FLASH: Obama Has Signed Secret Order Authorizing Covert U.S. Gov't Support for Rebel Forces in Libya

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Reuters: FLASH: Obama has signed secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces in Libya, officials tell Reuters

Obama authorizes secret support for Libya rebels

By Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON | Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:04pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to four U.S. government sources familiar with the matter.

Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA and the White House declined immediate comment.

News that Obama had given the authorization surfaced as the President and other U.S. and allied officials spoke openly about the possibility of sending arms supplies to Gaddafi's opponents, who are fighting better-equipped government forces.

Read more: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE72T6H220110330?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&ca=rdt

---

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110330/wl_nm/us_libya_usa_order

[HereSince1628]

1. Well, that seems like a well kept secret.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[suston96]

2. Secret? nt

[Keith Bee]

60. From antiwar.com

Already ill-defined and increasingly unpopular, the US War in Libya has taken several more hits today as evidence mounted that the administration has been overtly lying about the US role in the conflict, and had actual been conducting covert operations in the country for “several weeks.”

That was the revelation Wednesday, as US officials admitted that CIA ground forces have been conducting secret operations inside Libya for quite some time before the war was formally declared (two weeks ago Thursday) and even further before the first US strikes were launched (that Saturday).

http://news.antiwar.com/2011/03/30/cia-ground-forces-operating-in-libya-for-several-weeks/

[Journeyman]

3. That's quite a secret order for covert operations. Easier to keep quiet about it if we all know. . .

[shraby]

4. Amazing!! I thought it was a no-no to tell about something

secret and covert. Wonder who the big mouth is that is trouble.

[Turborama]

5. FLASH: Obama has signed secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces

Source: Reuters

FLASH: Obama has signed secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces in Libya, officials tell Reuters

Read more: http://twitter.com/Reuters

---

More details when they become available.

[iwishiwas]

6. Mission creep

[Marblehead]

7. Covert

the CIA has it's hands all over this.

[gateley]

8. I think the Kennedys had it right - get rid of the CIA. Their intelligence sucks,

they do nothing but manipulate. Like a government-funded Blackwater. Oops, Xe.

[DemReadingDU]

9. Error with Twitter: Something is technically wrong.

I haven't been able to access Twitter for an hour

Nevermind. just came back!
:)

[tabatha]

10. Secret order?

How can it be secret if it is reported ?

[Buzz Clik]

11. It was a secret? The mission was covert?

Not any more.

:silly:

[Redford]

63. Exactly

The cat's outta the bag now....

[doc03]

12. Doesn't sound like it is working Gaddafi's troops have

pushed the rebels back 200 miles in the last two days. Libya is mostly a f----g desert isn't it? Gaddafi's armor should be sitting ducks I would think.

[dipsydoodle]

13. Yahoo link for you to update yours

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to four U.S. government sources familiar with the matter.

Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA and the White House declined immediate comment.

News that Obama had given the authorization surfaced as the President and other U.S. and allied officials spoke openly about the possibility of sending arms supplies to Gaddafi's opponents, who are fighting better-equipped government forces.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110330/wl_nm/us_libya_usa_order

[Hissyspit]

14. Thanks nt

[dipsydoodle]

16. You're very welcome

:hi:

[Turborama]

18. Reuters: Obama authorizes secret support for Libya rebels

President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to four U.S. government sources familiar with the matter.

Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA and the White House declined immediate comment.

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball; additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by David Storey)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

[No Elephants]

70. obamaleaks.com?

[reggie the dog]

15. ok i was wrong

this is not about the un, the usa wants to put troops by the oil, and i was so hoping that it was really about helping liberate libyans.

[ThomCat]

59. Of course it's about oil.

That's why we are Libya and not any one of a half dozen other countries with dictators that are just as bad or worse.

No government is going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a military operation unless there is something of similar value to be gained. Ever. In this case, what America stands to gain that is worth that much is

1. Direct access and control of more oil

2. Another secure location for military bases in that essential geopolitical hot-spot that we desperately need in order to maintain tight military presence in that region

3. Spoils of war (contracts to extract and sell the resources) to give away to favored American corporations

Not that we will see tax money from any of that. The big flaw in point number 3 is that corporations no longer pay taxes, so we no longer get any benefit from helping corporations. Our government now helps corporations because our government now works for the corporations. At least in the past a country would get something out of the deal. x(

[drm604]

17. Actual Reuters story

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

[AllTooEasy]

19. GOOD! Arm and train the rebels, take out Qaddafi's regime!!!

Qaddafi is everything Cheney wishes he was. I hate them both. Let the outgunned Lybian people have all they need to bring down Qaddafi and his Russian(bastards!) weapons.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hissyspit]

62. Yeah, screw the war powers act! Just like, um, Cheney.

[DeSwiss]

22. Now they're calling it "A Finding?"

Before they called it a "Signing Statement."

