Pentagon may add air power in Libya conflict -AP [View All]

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Escalation? When do we get to the part about "only advisers" followed by "a temporary strengthening of forces", etc, until it reaches "the new monument to the fallen opens"?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110325/ap_on_re_us/us_us_libya

WASHINGTON – Even as other nations begin taking a larger role in the international air assault mission in Libya, the Pentagon is considering adding Air Force gunships and other attack aircraft that are better suited for tangling with Libyan ground forces in contested urban areas like Misrata, a senior Pentagon official said Friday.

Navy Vice Adm. William Gortney told a Pentagon news conference that for the second consecutive day, all air missions to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya were flown by non-U.S. aircraft, and U.S. planes conducted about half the missions attacking Libyan air defenses, missile sites and ground forces. Qatar became the first Arab nation to join the effort, flying F-16s in support of the no-fly zone.

"The division of labor between the U.S. and our partners has largely evened out," Gortney said.

With the Obama administration eager to take a back seat, it remained unclear when NATO would assume command of the no-fly patrols. Also unclear was when — and even if — the U.S. military's African Command would hand off to NATO the lead role in attacking Libyan ground targets.