In a timely and important article, U.S. News discusses current US military initiatives in Libya and the potential for future western anti-ISIS campaigns. Noting previous airstrikes against Jihadi targets and the presence of US Special Forces in Libya, the article underlines the importance of establishing a legitimate government in Libya which can then call for western assistance. US officials are also quoted on the potential dangers that could stem from increased revue from oil sales; however, there is lack of evidence to suggest ISIS has the capacity to sell Libyan crude oil. Both the commentary of senior US officials and the lack of substantive action thus far suggest that the presence of elite troops and potential plans to expand military campaigns will be ineffective at best.
Some members of Congress have expressed concern that the Obama administration’s preliminary plans for Libya won’t work and will only endanger these forces, particularly if it mirrors the current strategy in Iraq and Syria of limiting conventional military trainers to bases and sending out only small teams of commandos to strike Islamic State group targets.“We’re looking at taking decisive military action against ISIL [in Libya] in conjunction with a legitimate political process,” Dunford told reporters during a recent trip to Paris for talks with U.S. senior military counterparts there.
To read the full article, click here.