- I'm old-fashioned I guess. But I don't know what was wrong with the original word: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree">Decree. I suppose it sounds too dictatorial......

K&R

[24601]

45. A signing statedment is attached to legislation. A finding , and they

go back decades, is a unilateral Presidential action.

[Travelman]

23. BREAKING!

Gigantic billboard taken out to announce a secret order!


Good grief.



Well, this is handy. At least we're going to al-Qaeda with our money, guns, and training. We know those guys can do it, just like in Afghanistan in the '80s.

[ixion]

24. uh, not really secret, I guess...

[Javaman]

25. FLASH: no shit.

how is this secret when just about every single president since the dawn of the 20th century has done this at one time or another?

In other news: water is wet.

[Ex Lurker]

26. This is a no brainer. They've been there since the bombinb started, marking targets nt.

[Iliyah]

27. Well CNN

is making a hay day of it. Russia is now in support of the rebels and once China joins well, say good bye to the dictator and his family. I believe he is on his way out. I hope the new government of Lybia will be more a democracy this time around.

Special operatives are on the ground, and has been probably before the no fly was in affect. American troops will not be on the ground, Prez O is serious about that.

[hardtravelin]

46. What is the difference between "Special Operatives" and troops???

Or did I miss the sarcasm?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

53. Deniability?

But mostly, it's weasel-words.

No troops, just special operations, or advisers, or trainers, or ...

But when some of them get killed, that will justify sending troops.

[lumpy]

28. Using CIA for under cover sneaky warfare is a presidential tradition ;

started in biblical times, although with more successfull outcome.

[David__77]

29. Congress should hold hearings on this.

This is an important matter for the people of the US.

[Baclava]

30. 'It's just a no-fly zone - we'll be done in a jiffy'

Covert Ops. Lovely.

Better break-out my Splinter Cell games - I know how this works.

[The Northerner]

31. Weren't US forces supposed to be "drawing down"?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

32. Don't tell me anyone is surprised by this?

It's SOP for the CIA to be working intel in a situation such as this, and they're not supposed to without authorization. If somehow all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council step on board the US will be shipping them weapons too. Not just teaching them how to "organize themselves and training them how use weapons effectively."

[Baclava]

42. Nobody expects the CIA. but I know we have KGB here on DU.

I've seen the list.

[Judi Lynn]

33. C.I.A. in Libya Aiding Rebels, U.S. Officials Say

Source: Nw York Times

C.I.A. in Libya Aiding Rebels, U.S. Officials Say
By MARK MAZZETTI and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: March 30, 2011

WASHINGTON — The Central Intelligence Agency has inserted clandestine operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for military airstrikes and make contacts with rebels battling Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces, according to American officials.

While President Obama has insisted that no American ground troops join in the Libyan campaign, small groups of C.I.A. operatives have been working in Libya for several weeks and are part of a shadow force of Westerners that the Obama administration hopes can help set back Colonel Qaddafi’s military, the officials said.

The C.I.A. presence comprises an unknown number of American officers who had worked at the spy agency’s station in Tripoli and those who arrived more recently. In addition, current and former British officials said, dozens of British special forces and MI6 intelligence officers are working inside Libya. The British operatives have been directing airstrikes from British Tornado jets and gathering intelligence about the whereabouts of Libyan government tank columns, artillery pieces, and missile installations, the officials said.

By meeting with rebel groups, the Americans hope to fill in gaps in understanding who the leaders are of the groups opposed Colonel Qaddafi, and what their allegiances are, according to United States government officials speaking only on condition of anonymity because the actions of C.I.A. operatives are classified. The C.I.A. has declined to comment.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=1&ref=africa

[The Northerner]

34. So there's much more being done than what's been claimed? nt

[No Elephants]

71. Nah Never happens

[dipsydoodle]

35. Well if any of them cough it

nobody will know because they were not there.

