NATO Increases Airborne Surveillance of Libya, Envoy Says

[Casino67]

Bloomberg:

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is increasing surveillance of Libya’s air space as its leaders consider options, including a no-fly zone over the country, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder said.

The U.S. and European alliance has been providing surveillance over the Mediterranean Sea with Airborne Warning and Control System radar planes for 10 hours a day and will increase that to round-the-clock coverage, Daalder told reporters on a conference call today. The alliance started such flights as Operation Active Endeavour in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Increased flights will give NATO “a better picture of what’s really going on in this part of the world,” Daalder said.

Libyan troops loyal to Muammar Qaddafi used artillery and helicopter gunships today to block rebels from advancing west from the oil hub of Ras Lanuf toward the leader’s hometown of Sirte.

“Our sense is that a no-fly zone is one possibility,” Daalder said. “We have actually seen a decrease in both fighter and overall air activity over the weekend. It really peaked late last week and is starting to come down.”

[WestVirginiaRebel]

More here. It sounds like covert stuff is already happening behind the scenes.