WELL DONE, RAF – AT 4:50 P.M. ET:  From AP:

British military planes entered Libyan air space in a daring rescue of more than 150 civilians from desert locations, officials said Saturday.

The C-130 Hercules planes, carrying Britons and other nationals, safely landed in Malta after picking up the civilians from desert locations south of Benghazi, UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox said.

The rescue mission was bold because few planes have been able to fly through Libyan air space. It was not immediately clear if it was a British special forces mission, but the SAS has been on stand by for an evacuation mission of those stuck in oil fields, according to UK media reports.

"I can confirm that two RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft have evacuated more than 150 civilians from desert locations south of Benghazi," Fox said.

COMMENT:  The American role so far has been to lease a ferry, which languished in a Libyan port for three days, before evacuating some Americans. 

Sometimes it feels like 1940, when the British taught the world how to act in the face of a dictator.  First, British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke out strongly against the trendy multiculturalism that is destroying his country.  Now Britain launches a daring rescue mission to save British lives.

Of course, when America has a president who considers himself a citizen of the world, this kind of macho stuff just isn't done.  Why, think of those who might be offended!  And given that our UN ambassador has taken the weekend off for a leisurely trip to a panel discussion in South Africa, the message sent is that things just aren't that bad. 

Liam Fox, whom I've had the privilege of meeting, is a great guy, a physician by training, and a strong believer in the Anglo-American special relationship.  I have no doubt that he was a key figure in getting this rescue mission going.

February 26, 2011