US mission in Libya muddled: experts
Matthew Rusling | Saturday, 26 March 2011
Matthew Rusling
While the United States is continuing its bid in the West-led air strikes against Libya, its mission is not altogether clear, analysts said. "All of a sudden the United States has found itself in this position of bombing Libya without any real understanding of what comes next," said Bayless Parsley, Africa analyst at global intelligence company STRATFOR. "What if Gaddafi doesn't fall? No one wants to put boots on the ground, but how do they plan on finishing the job?" The mission is aimed at enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which calls on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to withdraw his forces from towns held by rebels. The resolution also calls for the establishment of a no-fly zone to protect civilians from Gaddafi's attacks. The no-fly mission takes place while unrest is sweeping through the Arab world, toppling governments in Tunisia and Egypt along the way. Turmoil in Libya erupted not long after Egyptians clogged Cairo's Tahrir Square and ended the decades-long rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Some analysts, however, argued that the United States has left a number of blanks where the answers should already have been filled in. In addition to the UN resolution, U.S. President Barack Obama has also called for an end to the government of Gaddafi, but simply establishing a no-fly zone may not bring about that outcome, some experts said. The Obama administration said the mission will be completed by week's end, but the U.S. president has not yet outlined an exit strategy - critics said the strategy is ad hoc - and infighting among NATO allies is prolonging a handover of command responsibility from the U.S. forces. Indeed, recent days have seen the Arab League to express reservations about NATO overtaking operations, according to CNN, and the organization has also voiced concerns over some U.S. tactics, such as bombing ground targets. On Wednesday, President Obama announced in a speech from El Salvador that the handover would happen within a few days. "We will continue to support the efforts to protect the Libyan people, but we will not be in the lead," he said. Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said U.S. goals in Libya are muddled. Still, Washington means to first send a clear message that the United States means business, and the sooner Gaddafi accepts the UN resolution, the easier it will be for him, he said. Second, the U.S. forces want to stop Gaddafi's onslaught of rebel strongholds. That means the United States is willing to attack tanks and go beyond no-fly operations, he said. "We are trying to keep the option of expanding our goals," he said, adding the no-fly zone is being conducted against the backdrop of an administration that wants Gaddafi gone. "I think there's a little bit of confusion but 90 to 95 per cent of our thinking is that we're after a ceasefire and protection of civilians," O'Hanlon said. "And we are keeping alive that little bit of possibility, however unlikely, that Gaddafi himself could be driven out of power as a result of the operation we are contributing to." Others fault the U.S. president for not deciding on the terms of the mission before the allied forces went in. Still others blast Obama for not first consulting with the Congress. The administration's supporters, however, contend that the no-fly zone is not a war and that the president needs not consult with lawmakers. Meanwhile, Gaddafi remains defiant. On Tuesday, in his first televised speech since the allied bombing began, the Libyan leader said "we will not surrender" in the face of the U.S. and allied attacks. The operation, he said, "is by a bunch of fascists who will end up in the dustbin of history." - Xinhua
While the United States is continuing its bid in the West-led air strikes against Libya, its mission is not altogether clear, analysts said. "All of a sudden the United States has found itself in this position of bombing Libya without any real understanding of what comes next," said Bayless Parsley, Africa analyst at global intelligence company STRATFOR. "What if Gaddafi doesn't fall? No one wants to put boots on the ground, but how do they plan on finishing the job?" The mission is aimed at enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which calls on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to withdraw his forces from towns held by rebels. The resolution also calls for the establishment of a no-fly zone to protect civilians from Gaddafi's attacks. The no-fly mission takes place while unrest is sweeping through the Arab world, toppling governments in Tunisia and Egypt along the way. Turmoil in Libya erupted not long after Egyptians clogged Cairo's Tahrir Square and ended the decades-long rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Some analysts, however, argued that the United States has left a number of blanks where the answers should already have been filled in. In addition to the UN resolution, U.S. President Barack Obama has also called for an end to the government of Gaddafi, but simply establishing a no-fly zone may not bring about that outcome, some experts said. The Obama administration said the mission will be completed by week's end, but the U.S. president has not yet outlined an exit strategy - critics said the strategy is ad hoc - and infighting among NATO allies is prolonging a handover of command responsibility from the U.S. forces. Indeed, recent days have seen the Arab League to express reservations about NATO overtaking operations, according to CNN, and the organization has also voiced concerns over some U.S. tactics, such as bombing ground targets. On Wednesday, President Obama announced in a speech from El Salvador that the handover would happen within a few days. "We will continue to support the efforts to protect the Libyan people, but we will not be in the lead," he said. Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said U.S. goals in Libya are muddled. Still, Washington means to first send a clear message that the United States means business, and the sooner Gaddafi accepts the UN resolution, the easier it will be for him, he said. Second, the U.S. forces want to stop Gaddafi's onslaught of rebel strongholds. That means the United States is willing to attack tanks and go beyond no-fly operations, he said. "We are trying to keep the option of expanding our goals," he said, adding the no-fly zone is being conducted against the backdrop of an administration that wants Gaddafi gone. "I think there's a little bit of confusion but 90 to 95 per cent of our thinking is that we're after a ceasefire and protection of civilians," O'Hanlon said. "And we are keeping alive that little bit of possibility, however unlikely, that Gaddafi himself could be driven out of power as a result of the operation we are contributing to." Others fault the U.S. president for not deciding on the terms of the mission before the allied forces went in. Still others blast Obama for not first consulting with the Congress. The administration's supporters, however, contend that the no-fly zone is not a war and that the president needs not consult with lawmakers. Meanwhile, Gaddafi remains defiant. On Tuesday, in his first televised speech since the allied bombing began, the Libyan leader said "we will not surrender" in the face of the U.S. and allied attacks. The operation, he said, "is by a bunch of fascists who will end up in the dustbin of history." - Xinhua