Special Farces: SAS Humiliated In Libyan Operation

[JWH]

a little fuck-up in the desert

is a little bit of an understatement. No real harm done militarily but a unilateral invasion of a sovereign state's territory is a major diplomatic and legal problem. Resolution 3314 has a lot to say about this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_3314

Send Hague to the Hague!

 

[SpookyFrank]

The (public) line of the rebels is that if Iraq is what it looks like when foreigners "help" to "liberate" you, then they'll tough it out on their own, thanks.

Very wise.

 

[Spymaster]

is a little bit of an understatement. No real harm done militarily but a unilateral invasion of a sovereign state's territory is a major diplomatic and legal problem. Resolution 3314 has a lot to say about this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_3314

It probably happens all the time, not getting caught is the trick!

One of the reasons for the existence of the SAS is to enable the government to put blokes on the ground where they're not supposed to be. Nobody's particularly surprised when it turns out that's exactly what we've been doing!

There'll be a few judicious flicks of various diplomatic brooms and this little episode will be firmly under a Whitehall carpet.

Watch this space.

 

[DrRingDing]

I guess it's not even the SAS's fault - no doubt the buffoon Hague instructed them that they couldn't go around blasting civilians, so they had no choice but to surrender when the locals came out. The twat should resign pronto.

Let us not forget Linda Norgrove, who was left at the mercy of the gung-ho pschopaths in the US oh so very 'special' forces. As Dave and William couldn't be arsed to us our own, but better trained, grunts.

 

[editor]

Imagine the outrage if a bunch of Libyan special forces armed to the teeth had been found stomping around Britain's countryside.

 

[Balbi]

TBH, when the Libyans last had a mission on British soil - their chaps weren't too intent on going back home

 

[Spymaster]

Imagine the outrage if a bunch of Libyan special forces armed to the teeth had been found stomping around Britain's countryside.

Or supporting the IRA with weapons and money?????

 

[Spymaster]

TBH, when the Libyans last had a mission on British soil - their chaps weren't too intent on going back home

As opposed to couple of these fuckers who were only too pleased to be allowed to walk out of the country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/17/newsid_2488000/2488369.stm

 

[London_Calling]

Our Etonian friends aren't strong on foreign policy fer sho, but then most new gov's aren't.

Messy though; could almost see it as a manifestion of the "sharp-elbowed middle classes" writ global, except it's not about a school place for Rupert. Very naive; bull in a china shop.

The things people do for oil. Face palms all over the 'international community'.

 

[Spymaster]

Hague is due to make a statement to the HoC at 3.30pm.

Should be a laugh. You'll know when he's telling porkies when his lips start moving.

 

[Giles]

is a little bit of an understatement. No real harm done militarily but a unilateral invasion of a sovereign state's territory is a major diplomatic and legal problem. Resolution 3314 has a lot to say about this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_3314

Send Hague to the Hague!

In that case, the UK had surely already "invaded" Libyan territory when they sent those planes to rescue UK and other citizens who had been working on oil rigs last week?

Giles..

 

[UnderOpenSky]

What's the problem with offering a hand to the rebels?

 

[Idaho]

What's the problem with offering a hand to the rebels?

Because it's the evil English oppressors, their black hearts bent on malice.

 

[Spymaster]

What's the problem with offering a hand to the rebels?

They don't want western help lest it's used as political currency by Gadaffi, "western backed coup" etc., and not seen as the Libyan people themselves rising up and kicking the regime out.

Unfortunately it looks as if the rebels are running out of steam in places now and the effort is stalling, so they may have to face the fact that they need external help to succeed.

 

[London_Calling]

What's the problem with offering a hand to the rebels?

It's obviously about helping the interests of UK.plc, BP in particular but far from only.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Ok, that's quite commendable.

If they change their mind, I think we should lend some reaper drones and let them choose the targets.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

It's obviously about helping the interests of UK.plc, BP in particular but far from only.