:hi:

[arcane1]

36. "the spy agency’s station in Tripoli"?

WTF is that? :shrug:

[northoftheborder]

37. CIA is Everywhere.

[arcane1]

38. No doubt!

The wording was odd though, it made it sound like they have an official headquarters there or something..

[ieoeja]

55. Embassies always have at least one official CIA figure.

Sometimes the information comes to you. But it can not come to you if you are hiding whom you are.

So there is the official CIA embassy figure who probably attends all the parties, etc. Then there are the clandestine figures secretly looking for what they can. Or who may meet in secret with someone who lets the official CIA officer know they have something.

Furthermore, the CIA website, freely available to everybody in the world, is useful for looking up demographics of a country. Not all "Intelligence" is secret.

[amandabeech]

39. The U.S. embassy and U.S. companies and contractors. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

40. BBC - US 'backs covert Libya rebel aid'

US President Barack Obama has secretly authorised covert assistance to rebels seeking to overthrow Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, US media reports say.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12915401

[midnight]

41. O boy....

[Javaman]

57. So are they wearing sneakers?

if so, then they aren't wearing BOOTS.

so much bullshit.

the creep of war.

So were are we going to bring "freedom" to next?

Any wagers?

[CHIMO]

43. Mission Creep

Consultants, trainers and what have you. Heard it all before. More than 40 years ago.
Wonder what Egypt has to say?

[ButterflyBlood]

49. Probably happy they no longer have to carry the full load

It's been a well known fact they've been arming the rebels for awhile though. There have even been reports that their elite special forces team Unit 777 has been in Libya.

Considering that Gadaffi launched a military attack on Egypt in 1977 just as a sort of way to extend the middle finger to them over their peace treaty as Israel Egypt wanting Gadaffi gone should surprise exactly no one.

[laconicsax]

44. What could possibly go wrong?

After all, there were absolutely no repercussions when we did this in Afghanistan during the 80s.

[alarimer]

47. well, here's a clusterfuck in the making.

This is a DISASTER and a very, very big mistake.

[Baclava]

50. can't be...our CIA Black Ops teams will get these 'rebels' trained in no time.

Give it 6 months.

[Javaman]

58. Naa, only 6 days, maybe 6 weeks, but not 6 months. nt

[Baclava]

64. How much do CIA troops get for hazardous duty pay and per diem?

They gotta milk it for a few months in any good stalemate.


And they can scrub all news reports even better out in the open.

[Javaman]

65. I guess you missed my reference. nt

[Baclava]

67. "days not weeks" - yeah I got that...wars are much easier to get into than out of

I coulda told you that

(see Afghanistan)

[Javaman]

69. oy...

please. I didn't fall all off the turnip cart yesterday.

Good day.

[KoKo]

48. I saw this reported on Al Jazeera and Democracy Now... It doesn't look good

..but then I don't know what Obama's side of the issue as to why he did this is.

I hope it's not left up to the "Poltico" to report when we Libs are very concerned about what he's done. To us it sounds like "shades of Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld...so I would like to hear Obama's side of the story as to why he did it...but I don't want to give "Politico" a hit.

[MisterP]

51. what's Arabic for "Contra"?

مضاد maSlid

[mochajava666]

52. Keep Polishing that Nobel Peace Prize, Mr President

We have learned the lessons from Vietnam.

Don't invade Vietnam.

[ThomCat]

61. Obama getting a Peace Prize was a huge mistake.

That's like making a pyromaniac/arsonist your fire chief and fire fighter of the year.

There can't be any doubt at this point that Obama is a warmonger who uses the military as his first and only tool in any international disputes.

Not only doesn't he have any skill at negotiating tough issues here at home, he doesn't even try to negotiate tough issues abroad.

Just send in the CIA and the Marines! Throw away another half billion dollars! Go Ahead! We'll cut some more programs for the poor to pay for it.

:grr:

[mochajava666]

66. I hear you

Wouldn't it be nice if we spend our money on ourselves, instead of destroying other people's infrastructures, or building another country's infrastructure after we have just destroyed it?

Doctor, Heal Thyself.

[harun]

54. Bit of an oxymoron isn't it?

[felix_numinous]

56. You gotta love the MSM play by play

reporting of troops locations, release of 'secret' orders, makes you wonder who is really being played. Part of war is to manipulate information.

[Imagevision]

68. Obama states he's not targeting Gadaffi - then get the fu*k out!