Gaddafi is becoming more and more isolated
WASHINGTON: On Thursday Admiral Mike Mullen, the US military chief said that Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi was increasingly isolated but that the NATO alliance was prepared for a sustained military campaign.
He said, “There are from my perspective some signs, certainly in the last few days, that the Gaddafi is becoming more and more isolated,” Mullen told a breakfast with reporters.
Mullen pointed to the defection of Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem, who had been a key figure in the regime, and said he had received a report that a group of “young generals” had also parted with Gaddafi.
But Mullen welcomed NATO’s extension of its military mission until late September.
“I think from my perspective, and I’ve engaged with the commanders on this, that we’re going to be okay until September,” said Mullen.
NATO had initially authorized action until June 27 after a push led by Britain and France to intervene out of fears that Gaddafi forces would kill a large number of civilians following an uprising.
Asked if the operation was taking more time than anticipated, Mullen said: “Longer than expected probably depends on who you talk to, quite frankly.”
Western powers have tried to portray the longtime strongman’s departure as inevitable, with NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen saying Wednesday: “The question is not if Gaddafi will go but when.”
