The Time Has Come, the Walrus Said, to Speak of Many Things...in Libya

Let’s get serious about Libya.

First, the US military and Defense Secretary Gates have said since the beginning of the debate that a no-fly zone would not work alone.

Since then, every other military expert who talks says the same thing - no troops on the ground, no victory for Free Libya.

And, now we are talking about supplying arms, which should have been part of UN Resolution 1973 in the first place. As any military expert will tell you, wars cannot be won without troops on the ground to secure territory that has been taken. The UN was kidding itself to think so and draft a resolution without a ground troop component.

As we all knew, the Free Libya fighters are a rag-tag non-trained non-disciplined group who want to get rid of Qadhaffi but have no idea how to fight a war. So, every time Qadhaffi forces advance they run away and cede what they had gained. This could make for a very long and indecisive war in which Qadhaffi will ultimately win through his propaganda machine, sorely lacking in the rebels.

So, what to do?

1. Arm the rebels and send military to train them - if not Americans (Obama has made it very clear he will not send ground troops) then French or Qataris trained by Americans.

2. Re-open the debate on Resolution 1973 at the Security Council and add words to make it clear that arming and training rebels is permitted. Russia and China may balk, but they will most probably abstain again.

3. Recognize Free Libya, as France already has, as the legitimate government in Libya and send diplomatic groups to help them. Remember, every diplomatic post has military attachés.

4. Tell the Arab governments in the Middle East that their charade of supporting Free Libya while demanding no real intervention to make them successful is over. Put up, or shut up and get out of the way.

The entire world detests Qadhaffi. Surely, the combined entire world can get rid of him.