Gates: Notion of force against Libya 'loose talk'

By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday tempered talk of the military establishing a no-fly zone that could help rebels force Moammar Gadhafi from power.

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In the House of Representatives, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told lawmakers that sending in air cover to protect the rebels in Libya — something the 22-member Arab League on Wednesday said it opposes — would amount to an act of war. The U.S. first would have to wipe out Libya's air defenses to protect its own planes, he said. Decrying "loose talk" around Washington of establishing a no-fly zone, Gates said, "A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya."

Gates added that although the Pentagon could set up a system to stop Gadhafi from sending up planes to bomb his people, it would be a huge and costly undertaking, and the United Nations Security Council has not authorized any military action in Libya. "It's a big operation in a big country," Gates said.

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