The European Council on Friday approved the decision to mount an EU military operation to support humanitarian efforts in Libya, if asked to do so by the United Nations.
For humanitarian purposes, of course. NATO already mentioned the possibility of sending in troops post-major combat operations.
The Europeans have a lot of motivation to help over there lest the Libyans in need flee to southern Europe to get help.
If we go in, I do hope we have more specific public commitments of troops from our European allies, many of whom pulled a disappearing act over missions to Iraq after we did the heavy lifting in spring 2003. Although, as I said, the Europeans have more self interest in coping with refugees that would inspire action if we go in.
I still think Europe could scrape up the division to capture Tripoli. But they are under less pressure to do that since we made Khaddafi's fate a matter of our interest (he "must go," I believe President Obama said).
