Even As US Libya Role Shrinks, Pentagon Considering Adding Air Power For Urban Missions

[Purveyor]

By Robert Burns, The Associated Press – 14 minutes ago

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 a 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 to attack Libyan air defences, 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 labour 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.

MORE...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gerjfjTV33LfqWPjb5PESeigLaWw?docId=6365447

[arcane1]

1. I'm kind of confused

I would have assumed that "the missions to attack Libyan air defences, missile sites and ground forces" would be part of "enforce a no-fly zone over Libya".

Am I missing something? :shrug: