Obama must act on Libya no-fly zone

A no-fly zone imposed by the United States and its allies would go a long way in providing this assistance. By preventing Gadhafi from dropping bombs on rebel forces and preventing reinforcements, a no-fly zone would help secure the opposition’s hold over areas now under its control. It could also prove to be a pivotal turning point in the battle for Libya. An emboldened opposition, backed by Western air power, would be better positioned to challenge the government’s hold on Tripoli and persuade those inside Gadhafi’s ruling circle that it is no longer worth sticking by him. 

Despite bipartisan support in the United States and mounting international pressure, the Obama Administration has remained non-committal on military intervention. Sens. John McCain, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman have been outspoken in support for a no-fly zone. The United Kingdom and France have announced their intent to circulate a UN Security Council authorizing military action. Even Saudi Arabia and several Gulf Arab states have now come forward in support of a no-fly zone. All eyes are now on President Obama, and it is high time that he step up and demonstrate that the United States, too, is willing to act in support of the Libyan people.

To impose a no-fly zone over Libya, it would be preferable to secure the blessing of the UN Security Council. But with Russia and China opposed, this may not be possible. The absence of UN authorization, however, should not serve as a bar to Western intervention. The United States could look instead to NATO, for example – as President Clinton did in 1999 to legitimate military air strikes against Serbia – to lead a multilateral response to this crisis. Forging a willing coalition of nations – potentially including supportive Arab states – remains a viable alternative.

To be sure, enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya will require a significant commitment of military resources and will place American lives at risk. But the fall of Gadhafi’s regime – and a democratic government to replace it – is in America’s strategic interest. The man responsible for killing scores of innocent Americans and brutally repressing his own people over the course of four decades deserves to go.  

With casualties mounting, President Obama was right to call for Gadhafi to “step down from power and leave.” If the Libyan people can find a way to make this happen on their own, that would be welcome. If not, the Administration must be prepared to back up its words with concrete military actions to support the Libyan uprising and ensure Gadhafi’s quick demise.  

Ash Jain is a former member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff and is currently a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.