US unlikely to provide weapons to Libyan rebels
April 1st, 2011 - 2:16 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, April 1 (ANI): US President Barack Obama’s top two national security officials have indicated that America was unlikely to provide weapons to Libyan rebels, raising the possibility that France alone will arm the forces who are fighting against the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The New York Times quoted Defence Secretary Robert Gates as saying that the United States should stick to offering communications, surveillance and other support, but added that the administration has no problem with other countries providing weapons to the rebels.
Gates said: “What the opposition needs as much as anything right now is some training, some command and control, and some organization,” adding that providing training and weapons is “not a unique capability for the United States, and as far as I’m concerned, somebody else can do that.”
An administration official has said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also extremely cautious about arming the rebels over fears that they might be linked to al-Qaeda terrorists.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had said that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution authorizing the air campaign in Libya did not permit individual countries to arm the rebels.
However, there was considerable disagreement within the military alliance, including from the United States, which has taken the position that the resolution does in fact allow arming them.
While Obama has said so far that he is still considering the option, France is the only nation that has said that it intends to supply arms to the anti-Gaddafi forces. (ANI)
- NATO for financing rebel fighters in Libya - May 04, 2011
- Gaddafi's son warns of civil war, rebels reject talks offer (Lead) - Mar 08, 2011
- UN resolution on Libya too hasty, says Russia - Mar 23, 2011
- NATO not to keep troops around Libya - Oct 25, 2011
- US in bind over providing weapons to Libyan rebels amidst fears of their links to al-Qaeda - Mar 30, 2011
- Gaddafi plans to blow up Tripoli if captured - Jul 14, 2011
- Western military strikes on Libya may threaten Gaddafi regime continuance: NYT - Mar 21, 2011
- NATO chief calls for more aircraft to bomb Libya - Jul 15, 2011
- NATO to continue Libya operation - Jun 23, 2011
- Libyan liberation a great victory: NATO chief - Oct 24, 2011
- NATO chief against arming Syrian rebels - Apr 03, 2012
- Libya declares ceasefire after UN no-fly resolution - Mar 18, 2011
- Libya to form interim government in 8 months - Oct 22, 2011
- NATO endorses Obama's exit plan from Afghanistan - May 22, 2012
- Gaddafi representatives in talks with France - Jul 11, 2011
Tags: administration official, air campaign, anders fogh rasmussen, barack obama, colonel muammar gaddafi, defence secretary, disagreement, hillary clinton, military alliance, muammar gaddafi, national security officials, nations security council, nato secretary general, new york times, rebels, robert gates, secretary robert, united nations security, united nations security council, unsc resolution