Libya mission clouded by confusion

The Pentagon claims success in establishing an effective no-fly zone over much of Libya that has grounded Muammar Gaddafis ageing air force. But Gaddafis tanks and troops are still targeting civilians on the ground.

The administration seeks to minimise current disputes over the reins of leadership,suggesting everything will fall in place quickly,ideally by this weekend.

It could still all come around very quickly in our favour. But if thats to happen,we will have to apply much more intensive military power in an effort to make this succeed, said Aaron David Miller,a former top State Department Mideast negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations.

But it doesnt appear to me,given the constraints acting upon us and our own reservations,that were prepared to do that, said Miller,now with the Woodrow Wilson Center,a foreign-policy think tank. Right now,it appears to be settling into a stalemate which isnt terribly hurting on the Gaddafi side.

Obama also faces a sceptical audience on Capitol Hill. House Speaker John Boehner,R-Ohio,wrote to the president saying he and others are troubled that US military resources were committed to war without defining for the Americans,the Congress and our troops what the mission in Libya is and Americas role in achieving that mission.

Boehner said Obama so far had made a limited,sometimes contradictory case for the action.

There also seems to be a disconnect between Obama and his military commanders. He keeps emphasising that the US is just one of many players in the coalition. But in their briefings,the generals and admirals sound like the Pentagon is running the show,at least for now.

To date,the air attacks on Libyan targets have been predominantly American. In a 24-hour period as of late Wednesday,175 sorties were flown,113 by the United States.