Reservations On Libya Bombing

Once again, the West failed to reach a deal on Tuesday: At a meeting in London of G-8 foreign minister, opponents led by Germany rebuffed France and Britain. Both countries have been calling for the imposition of a no-fly zone or other military measures in Libya in order to stop the advance of dictator Moammar Gadhafi's troops. But they have been repeatedly stalled by their allies, led by Germany.

Positions have changed little since the NATO defense minister meeting and at theEuropean Union summit last week. In their closing statement, the club of industrial nations merely warned the Libyan leader of "dire consequences," with no mention of a no-fly zone.

Despite ongoing opposition to such a measure, Lebanon on Tuesday evening submitted a first draft resolution for a no-fly zone to the United Nations Security Council, which meets on Wednesday in New York. The resolution would "take all necessary measures to enforce compliance" of a "ban on all flights in the airspace of (Libya) in order to help protect civilians." It would also include flights from abroad suspected of carrying mercenaries from other countries to back Gadhafi's effort to stamp down the revolt.

But the success of the draft, which Britain and France helped to formulate, is anything but certain. Skeptics are well represented on the Security Council. China, Russia and Germany have all expressed their reservations.