US Prepares Operation "Boots On The Ground" A/K/A "The Presidente Was Only Keeeding"

Submitted by Tyler Durden
04/07/2011 18:27 -0400
182 comments

The natural step in the US-led invasion of Libya's oil fields, which could be seen from a mile away and as was discussed on Zero Hedge previously, http://www.zerohedge.com/article/here-c ... tion-libya is about to unfold with the proverbial silver-tipped bang. Courtesy of Army Gen. Carter Ham we learn that the Nobel war prize winner "may consider sending troops into Libya with a possible international ground force that could aid the rebels, the former U.S. commander of the military mission said Thursday, describing the ongoing operation as a stalemate that is more likely to go on now that America has handed control to NATO." Nothing like a little land war in Asia, er, Africa, to distract the peasantry from an insolvent government which can't legally issue any more debt on top. Make no mistake though - this is all about "humanitarian intervention."

From MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42468330/ns ... tn_africa/

Army Gen. Carter Ham also told lawmakers that American participation in a ground force would not be ideal, since it could erode the international coalition attacking Moammar Gadhafi's forces and make it more difficult to get Arab support for operations in Libya.

He said NATO has done an effective job in an increasingly complex combat situation. But he noted that, in a new tactic, Gadhafi's forces are making airstrikes more difficult by staging their fighters and vehicles near civilian areas such as schools and mosques.

The use of an international ground force is a possible plan to bolster the Libyan rebels, Ham said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Asked whether the U.S. would provide troops, Ham said, "I suspect there might be some consideration of that. My personal view at this point would be that that's probably not the ideal circumstance, again for the regional reaction that having American boots on the ground would entail."

Anyone recall Obama's promise to not send a land force in Libya? Add that one to the lies you can believe in.

President Barack Obama has said repeatedly there will be no U.S. troops on the ground in Libya, although there are reports of small CIA teams in the country.

Pressed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., about the situation in Libya, Ham agreed that a stalemate "is now more likely" since NATO took command.

Next, while the constitutional lawyer is usurping the constitution, let's just toss the whole checks and balances thing away as well.

Ham also disclosed that the U.S. is providing some strike aircraft to the NATO operation that do not need to go through the special approval process recently established. The powerful side-firing AC-130 gunship is available to NATO commanders, he said.

Surely this latest uber-transparent move to sequester 2 MMBD/oil will raise America's glorious standing within the Muslim crescent.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/us-pre ... y-keeeding