Arab League Mulls Imposition of Libya ‘No-Fly Zone’

US, NATO Leaders Split on Their Own Plans for a No-Fly Zone

With the Gadhafi regime’s warplanes still launching occasional attacks on the protester-controlled cities across the nation, international calls for a “no-fly” zone continue to emerge, with prospects of a unilateral US imposition and a NATO version touted as possible means for keeping the jets out of the skies.

But while some US officials seem eager to launch such a plan, there is a split not just amongst NATO member nations, but the US leadership as well over what is being called an extremely serious move.

Let’s just call a spade a spade. A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya,” noted Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Indeed, others say such a move would require mass attacks on anti-aircraft defenses first and foremost, and since those assets are mostly under the control of the protest movement, it would mean the US attacking anti-Gadhafi protesters.

The Arab League seems to be asserting itself as a darkhorse candidate for imposing such a no-fly zone as well, though whether the organization could even pull off such a measure or not is very much in doubt, as military officials say a no-fly zone would require enormous amounts of air power.

Such a zone “requires more airplanes than you would find on a single aircraft carrier,” noted Gates. And while that’s probably not a physaical obstacle for NATO, particularly with Europe so close to the Libyan coast, the costs and ramifications of such a move are likely underappreciated.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.