OPINION_ Stalled Mission in Libya

Editorial
Stalled Mission in Libya
Published: May 5, 2011

Unless NATO, including the United States, get more serious, Libya’s liberation war could turn into a prolonged, bloody stalemate. Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi is ruthless, and rebel forces are weak and disorganized. NATO still has the military means to help tip the balance if it can summon the unity and the will.

In their latest horror, Qaddafi forces rained shells this week on the rebel-held port area of Misurata, trying to keep international relief vessels from unloading humanitarian supplies. The civilian death toll from the war is already estimated in the thousands, while streams of desperate refugees keep pouring into Tunisia, Egypt and Europe. The alliance needs to get its act together.

President Obama was right to hand over this mission to Canadian and European command once the initial American strikes had shattered Libyan air defenses. But crucial momentum was lost in the transition. Coordination with rebel fighters was initially poor, leading to friendly fire disasters. The string of defections from the Qaddafi inner circle came to an end, as government forces dug in.

NATO allies, particularly Britain and France, have the high performance fighters that can carry the main burden of the air campaign. But the Pentagon needs to send America’s specialized low-flying attack planes, the A-10 and the AC-130, back into action against Libyan Army tanks. These are far more effective at destroying enemy vehicles and avoiding friendly ones.

Colonel Qaddafi has left no question about his willingness to murder civilians. Bombing strikes against military command centers, including Qaddafi compounds, are well within the United Nations Security Council’s mandate. They need to continue, though innocent Qaddafi family members should not be deliberately targeted.

Washington and other capitals need to do more intelligence work to figure out how to peel away more important Libyan players — and what mix of pressures and inducements need to be brought to bear.

And NATO needs to start speaking with one clear voice. We are were pleased to hear Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, finally declare that Colonel Qaddafi must “immediately step down.” But Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany remains on the sidelines. All of the public squabbling has played into Colonel Qaddafi’s hands, reinforcing his claims that NATO doesn’t have the stomach or the sticking power.

Events in Libya pose a more direct threat to Europe than to the United States. Europe relies heavily on Libyan oil and a prolonged crisis will cause serious shortfalls in Italy and other countries. European leaders are already fighting over which country will take Libyan (and Tunisian) refugees, leading panicky French politicians to partially shutter their previously open border with Italy.

With no quick resolution in sight, the international community must extend a financial lifeline to beleaguered rebel held regions. Diplomats from 22 NATO and Arab countries met in Rome on Thursday to consider rebel requests for urgent financial assistance. There are legal obstacles to immediately releasing the roughly $30 billion in frozen Qaddafi regime assets to rebel authorities in Benghazi. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged to expedite that process.

At Thursday’s meeting, diplomats also said they were creating an international fund to channel humanitarian and financial assistance to rebel areas. The United States, Qatar and Kuwait promised generous contributions. European nations and other affluent Arab countries should do the same, with strict monitoring mechanisms put in place to make sure the aid goes to its intended recipients.

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Người VN bị MẤT NƯỚC vào tay bè lũ phản quốc CƯỚP NƯỚC diệt chủng BÁN NƯỚC ĐỘC tài ĐỘC đảng Việt gian csVN học được kinh nghiệm gì từ Cách Mạng Hoa Lài Tunisia, Ai Cập nổi lửa cho Cuộc Cách Mạng LẬT ĐỔ bè lũ cầm quyền độc tài trên tòan thế giới; và cuộc chiến tại Libya hiện thời ?

Nhiều người VN nổi tiếng "đấu tranh" "chống cộng" đến ngày nay vẫn chưa dám nhìn thẳng vào SỰ THẬT, vẫn cứ bám vào những cái nhánh của "cây cổ thụ được bón bằng phân ĐỘC" để hòng bứng gốc "cây cổ thụ" chẳng những ĐỘC mà còn vô cùng bẩn thỉu truyền nhiễm đó.

Những kẻ không dám thành thật với chính bản thân họ, ai có thể tin được họ thật tâm tranh đấu cho quê hương, nòi giống ???


Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog"
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc .
Kính chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị .


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