For A No-Fly Zone

 Rebels dig in outside Ajdabiya.

Princeton Professor Anne-Marie Slaughter attempts a point-by-point refutation of arguments against the imposition of a "no-flight" zone over Libyan airspace in today's NYTimes. The rebels themselves seem to welcome the idea, but they had better not plan on it. The West has turned its attention elsewhere; the Arab League will do nothing on its own. They are reportedly digging berms outside Ajdabiya; they might want to think about tunnels.

At this point, the only real hope the rebels have is that the enemy overplays his hand, and they catch him at it. Such an opportunity is indeed quite likely to present itself; the impetuousness of the Gaddafis is legendary. Like Hannibal did with a succession of Roman generals, the rebels might use this to their advantage. Yet this presupposes a unified command and coordination among units. This does not seem to obtain among the rebels of the East, nor does it seem likely to materialize anytime soon.