Washington – Clinton: No-fly Zone Means Bombing Libyan Targets

3

A Libyan family make their way to the terminal  at the airport in Tripoli, Libya, Thursday, March 17, 2011.  The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a vote early Thursday evening on a resolution that would impose a no-fly zone over Libya. The vote would also authorize U.N. member states to take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from attacks by Moammar Gadhafi's forces.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)Washington – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya would require bombing targets inside the country, and a deputy acknowledged that Moammar Gadhafi’s forces were making huge gains against the opposition.

Join our WhatsApp group

Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


Clinton gave her assessment during a visit to Tunisia and ahead of a planned U.N. vote, making clear the risk of possible military intervention as world powers considered broader steps to protect civilians and pressure the Libyan leader.

In Washington, William Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, told senators that pro-Libyan government forces were about 100 miles from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the eastern part of the country.

The U.N. negotiations took place against a backdrop of increasing skepticism in Congress about the Obama administration’s Libya strategy. Questions focused on what action the U.S. was willing to take to back up its strong calls for Gadhafi’s ouster and whether the crisis could lead to military conflict.

Both the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and the top Republican, Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, expressed frustration with the administration and its articulation of policies.

Burns said Gadhafi’s forces “have made significant strides on the ground over the course of the last 24, 48 hours … taking full advantage of their overwhelming military.”

He said a Gadhafi victory could mean a reversion toward terrorist support and could destabilize the region. But he said U.S. action must occur with international support.

We “need to approach them with a sense of humility about our role and our influence,” Burns said. “That’s why we’ve attached so much emphasis to making this an international response authorized by the U.N. Security Council and attach so much importance to active Arab partnership, not just declarations.”

Clinton said discussions were going beyond specific actions toward broader authorization so countries can enforce any U.N. measures, though no ground intervention is being considered. But with Gadhafi threatening to “rescue” the people of Benghazi from “traitors” and promising no mercy to those who resist, it was unclear if the U.N.’s efforts would be concluded in time to protect areas remaining in opposition hands.

“A no-fly zone requires certain actions taken to protect the planes and the pilots, including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems,” Clinton said as she neared the end of a Middle East trip dominated by worries about Libya.

Visiting the region for the first time since protesters in Tunisia and Egypt toppled their long-time autocratic rulers, Clinton said the U.S. would support U.N. actions that gain a “broad base of participation, including from Arab nations,” and that military action short of boots on the ground might be needed.

“Gadhafi must go,” she said, calling him “a ruthless dictator that has no conscience and will destroy anyone or anything in his way.”

“If Gadhafi does not go, he will just make trouble,” Clinton said. “That is just his nature. There are some creatures that are like that.”

Senators were in disagreement over the no-fly zone. Lugar doubted that U.S. interests would be served and said the step would require a declaration of war from Congress under the War Powers Act. He asked that Arab governments pay for any U.S. military involvement.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said the administration’s response was too weak and relied on Russian and Chinese support for a U.N. resolution. Rubio questioned whether the U.S. had a backup plan if the resolution failed.


Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


Connect with VINnews

Join our WhatsApp group


3 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Glassman
Glassman
13 years ago

The Arab League have a chutzpa. They want other countries to do the dirty work for them and then they come complaining once it’s done.

They have plenty of money and countries with plenty of planes. They should take responsibility for themselves..

ALLAN
ALLAN
13 years ago

#’1 + 2 I could not agree more. The only good that may come from US involvement is if one bomb goes astray and takes out the madman. Short of that, what are we doing there? The arab countries have their lacky Obama doing their dirty work. If Obama had the stones for it he would be taking on Iran whose actions pose a threat to Israel and the entire worlds security. If Obama did that the Syrians would come into line real fast.