As James Kirkup says, David Cameron’s
appearance on Sky News this morning was intriguing. In addition to trying to reassure the massing media doubters that the coalition “remains strong” despite its differences, the PM was
keen to discuss the military mission in Libya.
The letter that he authored with Sarkozy and Obama on Friday asserted that regime change was a necessity for peace. Since then, both Whitehall and the Elysee have insisted that Gaddafi cannot remain.
How then might he go? Plainly, Gaddafi will not abdicate of his own volition. On the other hand, Cameron is adamant that there can be no ‘invasion or occupation’, and he reiterated the point this morning. Therefore the rebels will have to defeat Gaddafi. And therein is the problem: reports suggest that the rebels are rag-tag of ill-disciplined brigands, except for the jihadist element that fought against the West in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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