Desertfox

Thanks for the links to the rundown. Yes I suspect the active aircraft and helos are on the low side. And the number of pilots willing to attack their own people may be low too. The news reports seem to suggest airstrikes of one to a few airplanes. In the open desert against forces that may number only in the hundreds, it may still be effective. I was wondering if anybody was trying to slip the rebels some shoulder-fired SAMS (unofficially of course) just to make it a bit more expensive.

I'll throw out a starting position - and a question. IF the parties that want to enforce the no-fly zone act quickly, objective would be to protect the East Libya area centered around Benghazi. And to degrade the Libyan air forces. If they don't act quickly, may be nothing left to protect. Question. Forces available to Libya. Do they have anything newer than Mig-23s? Or any high-quality SAM systems?

As reported on the News, Security Council passes the No-Fly zone resolution 10-0 with 5 abstentions (Russia and China were 2 of the abstentions). So now what ??? Claims have been made of Arab support. Is Egypt likely to provide fighter-bomber support such as F16s? Or use of airbases? How much can France and UK bring if they can't use bases in Italy or Egypt? Can or will Saudis help if they can fly from closer airports? US should not be going alone to fly the cover (personal opinion here). I realize these are political questions as much as military.....

Is it too little, too late? No-fly may need participation of Egypt to be effective. They have around 200 F-16s with US-trained pilots and airbases close by. France and UK have few planes that can make the flight across the Med. And even fewer that they will make available. Italy has already [allegedly] refused use of facilities in their country. US is being vague (perhaps rightly so) about whether a carrier group is in the area. IF called upon US carrier pilots could decimate Libyan air power within 24 hours.