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Russia: NATO 'one step' from land war in Libya

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June 5, 2011, 9:13 p.m. | Russia and former Soviet Union — by Associated Press

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, delivers a speech during the final day of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Securities Summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Sunday, June 5, 2011.
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SINGAPORE (AP) — NATO is "one step" from sending troops into Libya to help rebels remove Moammar Gadhafi from power,RussianDeputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Sunday. British and French attack helicopters struck for the first time inside Libya on Saturday, having previously relied on attack jets generally flying above 15,000 feet (4,500 meters).

"Using attack helicopters, in my view, is the last but one step before the land operation," Ivanov said in Singapore at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, a regional security conference.

Russiaabstained from a United Nations Security Council resolution vote in March to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. Ivanov said there has been disagreement over how to interpret the scope of the resolution.

"We thought it was a good resolution to stop civilian casualties and close down Libyan air space," Ivanov said. "But we haven't agreed on what closing down air space means. Later, it apparently meant first bombing and now using attack helicopters. We think it clearly takes one side of the conflict."

NATO airstrikes have kept the outgunned rebels from being overrun, but the rebels have been unable to mount an effective offensive against Gadhafi's better-equipped forces.
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Anonymous June 5, 2011, 9:27 p.m.    

NATzO again spit in the UN face. What an SCUMBAGS alliance. Yuck.

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Anonymous June 6, 2011, 11:24 a.m.    

''NATzO again spit in the UN face. What an SCUMBAGS alliance. Yuck.''

Dude, you should really start boycotting American products. Maybe you can start with the internet?

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Anonymous June 5, 2011, 11:52 p.m.    

Russia - 'one step' from land war in Georgia, AGAIN!

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Anonymous June 6, 2011, 2:22 a.m.    

Russia's economy is smaller than Spain's. Why should anyone care what they think?

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Anonymous June 6, 2011, 11:26 a.m.    

Please look up 'Chekism' on wikipedia if you would like to improve your outlook.

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Anonymous June 6, 2011, 11:30 a.m.    

Instead of calling each other names like school children why don't you try and stick to the underline story... The invasion of Libya is the topic of discussion come guys wake up it is not about Russia!

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Anonymous June 6, 2011, 5:35 p.m.    

Time to reconvene the UN Security Council and screw the NATzO warmongering turds. Both Russia and China can do this.

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