The international campaign to create a no-fly zone over embattled Libya entered its second day with another aerial bombardment on Sunday. The primary target of the weekend attacks was Libya’s air defense network and was intended to protect civilians from Gadhafi’s forces, which are advancing on rebel controlled areas near Benghazi in the east. Although officials of the international coalition have stated that Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi is not a target, a building in his compound in Tripoli was struck. Response from the Arab League has been mixed, ranging from support of military intervention beforehand, to criticism after the operation began that the campaign has been excessive – although Arab League member state Qatar is preparing to deploy fighters to patrol Libyan airspace. While the U.S. military did carry out bombing and missile attacks, other nations have taken a more significant military role in establishing the no-fly zone. Last week’s U.N. resolution to use “all necessary measures” to protect the civilians of Libya casts an uncertain future for Gadhafi. What should the U.S. role be in the ongoing conflict? How should the international community coordinate this effort? Will these actions protect Libyans and enable rebels to keep up the fight?

Guests:

Steven A. Cook, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

Wayne White, scholar with the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. and former deputy director of the State Department's Middle East Intelligence Office (retired in March 2005)

Edward N.Luttwak, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies