France to deploy (attack) helicopters in Libya: (French) media

Source: Reuters Via MSNBC

Updated 2 hours 14 minutes ago

PARIS — France plans to deploy attack helicopters in Libya, the first to be used in the coalition against Muammar Gaddafi's forces, a French newspaper reported on Monday.

Twelve helicopters were shipped out to Libya on French battleship Tonnerre on May 17, daily Le Figaro reported, to help break a military stalemate three months into an uprising against Gaddafi's four-decade rule.

"Using helicopters from the Tonnerre is a way of getting closer to the ground," the newspaper said, citing a source close to the matter.

An Armed Forces spokesman declined to confirm the report, but said the ship in question could carry helicopters.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43131705/ns/world_news-europe

Better them than us!

Whatever.

:eyes:

There was even a story when Robert Ballard found wreckage from PT-109 where it was referred to as a "battleship".

Lest we forget, too: any ship that has ever been sunk, no matter how insignificant or semi-significant (like KM Hipper) was "the pride of the navy".

Boilerplate crap rules the unthinking world...

So close. One can almost feel the tips of combat boots touching the ground.

Please get the euphemisms right...

Or is it a no-fly zone protecting civilians. It looks like the latter term can be stretched infinitely, to cover anything at all.

...by "all necessary measures", excluding a "foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory".

In paragraph 4...



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x677397">Full resolution

After all, what's an occupation army? Once you help the preferred side win and it forms a government, they "invite" you to stay. Voila, no occupation force.

We have went from a no-fly zone, to bombing military forces, to bombing Tripoli, to attack helicopters. Next will be troops (though I presume special forces of several NATO forces are already there).

Source: BBC



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13510395

Use of helicopters, which can attack small targets, represents significant escalation of conflict
Richard Norton-Taylor Monday May 23 2011 18.16 BST

Britain and France are to deploy attack helicopters against Libya in an attempt to break the military stalemate, particularly in the important coastal city of Misrata, security sources have told the Guardian.

In a significant escalation of the conflict, the Apaches – based on HMS Ocean – will join French helicopters in risky operations which reflect deepening frustration among British and French defence chiefs about their continuing inability to protect civilians in Libya.

Apaches, which are being used in counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan, can manoeuvre and attack small targets in relatively built-up areas. Heavily armed Apaches and French Tiger helicopters are equipped with night vision equipment and electronic guidance systems. Forces loyal to the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, have shed their uniforms, are using civilian vehicles and hiding armour near civilian buildings, including hospitals and schools.

The decision to deploy the helicopters is a clear recognition that high-level bombing from 15,000 feet cannot protect civilians who continue to be attacked by rocket and mortar shells. It brings the Nato offensive much closer to the ground at a time when Britain and other Nato countries are insisting they have no intention of sending in troops.

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/23/apache-helicopters-libya-britain