PJ: With Arab leaders telling the west to stay out of the Libya conflict as well as Libyan protesters suggesting that they do not want western military intervention, western governments would be wise to listen rather than act. Even the suggestion from the west that they might intervene might be damaging to long term relations with the Arab world.
The Guardian
US defence secretary Robert Gates slams 'loose talk' about no-fly zones
David Cameron appears to be flying solo as senior Washington man shoots down prime minister's Libya proposal
By Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
US defence secretary Robert Gates slams 'loose talk' about no-fly zones
David Cameron appears to be on a collision course with Washington after the US defence secretary warned of the dangers of "loose talk" about imposing a no-fly zone on Libya.
Robert Gates publicly dismissed Cameron's suggestion that Britain and its allies should consider banning military flights over Libya in an appearance before a congressional committee.
But Downing Street said the prime minister believes world leaders face a "duty" to plan for all eventualities in response to Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on his own people.
In the committee appearance on Wednesday, Gates said: "There is a lot of, frankly, loose talk about some of these military options. Let's just call a spade a spade.
"A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defences. That's the way you do a no-fly zone.
"Then you can fly planes around the country and not worry about our guys being shot down. That is the way it starts."
Gates appeared to snub Britain further when he indicated that a single European power would struggle to enforce such a zone.
"It also requires more aeroplanes than you would find on a single aircraft carrier," he said. "It is a big operation by a big country."
No 10 dismissed the criticism by Gates, a senior member of the US administration, who has served under four presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan.
Asked about the comments, Cameron's spokesman said: "The prime minister set out his position in the House of Commons yesterday, which is that he thinks it is the duty of all governments and leaders at the present time to be thinking about all eventualities and preparing for them."
Pressed on what Gates meant by "loose talk", the spokesman said: "You would have to ask Robert Gates."
Asked whether Downing Street had spoken to the White House in light of the Gates comments, the spokesman said: "I am not aware of any specific conversation on those comments. Obviously we are in close contact with colleagues at the present time."
The criticisms by Gates indicate that Cameron appears to be isolated on the idea of imposing a no-fly zone.
Tory MPs have warned in private that the prime minister, who was alarmed by the government's slow response to the Libya crisis last week, was "shooting from the hip".
Some say his decision to float such an important idea, without appearing to consult Britain's allies in depth, has handed the Libyan regime a propaganda gift. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the Libyan leader's son, told Sky News that Cameron wanted to be a "hero".
Downing Street insisted that Britain's defence chiefs are pressing ahead with plans to impose a no-fly zone. General Sir David Richards, the chief of the defence staff, is carrying out Cameron's request to draw up "contingency" plans for a zone.
"On all these things work is ongoing," the prime minister's spokesman said. "There are a number of ways this could be implemented if that situation were to arise. All those different options are what we are looking at."
The prime minister told MPs on Monday that he had instructed defence chiefs to draw up contingency plans for a no-fly zone.
In a statement on the Libya crisis, Cameron said: "We do not in any way rule out the use of military assets.
"We must not tolerate this regime using military force against its own people. In that context, I have asked the Ministry of Defence and the chief of the defence staff to work with our allies on plans for a military no-fly zone.
"It is clear that this is an illegitimate regime that has lost the consent of its people, and our message to Colonel Gaddafi is simple: go now."
However, the prime minister did acknowledge some of the concerns raised by Gates.
He told MPs: "Introducing a no-fly zone is not without its difficulties and problems. Libya is an enormous country. We would be trying to cover a vast area, and a serious amount of military assets would be required to achieve that.
"Furthermore, it would not necessarily stop all oppression of the Libyan people, because there are ways of carrying that out other than through helicopter gunships and planes.
"However, I think that that is one thing that we need to look at urgently and plan for, in case we find – as we may well do – that Colonel Gaddafi is taking further appalling steps to oppress his people. That is why the conversations are taking place today."
Downing Street all but confirmed that William Hague told the cabinet on Tuesday that British intelligence had failed to predict the uprising across the Middle East.
The prime minister's spokesman said: "It is a reasonable thing to say [about] recent events in that region – there were not lots of people who predicted those events. What happens next is also very uncertain."
video:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/mar/03/robert-gates-dismisses-no-fly-zone
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