"WASHINGTON The prospect of a deadly siege of the rebel stronghold in Benghazi, Libya, has produced a striking shift in tone from the Obama administration, which is now pushing for the United Nations to authorize aerial bombing of Libyan tanks and heavy artillery to try to halt the advance of forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi." Even without a no-fly zone in place, the story mentions a "no-drive" zone. Hmmm! NY Times HereAnd this from Libyia via Reuters.Too little; too late? National JournalUPDATE: The United Nations Security Council approved a measure on Thursday authorizing all necessary measures to protect Libyan civilians from harm at the hands of forces loyal to Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi. HereUPDATE 3/18: From a briefing to Congressional leaders Thursday, 3/17 about Libya: "Several senators emerged from the briefing convinced that the administration was intent on beginning military action against the forces of Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi within the next few days and that such action would include both a no-fly zone as well as a "no-drive zone" to prevent Qaddafi from crushing the rebel forces, especially those now concentrated in Benghazi."View from the UK: sober.

Margaret O’Brien Steinfels is a former editor of Commonweal. 

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