supposed to come from???
What is that geriatric senator doing over there? That is what the military is for, they have the expertise. He should be home working on important issues like the national debt and healthcare costs, instead of promoting another war for the US to spend Chinese money on.
What gives the United States the right to dictate who will lead a foreign country. This is a civil war, Please remember what happened in Viet Nam, Nicaragua and Bosnia. Onge we go in we never leave, we are still in Cuba 100+ years after the end of the war, the only exception being Viet Nam where the US lost . Mr Obama may not be the best President we have ever had but you Mr McCain would have been a disaster for our country.
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