Gates opposes major US military role in Libya

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Itar-Tass) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said
on Thursday he was categorically against a major Afghan or Iraq-like U.S.
military intervention in Libya and against arming anti-Gaddafi rebels.
"My view would be, if there is going to be that kind of assistance to
the opposition, there are plenty of sources for it other than the United
States," Gates told the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee
on Thursday.
Gates defended the military operation in Libya saying "we may not know
much about the opposition or the rebels, but we know a great deal about
Gaddafi." Still he insisted the United States will not engage in a
possible ground operation "as long as I am in this job."
However he admitted the operation may hardly help oust the Libyan
leader.
"You could have a situation where you achieve the military goal and
not achieve the political goal," Gates said.
Speaking later in the Senate Armed Services Committee Gates said "I am
preoccupied with avoiding mission creep and avoiding having an open-ended,
very large-scale American commitment in this respect. We know about
Afghanistan; we know about Iraq."