Libya: what we didn't know

Americans are a pretty ignorant lot, especially when it comes to goings-on outside the continental 48. This is not only Walt's opinion, but the finding of Newsweek's "What We Don't Know" quiz. 2/3 of quizzees don't know what happened at the Constitutional Convention. 40% don't know who we fought in World War II. Try the quiz yourself and see how you do.

This ignorance gets America into a lot of trouble, especially when it gets sucked into "a spot of local trouble" in places which only a minority can locate on a map. Like Libya.

Seems we -- to be fair, other countries have jumped into the dogpile -- had another "oops!" moment yesterday. Five more Libyan rebels were killed by "friendly fire" when NATO planes bombed a rebel tank column. This was because ... errr ... we didn’t know the "good guys" had tanks.

In war, unlike the courts, ignorance would seem to be a valid excuse. Rear Admiral Russell Harding, deputy commander of the operation, said NATO had no previous information the rebels were operating tanks. In the past, only forces loyal to Gadhafi had used heavy armoured vehicles, he said. So that's all right then. No apology will be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, in Washington, General Carter "Smoked" Ham [No more cheap jokes, please! Ed.], head of US African Command, said the situation on the ground is "unclear and fluid", unlike the situation in the air which is fluid and unclear.

General Ham was asked if a stalemate was emerging in the seven-week-old conflict. He told a Senate hearing, "I would agree with that at present." He added that the USA should not arm the rebels without a better idea of who they were! In other words, in our ignorance, we're giving weapons to anyone with a red, black and green flag. Why? Because we're ignorant!

When asked how the war would end, Ham answered, "I think it does not end militarily." Walt asks, if a war doesn't end militarily, how does it end? How will we know when we've won and yet another sandpit has been made safe for democracy and the education of girl children? Will we ever know? Will we ever learn?