Ex-diplomat says U.S. waited too long to act
Crocker says Gadhafi may hold onto part of Libya
By LINDSAY WISE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
March 24, 2011, 12:44AM
A longtime U.S. diplomat to the Arab world said on Wednesday he fears the establishment of a no-fly zone in Libya came too late, and that Col. Moammar Gadhafi might hold onto power, at least in the western part of the country.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle editorial board, retired U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker shared his assessment of the upheaval in the Middle East and the need for an American troop presence in Iraq beyond the Dec. 31 deadline for complete withdrawal.
Crocker was an early proponent for intervention in Libya.
"Problem is, it came so late," he said. "Two weeks ago, I think we could have gotten rid of Gadhafi with the no-fly zone because the momentum was with the rebels, and the Tripolitanians probably would have joined. And now I am not nearly so sure. He may get pushed back to Tripolitania, but he could remain in power in one-third of the country."
As it was, if the no-fly zone had waited one more day, Gadhafi's forces would have taken Benghazi, he said.
"We dithered and frittered and let the French take the lead at the last conceivable possible minute, preceded by the Arab League," Crocker said. "When the Arab League is in front of you, you know that your timing's off."
Now, Gadhafi could hang on for quite a while, and Libya might split in two, with rebels holding ground in the east and pro-Gadhafi loyalists hanging on in the west, he said. Such a scenario leaves the U.S. with an "awful mess" of having a stated policy that Gadhafi has got to go, but no effective means of getting him out, he added.
"If you thought he was a megalomaniacal murderer before this started … now he's really pissed off," Crocker said.
As for Iraq, Crocker said he would like to see about 20,000 U.S. troops remain there beyond the Dec. 31 withdrawal deadline he negotiated with the Iraqi government several years ago. Renegotiating the security agreement would be politically impossible, Crocker said, "but there are still lots of creative options, and you can call it whatever you want."
If U.S. troops stayed on in Iraq it would be in an advisory role only, he said.
lindsay.wise@chron.com
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