Members of Gaddafi’s forces willing to give up the fight may have a hard time signaling a ceasefire, according to Vice Admiral William Gortney, the Director of the Joint Staff.
“If we assess that they are threatening the Libyan people by their action and we can positively identify them and meet our collateral damage concerns, we will take them under attack,” Gortney told reporters at the Pentagon. “Maybe they ought not use their tank or armored personnel carrier as a mode of transportation to get home.”
Gortney noted Gaddafi forces need to either “cease fighting … stay in place or abandon their equipment” in order to guarantee that they won’t be attacked.
However, the call to abandon their equipment may be more difficult than it seems since armed rebels are still a powerful force in the country.