Libyan scene: What "Odyssey Dawn" is expected to accomplish?

The international 'coalition', acting under an important resolution of the United Nations security council, has, as was expected, finally launched an air strike operation -- 'Odyssey Dawn'-- in several places in the strife-torn Libya to enforce a "no-fly" zone and thereby prevent Muhammar Gaddafi's government from continuing its aggressive actions against the civilians of its own country. The combat aircraft of several countries of the international coalition including France, Britain and the United States were targeting the military establishments including the air defence systems of the Gaddafi authority while the beleaguered "leader" of the Libyan people has vowed to retaliate with sharp vehemence. Gaddafi and his men have warned of "severe consequences" to the rebels of the country, who are seeking his ouster from power and also sounded a tough warning, stating that the air strikes would not weaken his base and Libya would be able to repulse what he called "foreign aggression". Earlier, Gaddafi had said that his loyal troops were advancing in all fronts including rebel stronghold of eastern city of Benghazi and threatened that none will be pardoned and "no mercy" would be shown to the "traitors". The "leader" who has been in power for a long uninterrupted period of 42 years in the oil-rich north African country, gives the impression that he is still firm in the saddle and there was no reason whatsoever for him to follow the suit of his fellow Arab leaders, who had to quit, facing determined mass upsurge demanding democratic and other reforms. True, Gaddafi is not Zainul Abedin Ben Ali of Tunisia - nor even Hosni Mubarak of the population-wise largest and also relatively more strong than any other Arab country, Egypt. He came to power through a revolution toppling King Iddris in 1969 and remained in the helm for more than four decades without any major crisis until the present situation when Libya is embroiled in a civil war centering his rule. When Hosni Mubarak had to step down ending his more than three decades iron-fist rule, the much talked-about peoples' agitations sweeping the Middle East and North Africa also engulfed Libya. But a defiant Gaddafi laughed at any suggestion of his "stepping down", saying he is neither the "president" nor the "prime minister", but the "leader" of Libyan people, who has no scope to resign. Indeed, this is the vanity of a dictator, who did some good job for his people by introducing some so-called socialistic economic and welfare-oriented programmes in some areas, but the fact remains incontestable about his rule being devoid of even an iota of democratic character. Gaddafi and his influential son Saif-al Islam said there was absolutely no question of their being not in the Libyan scene. Instead, they unleashed tough aggression against the opponents, using the army and air power and succeeded in re-capturing several opposition-controlled areas and their troops were heading for Benghazi. Gaddafi tainted his hands with the blood of his own people and threatened them with a stern warning about further massacre. Rebels sought international help for survival, along with the civilians crying for protection. It is against this background, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution number 1973 empowered the international community to enforce a "no-fly zone" and protect Libyan citizens from the aggression of Gaddafi. The resolution was not unanimous as five nations abstained, but none opposed - let alone any chance of applying the "Veto". France, which has been at the vanguard of the resolution, along with Britain, was the first nation to swing into air action in Libya, followed by Britain and the United states, whose president Barack Obama, on a visit to Brazil, said international community cannot sit idly in face of the aggressive acts of a tyrant against his own people. Along with these nations, Italy and an Arab country, Qatar, are also in the coalition that is expected to be strengthened by other nations. This action by the coalition could have come little earlier as the rebels' hold in several areas has shrunk by this time and this has otherwise emboldened Gaddafi regime. Nonetheless, the development has been greeted with warm cheers from the rebels, who are strong-willed to preserve their domination of Benghazi, which is under attack from Tripoli forces. The air strikes have at least for the time halted the advance of these forces, although not reversed the process. Air strikes by the much superior developed sides will certainly have an big adverse impact on Gaddafi, but it is quite early to say if such actions would bring the stubborn ruler to his knees. He has conventional army and airforce and it is only natural that he would spare no effort to quell the situation. Whether only air power would be sufficient to control Gaddafi remains a big question mark. But then again, the UNSC has authorized only such actions without mentioning anything about the deployment of the ground troops in Libya. Besides, none of the coalition partners has shown interest for involving their ground troops as it is most likely to entail many complexities. The US president, the chief executive of world's most powerful country, has been quoted as saying that he felt the operation against Libya would not require a too long a time. British Prime Minister David Cameroon also echoed the same. It remains to be seen if a defiant Gaddafi finally agrees to quit the Libyan scene - a possibility of scant likelihood at this stage - or goes "more then allout" to cling to power he held for 42 years? The operation "Odyssey Dawn" may be fraught with limitations to achieve its goal, but it should not be a misadventure. Great care has to be taken so that the coalition forces do not have to bear the stigma of being unnecessarily repressive on the "Libyan people" -- a blame already coming from the Gaddafi regime, not unsurprisingly. (e-mail: [email protected])