LIBYA UPDATE – AT 6:25 P.M. ET:  There are conflicting reports on what exactly is happening in Libya.  Reports on CNN say that the supreme leader is holed up in a small part of Tripoli still under his control.  Fox reports claims by others in the tottering government that they still control most of the country.

We do know that the Libyan air force was turned against some of the protesters today, but we don't yet know the impact of the air action.

At the same time, there is diplomatic action going on, and other action possibly in store.  From London's Telegraph:

David Cameron and other Western leaders are on the brink of ordering military action against Col Muammar Gaddafi amid fears that the Libyan dictator could use chemical weapons against his own people.

The Prime Minister disclosed that he would not rule out “the use of military assets” as Britain “must not tolerate this regime using military forces against its own people”. Britain and America are also thought to be considering arming rebel forces in Libya.

Adding to growing concern about the crumbling regime’s ability to commit last desperate acts of mass murder, British sources have disclosed that Libya still has stocks of mustard gas chemicals.

Mr Cameron told MPs that Britain and its allies were considering using fighter jets to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, patrolling and shooting down Libyan aircraft ordered to attack protesters.

The Pentagon announced that the Americans had begun “repositioning forces” around Libya to provide “flexibility”. The French also announced that they would back a possible military intervention with NATO partners.

COMMENT:  Someone might slip a note to America's ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, who made a firm statement on TV a few hours ago saying it was premature to consider the use of force.  Of course, Rice believes everything is premature, and does not seem overly concerned about events outside the dinner circuit at the UN in New York.

February 28, 2011