There “possibly could be” military option for foreign forces in Libya: McCain
February 28th, 2011 - 2:54 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Feb 28 (ANI): Arizona Senator John McCain has said the United States or international forces could provide support to Libyans seeking to overthrow Colonel Muammar Gaddafi regime.
On being asked if there is “a military option in Libya” for either the U.S., the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the United Nations, beyond a no-fly zone, Politico quoted McCain as saying: “I think there possibly could be.”
McCain, who’s travelling in the Middle East and appeared with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) via satellite from Cairo, urged the Obama administration to take forceful steps to deal with the ongoing unrest in Libya, despite concerns that criticism of Gaddafi could undermine the safety of American citizens in the country.
“The British Prime Minister and the French president and others were not hesitant and they have citizens in that country. America leads. Libyan pilots aren’t going to fly if there’s a no-fly zone, and we can give air asserts over there to ensure it,” McCain said.
“Recognize some provisional government that they’re trying to set up in the eastern part of Libya, help them with material assistance, make sure that every one of those mercenaries knows that any acts that they commit, they’re going to find themselves in front of a war crimes tribunal. Get tough, and I understand that America’s security and the safety of American citizens is our highest priority. It’s not our only priority,” he added. (ANI)
- Western military strikes on Libya may threaten Gaddafi regime continuance: NYT - Mar 21, 2011
- West considering military action against Gaddafi over use of chemical weapon fears - Mar 01, 2011
- Fighter plane shot down, rebels evicted from Benghazi (Lead) - Mar 19, 2011
- Five Russian journalists set free by Libyan rebels - Apr 09, 2011
- Clinton urges western powers to increase pressure on Gaddafi - Mar 30, 2011
- Washington's calm response to Gaddafi's action guided by fears over safety of Americans in Libya - Feb 28, 2011
- Gaddafi appears in public, vows to fight on - Mar 23, 2011
- Fighter plane shot down in Libyan rebel-held town - Mar 19, 2011
- Air strikes on Libya consistent with UNSC mandate: US - Mar 23, 2011
- US will not put ground forces in Libya, says Obama - Mar 26, 2011
- NATO campaign aimed at ousting Gaddafi - Russian NATO envoy - May 25, 2011
- UN lifts no-fly zone over Libya - Oct 28, 2011
- US stopped 'Gaddafi's deadly advance': Obama (Lead) - Mar 29, 2011
- Stalemate in Libya a likely outcome: US paper - Apr 02, 2011
- Obama: U.S. mission in Libya is succeeding, saved 'countless' lives - Mar 26, 2011
Tags: american citizens, arizona senator john mccain, atlantic treaty organization, british prime minister, colonel muammar gaddafi, fly zone, french president, gaddafi regime, joe lieberman, john mccain, libyans, material assistance, mercenaries, military option, muammar gaddafi, north atlantic treaty organization, provisional government, senator joe lieberman, senator john mccain, war crimes tribunal
