Changes

A hearing conducted by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee days before President Obama ordered intervention revealed differences of opinion between several Senators and the administration about the need for Congressional authorization, and the likelihood  [[al Qaeda]] and other violent Islamists are poised to take advantage of the Libyan situation.

A hearing conducted by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee days before President Obama ordered intervention revealed differences of opinion between several Senators and the administration about the need for Congressional authorization, and the likelihood  [[al Qaeda]] and other violent Islamists are poised to take advantage of the Libyan situation.

==Mission creep==

===Mission creep===

UN Security Council Resolution 1973, passed in March 2011, does not authorise member states to support the ant-Ghdaffi forces, to defend armed groups, or to oust Gaddafi. Nor does it authorise a ground invasion or military occupation. Strategic analyst Anthony Cordesman notes the similiarities between Libya nd Iraq and the loose uncoordinated coalitions "failure to plan for the decisive and lasting use of force, failure to plan for the civil side of military operations and to support stability operations, and focus on short term goals without a realistic plan for a successful strategic and post-conflict  outcome." Cordesman notes,

UN Security Council Resolution 1973, passed in March 2011, does not authorise participating members to support the anti-Gahdaffi forces, to defend armed groups, or to oust Gaddafi. Nor does it authorise a ground invasion or military occupation. Strategic analyst Anthony Cordesman notes the similiarities between Libya nd Iraq and the loose uncoordinated coalitions "failure to plan for the decisive and lasting use of force, failure to plan for the civil side of military operations and to support stability operations, and focus on short term goals without a realistic plan for a successful strategic and post-conflict  outcome." Cordesman notes,

{{Cquote|the lives and futures of some 6.6 million Libyans are at stake. The Franco-Anglo-American gamble now seems far too likely to fail at their expense. Moreover, it seems likely to  drag the other nations that support the operation into their failure -- along with part of the reputation of NATO and credibility of the UN." <ref>http://csis.org/publication/libya-will-farce-stay-us-and-france-and-britain</ref>}}

{{Cquote|the lives and futures of some 6.6 million Libyans are at stake. The Franco-Anglo-American gamble now seems far too likely to fail at their expense. Moreover, it seems likely to  drag the other nations that support the operation into their failure -- along with part of the reputation of NATO and credibility of the UN." <ref>http://csis.org/publication/libya-will-farce-stay-us-and-france-and-britain</ref>}}