[Peace-discuss] US conducts not-strikes in the not-war

[Robert Naiman]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/04/13/world/africa/news-us-libya-usa-strikes.html

April 13, 2011
U.S. Continues to Conduct Air Strikes in Libya
By REUTERS
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. fighter jets have continued to attack
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's air defenses even after NATO took over
command of Libya operations earlier this month, the Pentagon said on
Wednesday.

The disclosure came as Libyan rebels are struggling to gain ground
from Gaddafi's forces and NATO allies squabble publicly over stepping
up air strikes to help topple him.

It also followed Pentagon assurances that the United States had halted
regular strike sorties after its April 4 handover of full command of
international operations to NATO and would conduct attacks only if
asked by the Brussels-based military alliance.

Pentagon officials said the ongoing attacks on Libyan air defenses did
not mean the United States had reconsidered its decision to take a
limited support role in the Libya conflict.

"It is completely consistent with how we have described our support
role ever since the transition to NATO lead," Pentagon Press Secretary
Geoff Morrell told reporters.

But the strikes raise fresh questions about the future of the U.S.
role in Libya as Gaddafi hangs on and Britain and France call for more
allied participation in the air campaign against Gaddafi's heavy
weapons and on arming the rebels.

The U.S. military says the attacks -- known as Suppression of Enemy
Air Defenses, or SEADs -- are defensive by nature and are not
considered "strikes."

Eleven U.S. aircraft have flown 97 sorties in Libya since April 4 and
fired on air defense targets three times, the Pentagon said. The
aircraft involved are six F-16 fighter jets and five EA-18 Growler
electronic warfare planes.

All of the aircraft had been placed under NATO command.

"These are defensive missions that are simply to protect the aircraft
flying the no-fly zone," a U.S. military official said on condition of
anonymity.

The operations underscore concern about Gaddafi's mobile air defenses
after an initial U.S.-led air campaign degraded his fixed
anti-aircraft positions.

Grappling with conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Obama
administration has been seeking to limit the U.S. role in Libya, where
poorly organized rebels so far have failed to topple Gaddafi from
power.
…


-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org