U.N. Backs No Fly Zone and Military Action in Libya … Moammar Gadhafi Defiant

UN OK’s Military action against Libya …

As reported at the NY Times, The UN Sercurity Council has voted to authorize military action against Moammar Gadhafi’s troops to protect Libyan civilians. The vote was 10 – 0 with five abstentions. However, has this decision come far too late in the game as the rebel troops have been devastated lately by Qaddafi troops. Moammar Gadhafi has vowed retaliation.

VIDEO: ABC News

The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday to authorize military action, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and a no-fly zone, a risky foreign intervention aimed at averting a bloody rout of rebels by forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi …

Diplomats said the resolution — which passed with 10 votes, including the United States, and abstentions from Russia, China, Germany, Brazil and India — was written in sweeping terms to allow for a wide range of actions, including strikes on air-defense systems and missile attacks from ships. Military activity could get under way within a matter of hours, they said.

The full draft resolution can be read HERE.

British and French aircraft prepared to take the lead, but exactly where is the US in all of this?

British and French military aircraft are preparing to protect the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi after the UN security council voted in favour of a no-fly zone and air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

With Gaddafi’s troops closing in on Benghazi, the French prime minister, François Fillon, said “time is of the essence” and that France would support military action within hours of the vote.

But a US official was more cautious, warning against expectations of imminent action. French planes will operate from bases on its Mediterranean coast. Several Arab countries have promised to join the operation. The US backed the resolution, a complete turnaround after weeks of resisting no-fly zone proposals, but has not yet said what role it would play in military action.

However, are these actions way to late to help the rebel forces?