31/05: NOT troops on the Libyan ground
Category: NOT Regime Change. Not.
Posted by: George W
Former SAS soldiers and other western employees of private security companies are helping Nato identify targets in the Libyan port city of Misrata, the scene of heavy fighting between Gaddafi's forces and rebels, well-placed sources have told the Guardian.
Special forces veterans are passing details of the locations and movements of Muammar Gaddafi's forces to the Naples headquarters of Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, Canadian commander of Nato forces, the sources said.
The targets are then verified by spy planes and US Predator drones. "One piece of human intelligence is not enough," a source said.
The former soldiers are there with the blessing of Britain, France and other Nato countries, which have supplied them with communications equipment. They are likely to be providing information for the pilots of British and French attack helicopters, who are expected to start firing at targets in and around Misrata this week.
The Ministry of Defence insisted it had no combat forces on the ground. The only MoD personnel were in Benghazi, it added, referring to about 10 military advisers and mentors the UK has sent there. William Hague, the foreign secretary, described the advisers as "experienced military officers", and said they would advise the rebels on intelligence gathering, logistics and communications.
These private soldiers are reported to be paid by Arab countries, notably Qatar. British officials said they were not being paid by the UK government.
Those countries in favour of the decision to impose a no-fly zone, and hostile to Gaddafi, would be strongly opposed to any direct – or official – link between western advisers and Nato commanders. The advisers are being kept at arm's length, but their role is privately welcomed.
The rebel troops still lack heavy weapons, but have acquired the Nato Milan anti-tank missile, which was used with devastating effect to clear fortified positions earlier in the month.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/31/libya-sas-veterans-misrata-rebels
Special forces veterans are passing details of the locations and movements of Muammar Gaddafi's forces to the Naples headquarters of Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, Canadian commander of Nato forces, the sources said.
The targets are then verified by spy planes and US Predator drones. "One piece of human intelligence is not enough," a source said.
The former soldiers are there with the blessing of Britain, France and other Nato countries, which have supplied them with communications equipment. They are likely to be providing information for the pilots of British and French attack helicopters, who are expected to start firing at targets in and around Misrata this week.
The Ministry of Defence insisted it had no combat forces on the ground. The only MoD personnel were in Benghazi, it added, referring to about 10 military advisers and mentors the UK has sent there. William Hague, the foreign secretary, described the advisers as "experienced military officers", and said they would advise the rebels on intelligence gathering, logistics and communications.
These private soldiers are reported to be paid by Arab countries, notably Qatar. British officials said they were not being paid by the UK government.
Those countries in favour of the decision to impose a no-fly zone, and hostile to Gaddafi, would be strongly opposed to any direct – or official – link between western advisers and Nato commanders. The advisers are being kept at arm's length, but their role is privately welcomed.
The rebel troops still lack heavy weapons, but have acquired the Nato Milan anti-tank missile, which was used with devastating effect to clear fortified positions earlier in the month.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/31/libya-sas-veterans-misrata-rebels
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