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Fri, April 22, 2011 | Rubin Reports [2] | By Barry Rubin
NATO enforcing Libyan no-fly zone. Three Dutch F-16 aircraft prepare for landing at the Decimomannu airbase, in Sardinia, Italy, Thursday, March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Rosi Coroneo)
The Plan in Libya (in 100 words)
Here’s what’s happening now in Libya:
— Western forces bomb Libyan government forces on various pretexts.
— Give intelligence to rebels.
— Give military advisors to rebels.
— Give rebels arms indirectly.
Goal: Rebels win war with no direct Western intervention on the ground or Western casualties. Dictator Muammar Qadhafi falls; Western intervening states say: All we did was protect civilians and have a no-fly zone! We stuck to the UN resolution.
What happens afterward? Not clear anyone has thought that through.
In a few years critics will skewer this operation as deceptive. One hopes they won’t also be ridiculing a catastrophic outcome.