US, Britain, France, Italy prepare for air raid on Libya

Update: Again Shabbos is coming in as a global crisis unfolds...Shabbat shalom, and have kavanah to bring mashaich while you eat your shabbos meal!

 Update: The Telegraph reports:

Moussa Koussa, the Libya foreign minister, announced that the ceasefire would be "immediate" and would result in "an immediate stop to all military operations".

"(Libya) takes great interest in protecting civilians," he said, adding that the country would also protect all foreigners and foreign assets in Libya.

The announcement came as David Cameron said RAF warplanes would be in places in the "coming hours".

From an earlier article:

RAF warplanes will be in place “in the coming hours”, the Prime Minister told MPs.

As Gaddafi’s forces regain ground from rebel forces, Britain “cannot stand back” and let the Libyan dictator kill his people indiscriminately, he said.

“Any decision to put the men and women of our armed services in harm’s way should only ever be taken when it’s absolutely necessary,” Mr Cameron said. “But we simply can not stand back and let a dictator whose people have rejected him, kill his people indiscriminately.”

RAF Tornadoes and Typhoons will take part in operations over Libya, Mr Cameron said. British refuelling and reconnaissance aircraft will also be deployed.

“In the coming hours they will move to airbases where they can start to take the necessary action,” he said.

Update: Canada to send six CF-18 fighter jets to join American, British, French and other forces.

Update: Germany will not take part in a military operation against Libya. Qaddafi has warned he will strike civilian targets in response to foreign intervention.

The UN Security council has approved a no-fly zone over Libya and has authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians there. The measure passed 10-0, with Russia and China abstaining. According to the BBC, British and French warplanes could make air raids on Libya as early as Friday night UK time, although the raids may be spearheaded by Qatar or the UAE.

This can only mean one thing. Another global crisis unfolding right as Shabbat comes in in Israel (Carmel fire, fall of Mubarak, the Japan tsunami...)

But seriously, there's more. According to the Wall Street Journal, Egypt is also shipping weapons to Libyan rebels, and Obama knows about it. In other words, what we have here is a potential alliance between Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Libyan rebels, France, Britain and the US--against Qaddafi. Will Russia and China bolster Qaddafi behind the scenes? How will this play out for Saudi forces in Bahrain? Will Qaddafi do teshuva?

What we have unfolding is a very messy Middle East in an already tense global environment, as nuclear threat from Japan looms. The world is changing, fast. 

Note that Egypt and Libya both play a role in the Gog and Magog final showdown as described by Ezekiel, although that war ends up being against Israel.