The new Libya: various aspects

[CrowBat]

Ex-Egyptian MiG-21MF '18' of the Free Libyan Air Force, only recently overhauled by technicians at Gamal Abdel Nasser AB (ex RAF el-Adem, south of Tobruq), was shot down by Islamists over Bo Atni district of Benghazi, yesterday morning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRa8GBoV4Cg

Pilot ejected safely.

In line with what all the air forces seem to do in recent conflicts, LNA/FLAF declared the loss as caused by technical problem.

[davidbfpo]

From ECFR by a recommended Italian SME (via Twitter) and starts with:

Those who want to bring the western war against the Islamic State to Libya insist, as a US official put it in a private conversation, that any intervention would be about IS not about Libya. Alas, regardless of what it will be about, it will take place in Libya. That simple geographic reality means the complex political feuds and intrigues that have plagued Libya politics for the last five years will inevitably intrude on any Western intervention. Ultimately, a Western intervention that fails to account for Libyan politics and fails to consider what will replace ISIS in the event it is defeated will have no benefit for Libya or for the West.

Link:http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentar...vention_in5083

Link to ECFR author's bio:http://www.ecfr.eu/profile/C238

[davidbfpo]

From the Soufan Group via Twitter. Possibly from this report last week:http://soufangroup.com/libya-extremi...s-of-collapse/

[davidbfpo]

Again via Twitter:

[davidbfpo]

A Q&A session with three UK experts before the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. A mix of strategy, detail and what next. With some very curious passages, here is one:

The Pentagon and the MOD want to go in sooner rather than later. I don’t know how much they have told the State Department or the Foreign Office about these special forces that are inside the country.

Link:http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevi...oral/28637.pdf

(Added) One expert, Professor Matthew Porter, has a separate article with a strategic theme:https://offshorebalancer.wordpress.c...hats-at-stake/

[davidbfpo]

Via Twitter from @BabakTaghvee, an aero-jornalist.

[CrowBat]

Via Twitter from @BabakTaghvee...

Aw please: avoid (and in big circle too). Sensationalist with illusions of grandeur (he considers himself 'elite', 'chosen to teach prolls' etc.), driving even well-informed French analysts crazy.

Few examples:
- there were 3 F-15Es involved (their route was actually 'quite reminiscent' of the Libyan Raid of April 1986)
- no deployment of US UAVs in Libya is necessary: Global Hawks and Predators are based at Sigonella.