WASHINGTON (AP) — Coalition forces launched more sorties against Libya Tuesday in a bid to expand the no-fly zone but suffered a loss with the crash of a U.S. fighter jet in what American officials said was a mechanical failure.
A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle crashed late Monday after
its two-man crew ejected, receiving only minor injuries, U.S Africa Command
said, adding that both were back in U.S. hands early Tuesday. One was recovered
by rebels and the other picked up by a Marine Corp search and rescue plane,
officials said.
The incident came after the commander of the
international effort said the operation was achieving its goal of setting up a
no-fly zone to protect Libyan civilians from the forces of leader Moammar
Gadhafi. Building on what U.S. Gen. Carter Ham on Monday called a successful
first stage of the coalition military action, the focus was shifting to
widening the no-fly zone across the North African country while continuing
smaller-scale attacks on Libyan air defenses and setting the stage for a
humanitarian relief mission, he said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and others said the
U.S. military's role will lessen in coming days as other countries take on more
missions and the need declines for large-scale offensive action like the
barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles fired Saturday and Sunday mainly by U.S.
ships and submarines off Libya's coast.
A senior defense official, speaking on condition of
anonymity to discuss classified data, said Monday the attacks thus far had
reduced Libya's air defense capabilities by more than 50 percent. That has
enabled the coalition to focus more on extending the no-fly zone, which is now
mainly over the coastal waters off Libya and around the rebel stronghold of
Benghazi in the east, across the country to the Tripoli area this week.
Discord was evident Monday in Europe over whether
the military operation should be controlled by NATO. Turkey blocked the
alliance's participation, while Italy issued a veiled threat to withdraw the
use of its bases unless the alliance was put in charge. Germany also questioned
the wisdom of the operation, and Russia's Vladimir Putin railed against the
U.N.-backed airstrikes as outside meddling "reminiscent of a medieval call
for a crusade."
In his first public comments on the crisis, Army
Gen. Carter Ham, the lead U.S. commander, said it was possible that Libyan
leader Moammar Gadhafi might manage to retain power.
"I don't think anyone would say that is
ideal," the general said Monday, foreseeing a possible outcome that stands
in contrast to President Barack Obama's declaration that Gadhafi must go.
The Libyan leader has ruled the North African
nation for 42 years and was a target of American air attacks in 1986.
In Russia for an awkwardly timed visit on other
topics, Gates said it would be a mistake to set Gadhafi's ouster as a military
goal.
"I think it's pretty clear to everybody that
Libya would be better off without Gadhafi," he said in an interview with
Interfax news agency. "That is a matter for the Libyans themselves to
decide," and given the opportunity they may take it, Gates said.
Other administration officials said Washington is
not interested in using military action to get rid of Gadhafi. Rather, a
combination of international sanctions and other non-military actions designed
to isolate Gadhafi and undermine his authority are more likely to hasten his
demise, they said.
"It is not for us to present him with some
kind of golden parachute after what he's done against his own people,"
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
Rep. Howard Berman, the top Democrat on the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, said in an interview Monday: "The goal is to be
achieved in days, not weeks, without U.S. boots on the ground. As the hours go
by, allied countries, Europe and the Arab countries are playing a larger role.
Our role is becoming less."
Obama addressed the Libya matter while visiting
Chile on Monday. He contrasted his approach in Libya, in which his
administration insisted on an international military partnership, with
President George W. Bush's actions in Iraq, where U.S. forces bore the bulk of
the burden.
"As you know, in the past there have been
times where the United States acted unilaterally or did not have full
international support, and as a consequence typically it was the United States
military that ended up bearing the entire burden," Obama said.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