But I thought we were already getting their oil...if it was just about that, then wouldn't in make more sense to help Gadaffi.

 

[Spymaster]

But I thought we were already getting their oil...if it was just about that, then wouldn't in make more sense to help Gadaffi.

The price we get it at is more important than whether we get it or not. Tbf there's a fair bit of bollocks talked about oil and the west on these boards, but it's undeniable that a stable supply is required, and the lack of certainty as to who's going to be supplying it, how much, when, and at what price, affects pretty much every other market.

 

[Fuchs66]

is a little bit of an understatement. No real harm done militarily but a unilateral invasion of a sovereign state's territory is a major diplomatic and legal problem. Resolution 3314 has a lot to say about this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_3314

Thing is everybody seems to have been/is sending in small units to secure/protect interests and "rescue" foreign nationals, look at the Cloggys that were captured. Hardly could be called a unilateral invasion really.

 

[weltweit]

Thing is everybody seems to have been/is sending in small units to secure/protect interests and "rescue" foreign nationals, look at the Cloggys that were captured. Hardly could be called a unilateral invasion really.

Indeed, we already sent in a number of military flights to rescue oil workers, I didn't hear many people complaining about them and I doubt they were authorised by the regime or the rebels.

 

[Spymaster]

Indeed, we already sent in a number of military flights to rescue oil workers, I didn't hear many people complaining about them .....

The difference is that those weren't covert. Permission would have been gained to enter Libyan airspace and land on Libyan soil.

... I doubt they were authorised by the regime or the rebels

Given that most landed at the airport, I'd suspect they were.

 

[Fuchs66]

The difference is that those weren't covert. Permission would have been gained to enter Libyan airspace and land on Libyan soil.

The Cloggys seemed to have not been very welcome though and tbh it would surprise me if all the flights did receive any official blessing in a recognisable form, with the exception of those landing in Tripoli.

E2A and in addition how do you mean covert? From the reports the SAS guys were meant to liase with rebel groups, were they supposed to ask Ghaddafi's permission to do that? Or clear it with every group opposing Ghadaffi?

 

[Spymaster]

The Dutch effort was a bit strange. Whoever they were trying to get out has now been released via the Dutch Embassy. Probably a diplomat or someone rather more important than your common-or-garden expat.

 

[Fuchs66]

The Dutch effort was a bit strange. Whoever they were trying to get out has now been released via the Dutch Embassy. Probably a diplomat or someone rather more important than your common-or-garden expat.

According to the Dutch news it was a "consular evacuation" so yes diplomat probably, all the same though its looking after national interests/citizens.

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/03/defence_ministry_denies_libyan.php

 

[Spymaster]

E2A and in addition how do you mean covert?

Well, covert insofar as they didn't tell anyone they were coming.

From the reports the SAS guys were meant to liase with rebel groups, were they supposed to ask Ghaddafi's permission to do that? Or clear it with every group opposing Ghadaffi?

Well quite. It's all as clear as mud isn't it?

It'll be interesting to hear what Hague has to say in 20 minutes or so, not that we should expect definitive answers.

 

[Fuchs66]

Well, covert insofar as they didn't tell anyone they were coming.

I would presume that they at least told one person/group they were coming, unfortunately it wasn't the group they ended up being the guests of. This thread does seem strange though, it's almost as if some people wish that they had gone all gung-ho on the security guards in order to maintain the stereotype.

 

[Spymaster]

"A serious misunderstanding regarding their role", according to Hague.

That's it, you won't hear any more about it.

Total storm in a teacup.

 

[DotCommunist]

Operation Storm inna teacup

 

[Spymaster]

Douglas Alexander: "Would the Foreign Secretary choose to introduce himself to his new neighbours by knocking on the front door, or instead climb over the fence in the middle of the night?"

 

[Balbi]

Douglas Alexander: "Would the Foreign Secretary choose to introduce himself to his new neighbours by knocking on the front door, or instead climb over the fence in the middle of the night?"

Just heard this.