"If NATO does nothing, Gadhafi could regain most of Libya," a Western
diplomatic source said. "This prospect is highly threatening to Western interests, both in terms of energy
as well as terrorism."
So far, the alliance has not approved any military option in Libya, Middle East Newsline reported. But
several of its leading members have agreed that Gadhafi must be ousted and
a pro-Western regime installed over the next few weeks.
"Gadhafi will not leave, and if he stays in power he will cut all ties
to the West and seize Western energy assets," the diplomat said. "He
will do his best to hurt the European Union and the United States, and this
cannot be tolerated."
The most feasible option for NATO would be to assign special forces to
conduct sabotage operations against the Gadhafi
regime, a Western analyst close to the alliance said. On March 2, a fuel
truck exploded in downtown Tripoli that sparked
fires throughout the area. It was not clear whether the explosion was an
accident or sabotage.
At the same time, Western military advisers could help organize rebel
operations meant to collapse the regime from safe havens along the Libyan
borders with Egypt and Tunisia. Analysts said the goal would be to frighten
Gadhafi supporters and perhaps the colonel, himself, to free Tripoli.
"The revolt in Libya has reached the point where the overthrow of
Moammar Gadhafi appears to be the only viable solution," Russian analyst
Andrei Fedyashin said. "Outside military intervention is all but inevitable,
be it direct or in the guise of 'humanitarian aid' to the opposition and
rebel forces."
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