Obama Authorizes Covert Operations to Aid Libyan Rebels

BMT (RIP) · 03-30-2011, 17:18

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...n-sources-say/

BMT

Stras · 03-30-2011, 17:25

Shaking my head at the absurdity....

you do realize that it ain't "covert" if it is blasted all over the news media....

Dozer523 · 03-30-2011, 17:53

Darn!
Fox is going to have to scrap all those "Rebels been tryin' to toss Gadaffy for three weeks and he ain't doin' nothin'' editiorials.

**Pete** · 03-30-2011, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stras

Shaking my head at the absurdity....

you do realize that it ain't "covert" if it is blasted all over the news media....

It ain't "covert".

cov·ert (kvrt, kvrt, k-vûrt)
adj.
1. Not openly practiced, avowed, engaged in, accumulated, or shown: covert military operations; covert funding for the rebels. See Synonyms at secret.
2. Covered or covered over; sheltered.
3. Law Being married and therefore protected by one's husband.
n.
1. A covering or cover.
2.
a. A covered place or shelter; hiding place.
b. Thick underbrush or woodland affording cover for game.
3. Zoology One of the small feathers covering the bases of the longer feathers of a bird's wings or tail.
4. A flock of coots. See Synonyms at flock1.

Used to be real sticklers on the difference between overt, covert and clandestine.

Overt - the guy is sitting at his desk. You kick in his door, go over to his desk, beat the crap out of him, walk over to his safe, torch it open and walk off with his secret plans. He knows you did it.

Covert - The guy gets to his office in the morning, the door is kicked in, his safe torched open and his secret plans are gone. He don't know who did it, thinks it might be you but has no proof.

Clandestine - The guy gets to work and everything looks normal. BUT you sneaked in during the night, picked his safe, photographed everything, put everything back and in order and departed without a trace.

**Box** · 03-30-2011, 20:34

I am completely underwhelmed

Wiseman · 03-30-2011, 21:22

So this announcement make these operations overt right?

incarcerated · 03-30-2011, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

Can you say mission creep

That can’t be.
It’s only a No Fly Zone.
We are NOT the rebel air force.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...01499520110321

Forces not providing air support for rebels-general

WASHINGTON, March 21 (Reuters) - U.S. and coalition military forces enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya are there to protect civilians and not to provide close-air support for opposition forces fighting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the head of U.S. Africa Command said on Monday.
U.S. Army General Carter Ham said the military mission in Libya was "very clear" and he was not concerned that the objectives would grow and change in the coming days. He said he had no orders to directly attack the Libyan leader.

nmap · 03-31-2011, 04:28

While we focus on Libya - I wonder whether that is the main event, or merely a distraction from other things. Perhaps the faux-covert arms are mere political theater.

But who is the intended audience? Us, I suspect. I read that we Americans are now spending 22% of our income on food and fuel, housing is down, and the recovery in terms of employment slow.

Hmm....

Buffalobob · 03-31-2011, 05:45

I suppose that a whole van load of CIA pasty white guys in dark suits and earplugs wandering around saying "Take me to your leader" attracted some attention so their cover was blown and Fox just reported what every one else in Libya already knew.

Richard · 03-31-2011, 05:56

The POTUS must've been watching Clear and Present Danger last night...but I kinda wish he hadn't fallen asleep during that last thirty minutes.

Richard

mark46th · 03-31-2011, 15:23

As an old friend once said,"If they ask for volunteers to take one step forward, be sure to take two steps back..."

Dusty · 03-31-2011, 15:33

Was "W" consulted?

SouthernDZ · 03-31-2011, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalobob

I suppose that a whole van load of CIA pasty white guys in dark suits and earplugs wandering around saying "Take me to your leader" attracted some attention so their cover was blown and Fox just reported what every one else in Libya already knew.

Who among us doesn't recall those "covert types" down south wearing panama shirts (fresh from the samsonite, creases and all) and wearing wing-tips...yeah, covert

Scimitar · 03-31-2011, 16:35

All I see here is planning, hell I'm pretty sure if I had 12 months to poke around the Pentagon I could find a military plan to invade New Zealand!

So their planning on what it would look like to do something, and fox thinks thats a secret file, probablt leaked, cos ever Tom, Dick, and Harry knows we're thinking about it.

S

kgoerz · 03-31-2011, 17:23

I just can't believe all the News coverage about CIA Operatives on the ground. Am I the only one who See's how insane this is. At least it took the press a few weeks before they started reporting about boots on the ground in Astan.