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NATO data confirms the magnitude and destructive nature of the Libya military operation.
“Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 08.00GMT) a total of 2,771 sorties and 1,110 strike sorties have been conducted.
“A total of 18 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean. 22 Vessels were hailed on 17 April to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding was conducted (no diversion).
A total of 384 vessels have been hailed, 10 boardings and 3 diversions have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.”
http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_04/20110418_110418-oup-update.pdf
The above number of sorties includes only those tabulated since NATO took command of Operation Odyssey Dawn. It does not include the sorties between March 19 and March 30
The coalition is currently running more than a hundred sorties a day.
We are dealing with a formidable military force, a deployment of naval power and air force bombers directed against a country of less than 7 million people, less than the population of Switzerland.
Let us be under no illusions. There is evidence of mass civilian casualties. These are war crimes (using advanced weapons systems) directed against a defenseless population .
These are some of the high tech “humanitarian bombers and fighters” deployed by the US Air Force and the Marine Corps, not to mention those of France (Mirage 2000), UK, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Qatar, UAE, Denmark, Norway, et al…
Solely in the US arsenal
Three B-2 Spirit stealth bombers operating from Whiteman AFB. [see video below, a deadly aircraft capable of launching 16 bunker buster bombs (with conventional or nuclear warheads) in a single sortie]
Two B-1B bombers
Ten F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighters operating out of RAF Lakenheath
Eight F-16C Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters from Spangdahlem Air Base started leaving for Aviano on 20 March
Two HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters from RAF Lakenheath operating from USS Ponce (LPD-15).
Three E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS)
Three E-8C battle management/command and control aircraft
One EC-130H electronic warfare (communications jamming) aircraft
One EC-130J psychological operations aircraft
One RC-135V/W Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft
Two AC-130U gunships[49]
Four KC-10A Extender Aerial Refueling Tanker/Airlift Aircraft
Six A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack aircraft[40][49]
Global Hawk unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle
Lockheed U-2 Reconnaissance aircraft
Four AV-8B Harrier II ground attack fighters from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, operating off of USS Kearsarge
Two MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from the 26th MEU participated in the pilot rescue.
Two CH-53E Super Stallions from the 26th MEU participated in the pilot rescue.
One KC-130J Hercules from the 26th MEU participated in the pilot rescue.
See Operation Odyssey Dawn – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
France’s Mirage 2000 used in Operation Odyssey Dawn against Libya,
Royal Air Force Tornado GR4A
Northrop Grunman Video Clip on the B-2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcX9LbR4pqc
This war has been on the NATO drawing board for several years.
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