Too quiet on the Western front?

The UN has voted for a no-fly zone over Libya to stop Gaddafi’s brutal attacks on his own people. But will the military intervention stop there? We look at media comment on the controversial decision.

A call to arms

A no-fly zone will not stop Colonel Gaddafi’s brutal battle on the ground, writes the Financial Times.

... To correct this, supportive nations in the west and elsewhere should heed the appeals for assistance coming from the rebel leadership and supply their forces with arms. ... The west cannot do the rebels’ fighting for them. But that should not mean shying from measures that would help them to put an end to Col Gaddafi’s savagery.

Love for the US?

The fact that the Arab League called for a no-fly zone over Libya says a lot about Arab support of the US, writes The Wall Street Journal.

... The ... decision confirmed what we've heard privately from Arab leaders for years about America's continued engagement in the Middle East. The only people who suffer from an "Iraq syndrome" are American liberals and the Western European chattering classes. The friendly Gulf or North African allied states have nothing to gain in seeing American influence or military power devalued in their region. ...

Giving Gaddafi what he wants

A no-fly zone is not the answer, writes The Guardian. 

... The moment the US intervenes militarily, even under a UN banner, Gaddafi gets what he wants — to be the defender against the foreign aggressor. Libya’s rebels are unanimous in their opposition to a ground intervention. ... The Arab League is split and western military intervention risks hijacking a popular revolution. ...