US sees ‘Libya model’ for Syria option

The recent experience in Libya is helping the United States formulate a response to the unrest in Syria, the US defense secretary said. NATO enforced a no-fly zone over Libya last year after Muammar Gaddafi's forces attacked civilian demonstrators opposing his government. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the experience in Libya was shaping the US approach to Syria. While acknowledging there were limitations to the use of military force, the defense secretary said "all options" are on the table in Syria. "In Libya, there was widespread international support in the Arab world and elsewhere, and clear Security Council authorization, for military intervention," he said in prepared remarks. "No such consensus currently exists regarding Syria." He added that the Syrian opposition wasn't as organized as Libya's. Outside military intervention, meanwhile, could make the volatile situation worse, he said. The United Nations and Damascus announced they reached an agreement for a UN monitoring mission that would observe a shaky cease-fire brokered by former US Secretary-General Kofi Annan. HIGHLIGHTS For now, the US is in the process of sending “nonlethal” aid, including communications and medical equipment, to the opposition in Syria. The Pentagon is also providing humanitarian relief to the tune of $25 million. These measures are putting pressure on the Assad government, Panetta argued. He acknowledged, however, that more may need to be done. “There are legitimate questions” about what steps are needed to bring an end to the Syrian government, he said, “with some arguing for an approach similar to the one we took in Libya.” This is likely to be much more difficult because of Libya, as many in the UN Security Council didn’t realize that an authorization for a no-fly zone in Libya would quickly snowball into a war of regime change. There is no illusion this time, and those opposed to the war have been careful to reject any nebulous language in UN resolutions specifically to prevent the US from starting this war. Antiwar In the meantime, US officials aren’t waiting for the ceasefire to actually end to escalate the rhetoric, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanding a new round of sanctions against Syria and a full arms embargo to punish it for “non-compliance” with the ceasefire, even though by all accounts the ceasefire actually is still in effect. Clinton conceded that the resolution is almost certain to be vetoed but as usual didn’t appear to understand why.