Libya updateMilitary action continues, operation's goals still unclear
The military operation against the military assets of Col. Gaddafi continued Monday, but with lesser intensity than the attacks over the weekend; it is still not clear what the end goal of the military operation is — and it now appears that one of the reasons for the lack of clarity are divisions within NATO over the aims of the operation and who should be in charge; there are two camps within NATO which are uncomfortable with the idea of the organization running the campaign: Turkey and Germany — the former is the only Muslim member of NATO, the latter, owing to its past, always reluctant to support the use of force — are worried that NATO, under the leadership of England and France, would push for more expansive goals for the operation; France is worried that NATO — an organizations operating on the basis of unanimity, so all twenty-eight members have to agree on every move — would be swayed by those members who are not enthusiastic about the operation to limit the operation’s scope
Pressing for air supremacy // Source: trifter.com
The military operation against the military assets of Col. Gaddafi continued Monday, but with lesser intensity than the attacks over the weekend. It is still not clear what the end goal of the military operation is – and it now appears that one of the reasons for the lack of clarity are divisions within NATO over the aims of the operation and who should be in charge.
The United States wants to off-load the operation – currently run by the U.S. Africa Command – to NATO, but there are two camps within NATO which are uncomfortable with the idea. Turkey and Germany – the former is the only Muslim member of NATO, the latter, owing to its past, always reluctant to support the use of force – are worried that NATO, under the leadership of England and France, would push for more expansive goals for the operation. France is worried that NATO – an organizations operating on the basis of unanimity, so all twenty-eight members have to agree on every move – would be swayed by those members who are not enthusiastic about the operation to limit the operation’s scope.
The point is this: without a clear idea of what the goal of the operation is, it would become difficult for military leaders to choose targets and respond to changing situations. Is the goal to prevent Gaddafi killing a large number of civilians who oppose him? Is the goal only to prevent him from doing so using his air assets? Is the goal to topple him, or to force him into talks with the rebels?
The voices we hear from Washington and Brussels – but also from London and Paris – so far have failed to articulate such a goal.
Here are the latest developments, based on reports by the BBC, Fox News, and the New York Times
On the military front
- Fighting continues, with anti-aircraft fire heard in Tripoli late on Monday. It followed large explosions, which some reports said came from the direction of a Gaddafi compound that was hit the previous night. Libyan television reported “several new attacks.”
- Pentagon officials said there were fewer American and coalition airstrikes in Libya Sunday night and Monday, and that the number was likely to decline further in coming days.
