NATO in command

Little by little, the international coalition created to carry out the mandate contained in Resolution 1973 of the United Nations Security Council is putting the pieces together, both in the matter of operational command and in terms of its objectives. The speed with which it was initially put into operation, after the agreement between France, the United Kingdom and the United States, impeded clear vision of the problems that the coalition countries would have to face, especially if, as has been the case, the direction taken by the Libyan civil war were to demand the prolongation for some time of the no-fly zone, and of other actions aimed at protecting the civilian population from Gaddafi's attacks.

The United States, which provisionally assumed the command, expressed its desire to pass it on from the start, showing a clear preference for the option of transferring it to NATO. This has been the form finally taken by agreement, after the parties to it overcame the objections put forward by Turkey and France for different reasons.

The Alliance will go on with its existing work of enforcing the naval blockade, and also ensuring the effectiveness of the no-fly zone that was established in the first days when the international intervention began. The only task that remains in a somewhat fuzzily defined area is the question of attack on land objectives. NATO members have not clarified whether this will remain dependent on the international coalition, as a separate mission, or whether it will be fitted in under the new command. What does seem clear is that the Gaddafi regime will go on suffering attacks against its armored vehicles.

The transfer of command to NATO coincided with Saturday's news that the rebels have retaken control of Adjabiya, a city that is a key to the defense of Benghazi. This was the first convincing evidence that Gaddafi's military power was feeling the effects of the international attacks, an impression that was confirmed by Sunday's advance westward by rebels to take the towns of Ras Lanuf, Brega, Uqayla and Bin Jawad.

The international coalition, under the command of NATO, now need only persist and bide its time, trusting that the drive of the rebel forces will finally achieve the overthrow of Gaddafi's dictatorship. For the moment, the balance of power between the opposing sides still seems uncertain, though there are certain indications, still insufficient, that it might fall on the side of the rebels. If this were to be confirmed, it would be time for diplomacy to go to work to prevent a new government from disappointing the initial hopes in which the Libyans began the revolt.