THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Washington’s U-turn is as swift as the reversal in Col Gaddafi’s fortunes.
Eighteen days ago, it seemed that the colonel’s 42-year rule in Libya was close to collapse. When David Cameron then suggested a no-fly zone, it was to protect the Libyan people from a last, vengeful exercise of force. The full weight of the American military establishment dismissed the idea as premature.
Then, suddenly, the White House came down on the side of even tougher action than Mr Cameron proposed. But the Libyan army’s swift advance on Benghazi means that the strategic purpose of a no-fly zone has changed dramatically. Even if Benghazi holds out longer than the other towns of the northern coast, the West and its allies will be coming to the aid of an enclave, not a population.
The ultimate purpose must be to drive Col Gaddafi out of power. » | Richard Spencer, Tripoli | Thursday, March 17, 2011
