Which must be a difficult admission for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to make, although he goes on to opine that he believes that Gaddafi will eventually be driven from power:
Top US officer Admiral Michael Mullen on Monday acknowledged NATO was in a “stalemate” in its Libya campaign but still voiced optimism the strategy would lead to the departure of Moamer Kadhafi.
Insurgents have been fighting to oust Kadhafi since mid-February, and NATO has been pounding away with air raids, as the Libyan leader continues to hang on. His complex was slammed by NATO warplanes Saturday, when the alliance confirmed seven strikes and said they hit a military command node.
“We are, generally, in a stalemate,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mullen told a press briefing in Washington billed as his last before retirement.
Referring to NATO raids, Mullen said NATO has “dramatically attrited (reduced) his forces” and “additional pressure has been brought,” even if Kadhafi has not been ousted.
“In the long run, I think it’s a strategy that will work… (toward) removal of Kadhafi from power,” Mullen said.
Perhaps the Chairman of the Joint Chief’s candor was a result of his impending departure. His remarks suggest that Mr. Obama’s critics were correct when they recommended the US lead the coalition in a more energetic campaign; one designed to bring the fighting to an end much sooner.
Image courtesy of AFP
- Excited
- Angry
- Not as Angry
- Bored
- Indifferent
- Sad
