The vast majority of the world has welcomed strikes which have directly targeted Gaddafi military assets which were directly employed in killing his own people.
Equally, people the world over have voiced approval at the way aircraft and missiles have been surgically striking Gaddafi’s command and control structure. There has also been approval for bombing of Gaddafi’s air assets and runways. All this leaves us with the question: “What now?”
As the US makes it clear that it will participate in the military coalition, but will not take a leading role, and loose talk emanates from the House of Commons in London, it is difficult to see what the end-game is. It has been made clear that Gaddafi is ‘not a target’, but ‘if he is somewhere where we are targeting’, the game changes completely.
The Arab League initially expressed serious reservations about the strikes, but later softened its tone. It said that it only wanted to see that the safety of ordinary Libyan civilians would be ensured.
The strikes have done this. So far, air strikes have prevented a much higher death toll in Benghazi, which was under attack by Gaddafi forces at the time. They have also prevented Gaddafi’s aircraft from strafing civilians and more. But now, as the international news networks are proving, the strikes are doing more, they are opening up corridors which are specifically being created to allow the rebels to march forward and try to reclaim towns they had lost, such as Aydabiya.
This is where the coalition’s actions are teetering on the fine line between protecting civilians, and helping the armed rebels. One must also bear in mind that, throughout this, Gaddafi has never stopped attacking civilians, despite having declared two ceasefires.
In a sense, the coalition argues that it must continue to attack Gaddafi’s military assets because he continues to target civilians – prevention rather than cure. But at the same time, it is also aiding an ill-equipped – yet still armed – rebel army to march on western Libya.
It is a very difficult situation and it evolves every day, but at present, it is starting to look increasingly more like a situation where the coalition is providing air support to the rebel army to continue its Western advance.
Another situation could evolve whereby the coalition might knock out heavy Gaddafi weaponry in towns which the rebels have not yet reached, allowing, for example, Misurata citizens to hold onto their freedom. Those remaining in scorched towns such as Zawiya might find it in themselves to reclaim their town from the ruins and expel forces loyal to Gaddafi.
Whatever the case may be, this is no longer about ensuring the safety of Libyan citizens. It is increasingly becoming more about neutralising his capabilities and hoping that the corridors being opened for the rebel army are used to march on Tripoli and force his ouster.