Just for the record, where was NATO when we got SCUDs launched against our island of Lampedusa ? Or when in 1981 a MIG-23 somehow got as far as Calabria (north-east of Sicily) finally crashing because out of fuel ...
Besides, there is no permanent NATO fighter wing based in Sicily, capable of intervening in support of our 5th Air Wing with F16ADF.
Hence we will have to be able to counter any threat from Libya on our own. I agree 13-18 Rafales may not be too much of a threat, but a more sizeable force of approx 50 Rafale or SU30MKI would definitively be. The only thing that reassures me is that by the time they would be built and delivered, we'll have at least 80+ Typhoons and the first F-35s only a couple of years away.
cheers
Ever think there was a reason why they aimed those missiles at some crummy little Island in the Middle of the Med that you stole...I forget, when did Italy steal the place? Besides they were aiming at an American LORAN base anyways. It was shortly after this that Italy elected a Government that appeased every Arab dictatorship and terrorist group it could, "gee you sure showed us".
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And If Italy was ever attacked by Libyan bombers, and if NATO invaded the place, Im sure Yank boys would be doing more then directing traffic in big safe cities.
Shutting Qaddafi up would only take a visit by the USN 6th fleet. It shut him up in the past and would do so again. Theres a really good reason he didnt aim those SCUDs at Rome.
Anyway, I wouldn't make business with Libya because of the things I've pointed out before. We cannot say "business is business" the American way, because we are Europeans and we stand for values, that's what the EU is all about and that is why I am so happy that we joined it 2 weeks ago.
I was in Sophia back in '78 and I dont remember to many "values" other then the jackboots could come crashing thru your door any time they wanted, and for any reason. And the only European values that are worth mentioning Busof are the democratic ones we installed the last time we saved them from themselves.
I'm bowing out of this thread because now history is being rewritten, reality is being skewed, butter wont melt in some mouths, and nobody is talking about Libya.
