Not Different, Just Better

The United States has launched missile strikes on Libyan air defenses and radar installations in an attempt to enforce the no-fly zone that has been in effect. The strikes were launched from Navy vessels stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, conveniently far from any source of retaliation. Casualty details are not available for now, but numbers are probably low given the unmanned nature of these installations. It seems the US is going to attempt to keep this a remote fight for as long as possible, which is sensible. However, it’s completely within Gadhafi’s power to strike said Navy vessels with the same forces he’s been attacking his own people with. The Libyan army has recently begun moving into population centers to prevent the airstrikes the US and allies would otherwise begin deploying. For now, it seems the USAF is going to be there for the long term regarding the air patrols. At the moment, there doesn’t seem to be much of a predictable outcome here. The likelihood of Gadhafi stepping down is low, considering human rights and basic decency haven’t stopped him yet. At any rate, this conflict is actually a case where the US has the unchallengeable upper hand, so I feel confident that no matter what bridges we have to burn we’ll win this one. Whether that’s what is ethically right or wrong is the real question. How far is the US willing to stretch its influence for the purpose or policing and peacekeeping?