Reply #64: ‘Eyes of the world were on NATO,’ Canadian general says

[tabatha]

Sacking the capital would have to be entirely a rebel initiative. “It was clear that we (NATO) couldn’t take Tripoli. You can’t do it from 30,000 feet.’’

Once the anti-Gadhafi fighters breached the capital’s ramparts, there was little NATO could contribute.

“We couldn’t get into that furball,” says Bouchard. “We couldn’t get into the middle of that spaghetti bowl because you don’t know who’s who. They’re not wearing uniforms, the equipment’s the same. There was no way we could bomb Tripoli. That close-in battle — it was their fight, not ours. So you let them deal with it while we concentrated on removing the capability for (loyalist forces) to hit Tripoli with long-range weapons.

“And it turned out, for this campaign, to be the viable way of doing business.’’

Critically, by that juncture NATO had destroyed Gadhafi’s capacity to defend or go on the offensive. As well, as Bouchard had strategized, the bulk of loyalist troops would refuse to stand and fight once they’d been severed from their leadership — which was effectively accomplished by destroying command structure and communication.

Bouchard had access to sophisticated surveillance but, as the capital fell to the rebel advance, he watched events unfold on TV, like everyone else. “I was amazed at the speed that it happened.’’

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1050654--eyes-of-the-world-were-on-nato-canadian-general-says?bn=1