U.S. Pushes for Libyan No-Fly Zone

In a surprising policy reversal, the White House is now calling for military action to prevent Gadhafi’s forces from crushing the Libyan rebellion.

With the defeat of rebel forces in Benghazi possibly only days away, Barack Obama has acceded to calls for military intervention and is backing a UN Security Council resolution that would give the international community authorization to attack military positions in Libya. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing, Obama is wary of being drawn into conflict in a third Muslim country, but administration officials say Moammar Gadhafi’s recent sweeping military gains have forced the president’s hand. The UN resolution would authorize strikes on Gadhafi’s tanks as well as his hair force, as many believe a no-fly zone is too little too late. Washington is adamant that any intervention be carried out by a coalition including Arab nations.