A piece in the New York Times speculated about the potential of expanded US military action against ISIS in Libya. It appears US officials are groping for an effective plan of action to mitigate ISIS maneuvers. The NYT quoted top US national security officials concerning the deteriorating security conditions in Libya and demands for a more assertive stance.
“The ISIL branch in Libya is one that is taking advantage of the deteriorating security conditions in Libya, putting itself in the position to coordinate ISIL efforts across North Africa,” Nicholas J. Rasmussen, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in an interview on C-Span last month.
“On ISIS in Libya, we have to be more assertive,” said Ben Fishman, a former top National Security Council official on North Africa affairs and editor of a new book, “North Africa in Transition.” “We have to increase bombing of ISIS while we are working to support the new unity government.”
To read the whole article, click here.
This is all well and good for Eric Schmitt and US national security officials to advocate for US military intervention or support in the fight against ISIS in Libya, but it can only be actualized if the Government of National Accord is successfully installed in Tripoli and coherently calls for Western assistance. At present, that seems a slim chance. A more interesting article would debate what American and western responses will be if the GNA is never installed in Tripoli or fails to adequately call for western support.