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The Obama administration and America's allies
have won an open-ended endorsement from the United Nations for
military action in Libya, where Moammar Gadhafi's regime is
pressing to eliminate any opposition to his rule. Now they'll have
to move fast.


      The breakthrough at the U.N. Security Council comes after days
of cautious diplomacy from the administration and sets the stage
for airstrikes, a no-fly zone and other military measures short of
a ground invasion to halt the violence in Libya and push Gadhafi
from power. It was unclear if Britain and France would lead the way
militarily and exactly what the U.S. role would be.


      The U.S. backing for international action comes after several
administration officials questioned the plan for providing aerial
cover, with the Pentagon perhaps the most vociferous in its
skepticism. It has described the no-fly zone as a step tantamount
to war, and a number of U.S. officials have expressed fears that
involvement in Libya could further strain America's already
stretched military and entangle the country in an expensive and
messy conflict in another Muslim country.


      Britain announced Friday that it would send fighter jets and
France was also making plans to deploy planes, but as of Friday
morning the U.S. had yet to announce what its role would be.


      The U.S. has positioned a host of forces and ships in the
region, including submarines and destroyers and amphibious assault
and landing ships with some 400 Marines aboard. It also could
provide a range of surveillance assets.


      A Pentagon official said Thursday that the planning continued
across a range of operations, including a no-fly zone. It was
unclear how much the United States would become involved beyond
providing support.

      Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told Congress it
would take as much as a week to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.


      "It would undoubtedly require resources in Europe as well as
those that are based in the U.S.," Schwartz told the Senate Armed
Services Committee.


      Just Thursday, speaking in Tunisia, Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton said a no-fly zone would require action to protect
the planes and pilots, "including bombing targets like the Libyan
defense systems." But pressed on by Britain and France, and buoyed
over the weekend by the surprise support of the Arab League, the
no-fly option gained traction and led to a swift reversal in
position from the administration.


      After the resolution, President Barack Obama spoke with French
President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron
and the leaders "agreed that Libya must immediately comply with
all terms of the resolution and that violence against the civilian
population of Libya must cease," according to a White House
statement.


      "The leaders agreed to coordinate closely on next steps, and to
continue working with Arab and other international partners to
ensure the enforcement of U.N. Security Council resolutions on
Libya," it added.


      Time is of the essence: Gadhafi vowed Thursday to launch a final
assault on the opposition's capital Benghazi and crush the
rebellion as his forces advanced toward the city and warplanes
bombed its airport.


      And while the U.N. resolution's authorization of a no-fly zone
over the country and "all necessary measures" to protect
civilians may add pressure on Gadhafi and show him that far more
powerful forces are coming, the unpredictable leader has refused to
heed the countless calls for him to step aside after 42 years in
control of his country. And he has pledged to fight to the death.


      Even before the Security Council's 10-0 vote, the Obama
administration readied plans to enforce the no-fly zone, with
congressional officials describing a closed-door briefing in which
the administration said it could ground Gadhafi's air force by
Sunday or Monday. The effort likely will involve jet fighters,
bombers and surveillance aircraft, officials said, and the U.S. is
keen to have Arab countries such as Jordan, Qatar and the United
Arab Emirates participate in the operation.


      Five nations abstained on the vote, including Russia and China.
But the fact that neither exercised their right to veto the
resolution represented a major victory for the U.S. and its allies,
who've often been stymied at the global body by countries fearful
of granting powers that infringe on national sovereignty.


      For Obama, the shift to international action comes as he faced
increased criticism for not moving aggressively enough to help the
rebels trying to topple Gadhafi, long counted as among the world's
most ruthless dictators. Some U.S. lawmakers demanded the no-fly
zone, while others have proposed more strident measures such as
supplying the opposition with arms.


      Three leading senators applauded the U.N. action.


      "The administration deserves credit for getting this resolution
passed with such strong support," said a joint statement from Sen.
John Kerry, D-Mass., John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman,
I-Conn. "This was an important step on behalf of the people of
Libya, but it will only be as effective as its implementation. With
Gadhafi's forces moving toward Benghazi, we must immediately work
with our friends in the Arab League and in NATO to enforce this
resolution and turn the tide before it is too late."


      The senators said they would also work to build bipartisan
support for Obama to take "decisive measures to stop Gadhafi."


      That backing was missing Thursday at a Senate hearing, as Sen.
Mark Rubio, R-Fla., and others criticized Obama and his national
security aides for moving too slowly to cut off the Libyan
government's counteroffensive. Initially rocked by the revolt, the
regime has recently regained lost territory and set its sights on
Benghazi, the last rebel stronghold.

      William Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs,
said Gadhafi's forces "have made significant strides on the ground
over the course of the last 24, 48 hours ... taking full advantage
of their overwhelming military."


      Ahead of the U.N. vote, several lawmakers hinted that a change
in the U.S. approach might be coming.


      "If they (the rebels) can hold out another week, that may be
the time necessary for the international community to respond,"
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill, told reporters.


      Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he believes President Barack
Obama has authority to commit U.S. forces to participate in the
no-fly zone without congressional approval, but he expressed hope
that Congress would bless the move.


      Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., the senior Republican on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, had a different view.


      "If the Obama administration decides to impose a no-fly zone or
take other significant military action in Libya, I believe it
should first seek a congressional debate on a declaration of war."

Gallery

UN authorizes `all necessary measures' in Libya

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4 New York Times journalists missing in Libya

Mpls. aid groups send supplies, relief teams to Libya

The Obama administration and America's allies
have won an open-ended endorsement from the United Nations for
military action in Libya, where Moammar Gadhafi's regime is
pressing to eliminate any opposition to his rule. Now they'll have
to move fast.


US, allies set for quick military action in Libya

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