(Franco Iacch)
03/08/16

http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/libia-il-pentagono-consegna-il-piano-militare-alla-casa-bianca-poco-tempo-agire-poi

The Pentagon has presented to the White House military options feasible immediately to contrast the threat of the Islamic State in Libya. The main option advanced by the military is to carry out "massive air strikes against training camps, command centers and stores identified in Libya".

The Coalition has identified 40 sensitive targets in four areas of the country. "If we destroyed them now, we could deal a serious blow to the most dangerous branch of the Islamic state out of Iraq and Syria, and would open the way to the western Libyan militias". Option also outlined by the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

Despite on the table, the large-scale air assault continues to be strongly discouraged by the State Department. "These air strikes, if not properly coordinated, could jeopardize the efforts of the United Nations for the creation of a government in Libya."

We will continue to strike the terrorists in Libya - said Obama last February 25 on the sidelines of a meeting of the National Security Council - but we have to find a diplomatic solution.

It 'still a struggle against time. United States, Britain, France and Italy, trying to manage a precarious balance, in an effort to ensure a fragile political path that could lead to a government in Libya. The priority of the political solution does not take into account the potential benefit of immediate aggressive military action.

Where we can, we attack - said General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - avoiding to undermine the political process. In a few months - he added Dunford - understand if this strategy will have been successful or if, instead, we will have in front of a real army.

The question of the raids in Libya, also should be read in a tactical profile. Last fall, in a rare episode of candor, the US intelligence said that "despite the presence on the ground of several teams of British special forces, American, French and Italian, do not have enough information to identify the objectives of the Islamic State Libya ".

The strength of the Islamic state in Libya is estimated from 6500 to 7000 terrorists. The main centers of the caliphate, according to the Department of Defense, is in Sirte, Tripoli and Benghazi.

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IZAKOVIOC