The Middle East Situation

The clashes between American and Libyan forces in the Gulf of Sirte (Sidra) have elbowed other regional developments off the stage. The incidents were the culmination of several months of growing tension between the two countries, following the attacks at Rome and Vienna airports in December, for which Washington held Libya primarily responsible. The widespread impression both in the region and even in Washington itself was that the maneuvers had been staged by the...