Where Have I Seen THIS Before?

[Mad Scientist]

This looks vaguely familiar:

Foreign Policy Initiative to Obama: U.S., Allies Must Act on Libya | The Weekly Standard

The Foreign Policy Initiative has authored a letter to President Obama recommending his administration act with America's NATO allies on ending the violence and the "murderous regime" in Libya. The letter was signed by 41 former U.S. government officials, human rights and democracy advocates, and foreign policy experts, including the boss and several contributing editors and contributors to THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

The United States should call upon NATO to develop operational plans to urgently:
Establish a presence in Libyan airspace to prevent the continued use of fighter jets and helicopter gunships against civilians and carry out other missions as required. Move naval assets into Libyan waters to aid in evacuation efforts and prepare for possible contingencies (War). Establish the capability to disable Libyan naval vessels used to attack civilians.

The United States and our European allies have a moral interest in both an end to the violence and an end to the murderous Libyan regime. There is no time for delay and indecisiveness. The people of Libya, the people of the Middle East, and the world require clear U.S. leadership in this time of opportunity and peril.

I've been experiencing a strong sense of "Deja Vu" lately about Libya. Anyone else feel the same way?

 

[waltky]

Just in case...

US Military Moves Forces for Possible Libya Mission
February 28, 2011 - The U.S. military is moving air and naval forces in the region around Libya to be ready to carry out any orders it is given related to the crisis there. But officials say no decision has been made on whether or how to use U.S. military power.

The U.S. military normally maintains a strong presence in the Mediterranean, and has bases in Spain, Italy and Turkey. It has more forces south of the Suez Canal, mainly focused on East African piracy and support for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But naval and air forces in particular are flexible, and can be in one place one day, and another place fairly far away the next day.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan says although the U.S. military has not been ordered to do anything regarding Libya, it is making plans and has started to move forces, just in case it is ordered. "We have planners working various contingency plans, and I think it's safe to say as part of this we are repositioning forces to provide for that flexibility, once decisions are made," he said.

Lapan says the military is working to ensure that when President Barack Obama says he has asked officials to prepare "a full range of options," as he did last week, that there are in fact options researched and ready to be presented to the president, and implemented if necessary. Military officials are reluctant to say exactly what options they are preparing. But experts outside government say the possibilities include imposing a no-fly zone, delivering humanitarian supplies or weapons to revolt leaders, evacuating foreigners, and potentially sending in troops to establish or maintain order. No one is seriously talking about that at this stage.

Colonel Lapan would only say the forces "could be used in any number of ways," and that moving them now provides additional flexibility to the president. "We have lots of planners looking at options and contingencies to provide the senior leadership with options, but no decisions have been made yet. So, we’re still in that planning and preparing mode should we be called upon to do any of those types of missions, whether humanitarian or otherwise," he said. Lapan says the planning is focused mainly on naval and air forces, and that so far no orders have been received to launch any type of military mission in or around Libya.

Source