“Operation Odyssey Dawn.” What’s in a Name?

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Why are Military Actions in Libya Called “Operation Odyssey Dawn”?

“Operation Odyssey Dawn” began Saturday (March 19th) in Libya, when French warplanes opened fire on four pro-Gaddafi tanks headed to Benghazi.

An international coalition agreed to initiate airstrikes following the UN Security Council resolution on Libya (see last post). which authorized “all necessary measures” short of a ground invasion to defend civilians from attacks by units loyal to Libyan leader.

Phase One started the same day with the involvement of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada.

U.S. military’s nickname for the no-fly zone in Libya is “Operation Odyssey Dawn.”

According to the Washington Post “The Pentagon permits military commanders to assign two-word nicknames to military exercises or operations using instructions laid out in a carefully crafted Defense Department naming policy. The instructions assign each military command a certain set of words that must be used to select the name’s first word. AFRICOM is assigned to use pairings of words that start with JS to JZ, NS to NZ and OA to OS … A recent headquarters exercise was called Judicious Response, and another recent operation used the NS to NZ range, leaving OA to OS as the only option …

So how did commanders select “Odyssey Dawn”?

A group of lieutenant colonels and majors met several weeks ago in the early planning stages of the operation and agreed that Odyssey was the only usable word in the OA to OS range. Then, “they sat around and brainstormed for a random word that went well with it.””

Here’s what countries enforcing the resolution name “Operation Odyssey Dawn” 

*Canada: Operation Mobile

*France: Opération Harmattan

*United Kingdom: Operation Ellamy

*United States,  Italy,  Denmark,  Norway: Operation Odyssey Dawn

*NATO: Operation Unified Protector (arms embargo)

UN security council resolution 1973 (2011) on Libya – full text

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The UN Security Council has passed a resolution authorising “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya from pro-Gaddafi forces.  Read the full text of the resolution passed at UN headquarters in favor of a no-fly zone and air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi.

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Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Security Council

6498th Meeting (Night)

Security Council Approves ‘No-Fly Zone’ over Libya, Authorizing ‘All Necessary Measures’ to Protect Civilians, by Vote of 10 in Favour with 5 Abstentions

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ARABIC text of UN security council resolution 1973 (2011)

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مجلس الأمن

قرار مجلس الامن

القرار  ١٩٧٣

الذي اتخذه مجلس الأمن في جلسته ٦٤٩٨ ، المعقودة في ١٧ آذار/مارس ٢٠١١

إن مجلس الأمن،

إذ يشير إلى قراره ١٩٧٠

المؤرخ ٢٦ شباط/فبراير ٢٠١١

وإذ يعرب عن استيائه لعدم امتثال السلطات الليبية للقرار  ١٩٧٠
وإذ يعرب عن القلق ا لبالغ إزاء تدهور الوضع وتصاعد العنف والخسائر

الفادحة في صفوف المدنيين، …………… الخ

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Libya UN Resolution 1973:

Text analysed (BBC)

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210px-Flag_of_Libya.svg

[Gaddafi’s flag]

Feb 26, 2011
Security Council
SC/10187/Rev.1**Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New YorkSecurity Council 6491st Meeting* (PM)

In Swift, Decisive Action, Security Council Imposes Tough Measures on Libyan Regime, Adopting Resolution 1970 in Wake of Crackdown on Protesters Situation Referred to International Criminal Court;Secretary-General Expresses Hope Message ‘Heard and Heeded’ in Libya

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دستـور لـيبيـا

أصدرته  “الجمعية الوطنية الليبية” في 7 أكتوبر 1951

وألغاه الإنقلابيون في أول سبتمبر 1969

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Libyan Constitution

(Libyan Constitutional Union)

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Libya’s Constitution

[English Translation]

Promulgated by the “National Constituent Assembly” on

7th October 1951

Abolished by a Military Coup d’etat on

1st September 1969

The Arab democratic wave: how the EU can seize the moment

Report – n°9, March 2011 [PDF]

The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)

Following the extraordinary events that have been unfolding across the Arab world, the EUISS has opened an online debate to discuss the implications of the Arab democratic wave for EU foreign policy. The EUISS has invited academics, policymakers, think tankers and other influential voices from a variety of backgrounds including from North Africa, the Middle East and Europe to contribute to this pluralistic online debate.