Mullen: No Idea How Long War Will Last Before Gadhafi Leaves
He 'Has to Leave' But No One Knows When, Admiral Insists
Speaking today at a press conference in Cairo, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen reiterated that the war in Libya would continue until Moammar Gadhafi agrees to leave office but he had no idea when this would actually be.
“It’s the US position that Gadhafi has to leave and it is a challenge for anybody to put a timetable on that,” Mullen insisted, adding “we’d like to see this end as soon as possible.”
Mullen’s comments came as NATO defense ministers issued a statement vowing to continue the war “for as long as necessary.” The British Defense Minister William Hague admitted over the weekend that the war could last “beyond Christmas” and was harder than expected.
Despite repeated escalations of NATO’s involvement in the conflict, very little territory has changed hands over the past two months, and both sides appear to be mired in a stalemate.
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VietNamWarVet
June 8th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Hopefully – after the 2012 election – Barack Hussein Obama will leave!
Doug_in_Indiana
June 9th, 2011 at 2:22 am
Your article title could have been shortened – just 'Mullen: No Idea'.
ML3
June 9th, 2011 at 5:11 am
Mullen: No idea how long war will last
…as long as it lasts, right?
Bob D
June 9th, 2011 at 6:23 am
At least Mullen is leaving. Good riddens
Druthers
June 9th, 2011 at 9:43 am
No matter what the question the same answer seems to pop up all the time – "Have no idea."
Other than bomb, baby bomb, for once they seem to be speaking the truth. They really have no idea.
Druthers
June 9th, 2011 at 9:46 am
No matter what the question the same answer seems to pop up all the time – "Have no idea."
Other than bomb, baby bomb, for once they seem to be speaking the truth. They really have no idea.
guest
June 9th, 2011 at 11:30 am
it was just yesterday Mr. Rassmussen of NATO was saying in his incredibly irritating voice that "it could be days or weeks" and that Gaddafi was clearly finished. Funny how this mission to protect civilians has morphed magically into an all out war to overthrow gaddafi, almost as if that were the plan from the beginning.
JoaoAlfaiate
June 9th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Since Iraq and Afghanistan have been neat and tidy, I guess Obama figured Libya would be the same when he got us involved….
thedissenter
June 9th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Well, Mullen, based on recent history and Libya's ample oil reserves, I'd say at least a decade. After that comes the "mission accomplished" announcement followed by bases and the like.
Bianca
June 9th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Exactly. Who did not know that the "war" (exuse me, "no fly zone") was going to last longer then "days, rather then weeks"? Now is the second stage. Gadhafi forces are pummeled sufficiently, and there is no more infrastructure to destroy in Tripoli. So now, some "human rights" dudes tell us that the good guys have become bad. Now, it is time to bomb them a bit, to insure that Benghazi infrastructure will be pummelled. Rebels, when they get sufficiently "softened", will sign off on any dotted line. Then will be time for regime exit. But only the beginning of nation building. Nation building will be planned for next 50 years, with oil money tapped for that. As people will figure out that they have been had — there will suddenly arise, let me guess: Al-Qaeda in Maghreb! Then we will have to fight terrorists there, while insuring that the tribes no longer have a pasture for their herd, or food to grow. They will have to IMPORT our stuff, or go hungry. Afghanistan, Iraq — all over. But the best laid plans of mice and men…..
Pseudolus
June 9th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Do you ever get the sense the American military's upper leadership is about as focused as a fart in a colander?