Libya calls ceasefire

In response to what may have been an impending French (and British?) air assault. HERE.

“The official, who spoke in retrun for anonymity under departmental rules, said there was no change in Britain’s military preparations. French officials also expressed caution.”

Yes, sounds like a joint British/French operation is planned.

Also in that story, Hillary Clinton (who has not struck me as especially helpful in the region since the January events began) says something out loud that I had assumed was the case, but not heard from any other leader so far:

“There is no good choice here. If you don’t get him out and if you don’t support the opposition and he stays in power, there’s no telling what he will do,” Mrs. Clinton said from Tunisia on Thursday.

I assume that’s not a misstatement. Namely, I assume this means that there’s a full commitment to pushing this far enough to removing Qaddafi from power.

The problem is, if that were the goal it should have been pursued much earlier. With opposition territory severely whittled down by now, an effort to push Qaddafi out could look like a predominantly Western enterprise. If this had been done two weeks ago instead, it would have taken just a nice little push and the Libyan opposition forces could have claimed almost entire credit for it themselves.