Battleland

Slippery Slope

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We told you Monday that it was too late for the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and think it would make any difference to the civil war down below. Wednesday, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., agreed.

“The U.S. view is that we need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond, a no-fly zone at this point, as the situation on the ground has evolved, and as a no-fly zone has inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk,” Rice said.

U.S. officials say that means offensive air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces are now on the table, a first for the Obama Administration. Stay tuned: the U.N. Security Council is expected to take up the issue later Thursday.