Evening Buzz: Battle for Libya
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/03/21/t1larg.libya.duck.gi.jpg caption="A Libyan rebel ducks for cover behind a sand dune during a failed attempt to take the town of Ajdabiya from Gadhafi's forces Monday. " width=300 height=169]
Editor's note: Tune in to AC360° tonight beginning at 10pm ET to get the latest on the airstrikes in Libya and Japan's nuclear crisis, following the deadly earthquake and tsunami on March 11.
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Coalition forces hit Libya with more air strikes tonight. CNN's Nic Robertson and his crew showed live tracer fire from pro-government forces in Tripoli, as they attempted to stop the assault.
"Our actions today are focused on extending the no-fly zone," said Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Africa Command this morning.
Approximately 80 sorties were flown on Monday, more than half by other countries than the United States, said Hamm.
That's also up from 60 on Sunday.
We'll get a live update from Nic Robertson in Libya's capital and Arwa Damon in Benghazi.
Here at home, President Obama is coming under fire from some members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who said the U.S. mission in Libya is unconstitutional. They claim U.S. military action against Gadhafi amounts to war, and the president should have requested congressional approval for the airstrikes.
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is part of that chorus. Anderson will talk with him tonight and see what the White House has to say about the uproar.
We're also following developments in Japan, where smoke was seen rising today from reactors No. 2 and No. 3 at the Fukushim Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Crews are working to restore power to the facility. We'll update you on that effort and the radiation worries.
Join us for these stories and much more at 10 p.m. ET.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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Finally Mr Obama is doing what the libyan despertly have been asking for over two weeks now the hypeCrtics from both parties are complaining let him finish Giddafi, i lived in libya for few years in the 7otes this QUIDDAFI IS THE ALTIMATE CRIMINAL HE WILL MASSACRE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IF HE STAYS IN POWER.
WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR PRESENDENT OBAMA NOT TO CRETEZIZE HIM AT THIS TIME AND GIVE QUIDDAFI MORE POWER TO HANG ON WE SHOULD BE UNITED PLITICS
Ron Paul just came off like a total idiot. he may be informed, he may not be, yet he presents like an uneducated hick. For cripes sake man, at least try to sound like you know what you are talking about.
I think that this war will end up being a war that we will all remember. When a mission of this nature is started, it isn't one that you can just walk away from as quickly as you start it. I am myself getting prepared for the call my son receives from the Canadian Forces. Unless Colonel Gadhafi see's currently what is happening in his country right now, there are too many factors to just walk away from this mission.
Why is this being talked about as if its leading to some uproar of some sort of war? It seems to me that we were in there trying to silence Ghadalfi. Is it right to assume this could have very strong ramifications or is this just blown too far out of proportion?
Libya: We all know there are so many 'spins'on this right now and so many interpretations of what the UN resolution calls for – a lot has to shake out yet.
This is to address only one, small 'possibility' that could occur and wondering if there's a plan. The scenario is: for the short-term/time being, Gadhafi stops firing and stops his forward movement towards the opposition...at which time the opposition gathers itself and begins the march West toward Tripoli again. At some point, both sides will confront each other again....
at that point: what will the opposition do?
what will G's soldiers do? (UN mandated cease fire applies to both sides). will they stand there and look at each other? negotiate in the street? (joke) or will they start fighting again?? What do we, the coalition, do then?
does anyone in the coalition have a plan for this? It's probably going to happen...
thanks
DEAREST ANDERS COOPER,
I CAN NOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR GIVING ME HOPE THAT SOME DAY SOON MY FAMILY & I WILL HAVE A HOME LAND TO GO TO..........LIBYA
JUST TO SAY THANKS TO ANDERSON COOPER ,
MY HERO MY SUPER COOPER...
FOR HIS COVERAGE ON LIBYA.... I'M A LIBYAN WHO
HAS BUT PRAISE & APPRECIATION ..
MY KIDS WOULD BE IN THE LOVING ARMS OF THEIR GRAND PARENTS IF THIS WORLD HAD NO KHADFFI IN IT.
IT IS A SIMPL PLEASURE THEY HAVE NOT EXPERIANCED, ..PERHAPS KNOW THEY WILL GET TO MEET THEM.
Why is it that when the world goes into another country to assist and protect its people that its now an Anti-Muslim war? Its a mission of protection and will it be a long battle? That will depend on how long Gadhafi wants to continue with his rants on killing his own people.
Libya will not be a war similar to Iraq or Afghanistan. As a country and as a military we have learned what it means to put "boots on ground" in an Arabic country. I personally have served in Afghanistan. These people deserve to have a revolution that they can be proud of and that they are responsible for. NATO will no longer be the deciding factor in whether an Arabic country will turn to democracy. But we must be available when it is requested.
Is not asking congressmen approval worse than providing false proofs to the UN security council in 2003 to back up Iraq invasion...?
This question is for Rep. Paul:
Since when does enforcing a UN sanctioned "no-fly zone" considered "war"? And why focus on minor details, we are already actively involved...Why stir more trouble, isn't there enough trouble in the world without creating more?
What we are doing in Libya sounds so much like Iraq that its eerie. I am constantly amazed that while we as a country are so deep in depth that we need to cut back funding on education and other social issues for our own citizens we invariably have enough money to start or participate in another war. Shameful.
Congress is right – Obama should have gotten their approval just like LBJ should have on Vietnam. Seems we don't learn from our past mistakes either.
Looking forward to the show tonight to see how Japan is faring with the radiation from those plants.