Long Slog in Libya Only Beginning

President Obama announced in his speech to the nation that the United States will shortly be "handing off" to NATO the leadership of the ongoing military operation in Libya. He did not say exactly what the United States would continue to do, other than to be in a supportive role. "Supportive" is a very elastic term, however. In fact, it may have to be stretched some distance if Qaddafi's forces continue to hold out, much less regain some ground, against the rebels for more than one or two months. That is so because the Europeans, and Britain in particular, simply do not have the military resources, or the requisite economic strength, or the domestic political support to prosecute a high intensity campaign of air strikes for any greater length of time.