Figure of the day, token British missile strikes: 130 US Tomahawk launches and 6 UK Tomahawk launches. Total equals 136 launches. Brit explosive contribution to 'the Coalition,' 4.4 percent by weight in Tomahawks.
One might chalk it up to reluctance after Iraqi Freedom but there's this:
British Prime Minister David Cameron told the nation's parliament Monday that the coalition has "neutralized" Libyan air defenses and made "good progress" in achieving its mission to protect civilians. He also said coalition operations had averted what he called "bloody massacre" of Benghazi residents by Gadhafi loyalists.
Plus, the Brits might just not have the right stuff for the heavy lifting.
And if they launch all or most of their Tomahawks, there's a big check for replenishment they will have to cut for Raytheon, messing with the British balance of trade.
In other matters, what's the big difference between not-bombing whatsisname in Bahrain and bombing Moe in Libya?
Today, there are at least three differences. Maybe more tomorrow.
One -- it's because in Bahrain, it is whatsisname. No one knows whatsisname like they know Moe. Whatsisname needs to be on television more, a lot more. But as long as we still have Moe that's not likely to happen.
Two -- there is a US Fleet parked there.
Three -- Bahrain is much about banks and financialization. The US never does anything about evil bankers and Wall Street proxies. There's a lot of wealth-owned architecture that might get ruined. (By way of Digby.)
A quote from the New York Times is illuminating:
"Twenty-five percent of Bahrain's G.D.P. comes from banks," Mr. Abdulmalik said as he sat in the soft Persian Gulf sunshine. "I sympathize with many of the demands of the demonstrators. But no country would allow the takeover of its financial district. The economic future of the country was at stake. What happened this week [re the shooting of the local freedom-and-representative government lovers], as sad as it is, is good."
Remember, it's never OK to bomb banksters and financial bagmen even if it might be right thing to do. People can complain gently from the shires, like in this country, but nothing more is allowed.
Also today, the dilemma of choosing to support the armed rabble inept rebel force in Libya looms.
Unless Odyssey Dawn is prepared to do overwhelming close air support all the time when they march or stumble west down the highway to Tripoli, 'our guys' will be slaughtered by Moe's self-propelled armored artillery. A few hundred pieces of which still must be left, according to the link.
"[I'm] sure it was necessary to fly B2 bombers from the United States to bomb Libya in addition to the tactical fighters involved," notes J. sardonically from Armchair Generalist. "No overkill here."
And from yesterday's comments, a reader notes on competing arms pitches in Brazil:
France/Dassault have been unsuccessful flogging those Rafale jets (couldn't even sell them to Libya.) Maybe the free advertising will help.
Late breaking: Ted Nugent, extreme right wing pundit, outdoorsman, budget reality show host on CMT, and touring classic rock guitarist on the summer Fon-du-Lac county-like ag fair circuit, comes out against Odyssey Dawn in the Washington Times. Where he is apparently taken very seriously by the Tea Party caucus and Mike Huckabee demographic.
No strategic interest, he writes. But the stand-out box has to do with killing "all those people:"
If the real goal of the United Nations is to topple the Libyan leader, kill him and all his henchmen. Flatten the area of Tripoli where it is believed he is holed up with a human shield surrounding him. Kill all those people and get it over with. Implement total war for a week, and cockroach Gadhafi will be entombed in a pile of rubble.
"Africa in an international scab," he adds, a pure-milk-of-human-kindness quote perhaps inspired directly by the teachings of Norman Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie courses on how to win friends and influence people.
This post was originally published at Dick Destiny blog. Have a tidbit you want to share or see bandied about in Bombing Moe? Send an e-mail to webmaster @ dickdestiny.
