To Target or Not to Target, What is the Libyan Mission … Kaddafi May Become Target of Air Strikes

To Target or Not to Target, What is the Libyan Mission … Kaddafi May Become Target of Air Strikes

What is the mission in Libya?

We were initially told that Operation Odyssey Dawn was not to target Libyan leader Muammar Kaddafi, but instead to protect Libyan citizens. Also, Senior US official says President Obama envisions US “heavy, kinetic action” lasting “days, not weeks”. Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff also stated that a stalemeate could leave Kadaffi still in charge and some how that would be deemed “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”.

Libya: Mike Mullen admits stalemate could leave Gaddafi in charge.

The head of the United States military has admitted that despite the use of prodigious force against Libya a stalemate could ensue in which Col MuammarGaddafi remained in power.

Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the outcome of military action from the air was “very uncertain” and made it clear that Washington did not see the goal of Operation Odyssey Dawn as removing the Libyan leader from power.

Opening up the possibility of a rift between the US and Britain and France if the Gaddafi regime does not crumble quickly, he said: “The goals are limited. It’s not about seeing him go. It’s about supporting the United Nations resolution which talked about eliminating his ability to kill his own people.”

Adm Mullen said it was “certainly potentially one outcome” that the mission could succeed while leaving Col Gaddafi in power.

However, it appears that the mission has no definate direction as the British defence secretary, Liam Fox, said it was possible that Gaddafi himself could become a target of air attacks if the safety of civilians could be guaranteed. So much for transparency, this military mission is becoming much like Obama’s healthcare plan … you have to experience it in order to find out whats in it.

The British defence secretary, Liam Fox, said the scale was in line with UN resolutions that had been “essential in terms of the Gaddafi regime’s ability to prosecute attacks on their own people”. He also said it was possible that Gaddafi himself could become a target of air attacks if the safety of civilians could be guaranteed.

Ahead of a Commons debate and vote tomorrow, leading figures in David Cameron’s cabinet were under pressure to clarify whether the explicit purpose of the attacks was to render Gaddafi’s regime so powerless that it collapses.

Speaking on the Politics Show, Fox said: “Mission accomplished would mean the Libyan people free to control their own destiny. This is very clear – the international community wants his regime to end and wants the Libyan people to control for themselves their own country.”

He then added: “Regime change is not an objective, but it may come about as a result of what is happening amongst the people of Libya.”