U.S. and Allies Go for Kadafi's Knockout Punch

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 20, 2011
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              Leaving Col. Moammar Kadafi on his feet would be a serious mistake for the U.S. and its allies while they prosecute a so-called “limited mission,” confined by the U.N.’s March 17 resolution to protect Libyan civilians.  No matter how complicated the transition from Kadafi, the U.S. cannot leave the 68-year-old African-garbed tyrant in power without the grave danger of retaliatory terrorist strikes.  U.S. officials know full-well the consequences of former President Ronald Reagan bombing Kadafi April 24, 1986. Two years later, Kadafi retaliated, blowing up Pan Am 103 Dec. 21, 1988 over Lockerbie, Scotland.  Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” with John King, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) insisted the U.S. Libyan mission dubbed “Operation Odyssey Dawn” must include, above all else, ending Kadafi’s rule.  U.S. officials have not yet admitted that objective.

            Leaving Kadafi in power would threaten U.S. national security by allowing Kadafi to plan himself or partner with known terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.  Given the numerous sorties flown by the French and British and the some 124 Tomahawk Cruise missiles fired by the U.S, the aim of the mission is not simply a “no-fly zone.”  Arab League President Amr Moussa already complained that the mission has gone far beyond the U.N.’s intent of setting up a “no-fly zone.”   Kadafi vowed a “long” war, the same message given by former Iraq President Saddam Hussein when he called the Iraq War “the mother of all battles,” before his elite Republican guards shed their uniforms and jumped into the Tigris River.  Kadafi’s military must now reassess loyalty to their suicidal leader, working behind the scenes and either place him under house arrest or arrange for his exile.

            Today’s air strikes devastated most of Libya’s air defenses, leaving the country largely vulnerable to allied attacks.  French fighter jets alighted Kadafi’s tank unit 12 miles south of Benghazi.  Libyan state TV insists the military calls for a ceasefire, the same one that led Kadafi to continue attacking rebel strongholds in Misrata and Benghazi.  “It was a matter of minutes and Kadafi’s forces would have been in Benghazi,” said Akram Abdul-Wahab, a butcher in the city.  Kadafi hoped to rally the Arab League and African Union to apply pressure on the U.N. to stop the U.S.-led bombardment.  France made it clear that the bombardment would continue until Kadafi steps down.  Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned of a possible stalemate, leaving Kadafi in power, but equivocated when asked by CNN’s John King about the end game.

            Complaining that U.S. and NATO had gone beyond the U.N. resolution, Arab League’s Moussa called for restraint.  “What happened differs from the non-fly zone objectives,” said Moussa.  “What we want is civilians’ protection not shelling more civilians.”  Moussa speaks to the Arab street that has no love of the U.S. or NATO but knows that the U.N. resolution permitted “all necessary means” to protect civilians which, in effect, means toppling Kadafi.  Kadadfi’s bravado will change once he accepts inevitable defeat, despite his puffed up rhetoric.  Pentagon planners, especially Adm. Mullen, know that to de-claw Kadafi the allied attack must be potent and irreversible.  French bombers, U.S. B-2 Stealth bombers, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets bombed Libyan air defenses, ground forces and equipment, including hitting Libya’s main air force base on the outskirts of Tripoli.

            Heavily damaging Kadafi’s compound in central Tripoli, the coalition went after command and control centers, denying they were targeting Kadafi.  “We promise you a long war,” said Kadafi on state television.  While no one knows Kadafi’s whereabouts, he manages to get out the word through radio and TV.  “God Muammar and Libya, that’s it,” chanted pro-Kadafi demonstrators on state TV waving Libya’s green flag.  “Our blood is green, not red,” said a pro-Kadafi supporter in Tripoli.  “He is our father, we will be with him to the last drop of blood.  Our blood is green with our love for him,” signaling the kind of fanatical brainwashing seen in the Kadafi regime.  Whatever objective specified in the U.N. resolution, there can be no long-term progress without getting rid of Kadafi.   While U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates refused to specify the objective, the French were more honest about ending Kadafi’s rule.

            U.S.-led coalition attacks on Libya are designed to topple Kadafi’s regime and drive him into exile.  While Kadafi has gone incognito, it won’t be long before the hot-headed tyrant gets exiled to Saudi Arabia or some other undisclosed African nation.  Creating a “no-fly zone” requires significantly degrading Kadafi’s capacity to wage war.  Foreign leaders must show more patience to U.S. efforts to prevent the dictator from returning to power.  “We want the Libyan people to be able to express their will, I’ve said . . . and we consider that it means that Kadafi has to go,” France’s U.N. ambassador Gerard Araud told George Stephanopolous on ABC’s Sunday show “This Week.”  Promising to hand U.S. military operations to NATO in a few days, Gates hoped to allay objections about a heavy-handed U.S. role.  Without any doubt, the U.S. will continue to lead the coalition against Kadafi.   

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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