Gaddafi demise offers brief relief for stretched NATO

[jakeXT]

BRUSSELS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Muammar Gaddafi's death should bring a swift conclusion to NATO's mission in Libya, offering a moment of relief and satisfaction after a seven-month campaign that exposed strains and doubts within the alliance.

On Friday, NATO said it had made a preliminary decision to end its air and sea campaign on Oct. 31 and said a formal decision would be made next week, based on the security situation after the transitional authorities declare the formal liberation of Libya, something they plan to do on Sunday.

NATO said its campaign would be wound down in the days leading to the end of the month and hailed a successful implementation of its U.N.-mandated mission to protect civilians during the uprising against Gaddafi, who was killed on Thursday.

It can point to some big positives -- not least that it did not suffer a single casualty, despite flying 26,000 air sorties, and kept unintended civilian casualties to a minimum thanks to the use of precision-guided munitions.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E7LL4AR20111021

[msongs]

1. the unintended casualties are glad to know this, being expendable and all nt

[jakeXT]

2. Are there intended civilian casualties? Sounds to me like that when I read it.