NATO Not Yet Willing to Declare End to Libya Operations

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: New York Times

BRUSSELS — NATO is not ready to halt its combat operations in Libya even though the war is winding down, the American defense secretary, Leon E. Panetta, said on Thursday, pointing to prolonged fighting around the town of Surt, the birthplace of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

After two days of meetings, the consensus among NATO defense ministers is that a significant threat remains from forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi, the ousted Libyan leader, and that the civilian population remains at risk, though the hope and expectation is that the Libya operations can end soon, a senior NATO diplomat said.

Mr. Panetta said that NATO’s military commanders would continue to analyze the security situation in Libya and recommend to political leaders when the NATO operations will end.

“It is very important that we make the right decisions,” Mr. Panetta told a news conference.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/world/africa/nato-not-yet-willing-to-declare-end-to-libya-operations.html

[Demeter]

1. Can't leave any loose ends

especially those named Gaddafi. :eyes:

[redixdoragon]

2. Or...

Gold. Or Oli. Or "Western Interests"

[Celefin]

4. Makes you wonder, doesn't it...

...since the rebels represent the 'will of the people' one might think they could deal with a few pockets of resistance themselves after controlling 99% of the country. Maybe somebody should have thought about the meaning of 'the people' in north Africa. Any, however miniscule, organized remnants of the former regime will always be a threat to this artificial 'stability'. Oh well. So we're staying. Again.

[No Elephants]

3. Who saw this coming?

[Bloke 32]

5. Merely scouting out possible tourist locations, I'm certain

:sarcasm:

[chill_wind]

6. K & R. n/t