And Libya goes on...

[JMA]

The US would love to see MG gone but they don't want to be the ones to remove him. Simple enough, and not unreasonable.

Sorry, don't buy that spin.

And for this the US administration is prepared to trade the lives of hundreds (probably thousands) of Libyans?

The US has a fundamental problem.

It has a packaged President almost right out of the 1972 movie The Candidate - which should be required viewing by every American in every election year.

The Administration's policy is shaped by political consultants, lawyers, PR consultants, party hacks, assorted spin doctors etc etc - all of whom are more concerned with appearances than substance.

I can just imagine how this cluster of clowns freaked out at the thought of the Libyan rebels carrying out retribution on Gaddafi's kith and kin in Sirte as they followed on the coattails of the US/French/British air strikes westward. Then the last straw was the Russian criticism about supposed civilian casualties and there followed a collective bowel movement. The result? The US pulled out of the air action and effectively hamstrung the efforts to protect the Libyan civilians and the world saw the rebels rolled back to the gates of Benghazi with the people of Misrata being sacrificed on the alter of political expediency and "good" appearances.

How many Libyans have died as a result? Who cares right? As long as the US can't be seen to topple Gaddafi.