31 March 2011
Last updated at 12:10 ET
The US will put no “boots on the ground” in Libya, US defence Robert Gates secretary has reaffirmed, after it emerged President Obama authorised covert CIA aid to rebels.
Mr Gates told Congress the US would limit its contribution to providing capabilities other nations could not.
Adm Mike Mullen said the operation had already degraded Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi’s forces by up to 25%.
The remarks came as rebels retreated from towns on Libya’s eastern coast.
In testimony to the House armed services committee on Thursday, Mr Gates said: “I can’t speak to any CIA activities but I will tell you that the president has been quite clear that in terms of the United States military there will be no boots on the ground.”
He said the US would in the coming days significantly decrease its military participation in the operation against Col Gaddafi’s forces.US reaffirms ‘no boots’ in Libya
The Nato-led mission would not target Col Gaddafi, but would remain aimed at enforcing the no-fly zone and arms embargo and providing humanitarian relief to Libyan civilians, he said.
Analysis
In the run-up to military action, Robert Gates was publicly sceptical about no-fly zones, and here he looked and sounded like a man seeking to contain America’s involvement in Libya.
In unambiguous language, the defence secretary made clear that Nato is now in charge, that US spending on Libya will fall, and that other allies should take a lead in training the rebels.
Except, as Adm Mike Mullen acknowledged, Col Gaddafi’s forces retain a clear military superiority.
He said they enjoyed a ten-to-one advantage over the rebels in the number of tanks and armoured personnel carriers, and that the opposition ranks included only 1,000 military-trained fighters.
All of which invites the question: how to avoid a stalemate?
It was clear that the administration’s bet is that other members of Col Gaddafi’s inner circle will turn against him, short-circuiting the airstrikes and fighting.
The US military would provide capabilities others could not “such as electronic warfare, aerial refueling, lift, search and rescue, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support”, Mr Gates added.
“Deposing the Gaddafi regime, as welcome as that eventuality would be, is not part of the military mission… In my view, the removal of Col Gaddafi will likely be achieved over time through political and economic measures and by his own people.”
Covert assistance authorised
Adm Mullen, the US military’s top uniformed officer, testified the mission had “fairly seriously” degraded Col Gaddafi’s military capabilities, but said the Libyan leader’s forces remained superior to those of the disparate rebel groups.
On Wednesday night, it was revealed that President Barack Obama had secretly authorised covert assistance to rebels seeking to overthrow Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.
In recent weeks, he signed a document known as a “finding”, allowing support to the rebel groups, US media reported.
Such “findings” are a common way for the president to authorise covert operations by the CIA.
The New York Times, citing American officials, said the CIA has had operatives on the ground in Libya for several weeks. They were gathering intelligence for air strikes and making contact with the forces fighting Col Gaddafi, the paper said, adding that British intelligence and special forces were also involved.
The Associated Press news agency, quoting a US official and former US intelligence officer, said small teams of CIA operatives had been sent into Libya after the agency’s station in the capital, Tripoli, was forced to close.
A White House spokesman said the administration had made no decision as to whether to provide arms to anti-Gaddafi forces.
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US reaffirms ‘no boots’ in Libya