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From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Wed Apr 13 2011 - 02:00:40 EDT
Despite NATO rift, US holds to limited Libya role
MATTHEW LEE and RAF CASERT, Associated Press Matthew Lee And Raf Casert,
Associated Press Tue Apr 12, 5:21 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Despite rebel setbacks and an increasingly public rift with
NATO allies, the U.S. will stick to its plan to remain in the back seat of
the Libya air campaign, the Obama administration insisted Tuesday after
three weeks of air missions that have failed to turn the tide against
Moammar Gadhafi.
France's defense minister declared that without full American participation,
the West probably would not be able to stop attacks by Gadhafi loyalists on
besieged rebel cities.
U.S. officials said they were comfortable with their role and had no plans
to step up involvement, even as British and French officials said
Washington's military might was needed to ensure the mission's success. The
Americans said NATO could carry out the operation without a resumption of
the heavy U.S. efforts that kicked it off last month.
"The president and this administration believes that NATO, and the coalition
of which we remain a partner, is capable of fulfilling that mission of
enforcing the no-fly zone, enforcing the arms embargo and providing civilian
protection," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
"The U.S. has not abandoned this operation by any means," State Department
spokesman Mark Toner said. "We still are offering support where we can. I
don't think it's correct to say that there's somehow discord in the
alliance."
The public complaints of Britain and France, however, contradicted that
position, and U.S. officials contended privately that some in Europe
appeared to be backing down on pledges to take the lead in the operation
once the opening phase was over. The administration had not wanted to keep a
primary role after that point and had made its participation in the NATO
mission contingent on having only a supporting function afterward.
With the disagreement out in the open, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton is expected to hear loud calls for the U.S. to resume heavier
fighting when she travels to Germany for meetings of NATO foreign ministers
on Thursday and Friday. Those talks are expected to be dominated by the
situation in Libya, where rebels fighting forces loyal to Gadhafi are facing
increasing challenges and appealing for additional assistance.
At the State Department, spokesman Toner said President Barack Obama had
been clear from the beginning that the U.S. "role would diminish as NATO
stepped up and took command and control of the operation."
He added, "The U.S., of course, as needed, would help out if requested in
other capacities, in other capabilities, but really our role has receded in
this mission."
At the Pentagon, Marine Col. Dave Lapan said there was no move to increase
American military involvement.
"I don't see any planning to re-assert U.S. strike aircraft and forces as we
saw early in the campaign," the Pentagon spokesman said. "NATO has those
capabilities to conduct strikes."
"Ultimately, what needs to happen is Gadhafi needs to stop attacking his own
people," Lapan said. "The lack of U.S. strike missions doesn't change that."
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, alliance officials agreed and said the
operation was succeeding.
NATO Brig. Gen. Mark Van Uhm rejected criticism of the operation. He said
the North Atlantic military alliance was performing well in enforcing the
arms embargo, patrolling the no-fly zone over Libya and protecting
civilians.
"With the assets we have, we're doing a great job," Van Uhm told reporters.
France and Britain differed, calling for the rest of the group, in
particular the United States, to step up the campaign.
At a European Union meeting in Luxembourg, Paris lamented the limited U.S.
military role in Libya and chided Germany, too, for its lack of involvement.
In a dire analysis, France's defense minister said that without full
American participation in the combat operation, the West probably couldn't
stop Gadhafi's attacks on rebel-held cities.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe shredded NATO's united front, saying its
actions to this point were "not enough" to ease the pressure on the city of
Misrata, which has been subjected to weeks of bombardment by forces loyal to
Gadhafi.
"NATO absolutely wanted to lead this operation. Well, voila, this is where
we are," Juppe said. "It is unacceptable that Misrata can continue to be
bombed by Gadhafi's troops."
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague agreed that the allies must
"intensify" their efforts, but he used a more diplomatic tone.
"The U.K. has in the last week supplied additional aircraft capable of
striking ground targets threatening the civilian population of Libya," Hague
said before a meeting of EU foreign ministers. "Of course, it will be
welcome if other countries also do the same. There is always more to do."
French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet complained that France and Britain
were carrying "the brunt of the burden." He said the reduced U.S. effort —
American forces are now in support, not combat, roles in the airstrike
campaign — have made it impossible "to loosen the noose around Misrata,"
which has become a symbol of the resistance against Gadhafi.
Longuet also criticized Germany, which is not taking part in the military
operation, saying that Berlin's commitment to primarily back a humanitarian
effort only was "secondary" at best. Germany does not take part in NATO's
military airstrikes in Libya because it sees the operation as too risky.
Italy also has been reluctant to get involved in the airstrikes because it
had been Libya's colonial ruler.
France's frustration with the stalemate on the ground, where Libyan rebels
have struggled to capitalize on Western air attacks, has been echoed in
several Western capitals, but rarely were the comments as barbed as Juppe's.
The reduced U.S. role since NATO took over command on March 31 has clearly
affected the operation.
"Let's be realistic. The fact that the U.S. has left the sort of the kinetic
part of the air operation has had a sizable impact. That is fairly obvious,"
said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
Libyan opposition spokesman Ali al-Issawi said that Gadhafi's soldiers have
killed about 10,000 people throughout the country and injured 30,000 others,
with 7,000 of the injured facing life-threatening wounds. He said an
additional 20,000 people were missing and suspected of being in Gadhafi's
prisons. There was no way to independently verify his claims.
___
Casert reported from Luxembourg. Associated Press writers Pauline Jelinek
and Sagar Meghani contributed from Washington, Angela Charlton from Paris,
Selcan Hacaoglu from Turkey, Adam Schreck from Doha, Qatar, and Paisley
Dodds and Raphael G. Satter from London.
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