Self-proclaimed world masters launch air strikes against Gaddafi’s forces in Libya

Sarkozy greets Clinton in Paris

Early today, French President Sarkozy announced that France had taken military action against Libya. The statement was made after an emergency summit in Paris with top officials from the main military powers in the world, including the U.S. the E.U. and the Arab League.

Those airstrikes are the beginning of the “consequences” Obama was talking about yesterday, in a harangue that was reminiscent of one W. Bush gave shortly before he attacked Iraq on March 2003. (W. must be laughing as he munches on pretzels at home in California).

In a very severe tone, President Obama warned Libya what would happen if it did not abide by the resolution taken by the ten powers that decide the fate of the earth, led of course by the U.S.

Do not miss the harsh tone and the almost theatrical evil resolve on his face -Malia and Sasha must have been scared- to fit the role of Supreme Master. The U.S. has insisted on bringing others to the ‘coalition’, so the blame is shared.

Although this time the U.S. did not take the lead, the "honour" was left to France, it would, hours later launch more than a hundred cruise missiles from the sea aimed at hitting some 20 military objectives consisting of air defense systems by the coastline and in the surroundings of Tripoli. In the meantime French fighter jets continued shelling Gaddafi's positions from the air, mainly in Benghazi.

A Libyan government official, Mohammed al-Zwei, claims a large number of civilians were injured in the capital and in Misrata, although the real damage would not be properly assessed until morning. He also denounced the destruction the airstrikes have caused, and called the aggression 'barbaric' and 'an intervention in Libya's internal affairs'.

French jets depart for Libya

First victims of France and U.S. airstikes in Libya, March 19, 2011

Tripoli is not new to U.S. bombs. In 1986, President Reagan launched similar airstrikes in retaliation for the bombing of a Berlin disco, which Reagan blamed on Libya. The bombing of the disco killed three people, including 2 U.S. soldiers, while the Tripoli strikes killed around 100 people, including Gaddafi's young daughter in his compound in the capital.

1986 victims of U.S. air-force bombings in Tripoli