UN AUTHORIZES MILITARY STRIKES ON LIBYA

(Reuters) - The United Nations authorised military action to curb Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Thursday, hours after he threatened to storm the rebel bastion of Benghazi overnight, showing "no mercy, no pity."

"We will come, zenga, zenga. House by house, room by room," he said in a radio address to the eastern city.

Al Jazeera television showed thousands of Benghazi residents in a central square celebrating the U.N. vote, waving anti-Gaddafi tricolour flags and chanting defiance of the man who has ruled for four decades. Fireworks burst over the city.

Gaddafi had warned that only those who lay down their arms would be spared vengeance to be exacted on 'rats and dogs'.

"It's over. The issue has been decided," Gaddafi said. "We are coming tonight...We will find you in your closets.

"We will have no mercy and no pity."

The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution endorsing a no-fly zone to halt government troops now around 100 km (60 miles) from Benghazi. It also authorised "all necessary measures" -- code for military action -- to protect civilians against Gaddafi's forces.

But time was clearly running short for the city that has been the heart of Libya's revolution.

Residents said the Libyan air force unleashed three air raids on the city of 670,000 on Thursday and there has been fierce fighting along the Mediterranean coastal road as Gaddafi moves to crush the month-old insurrection.

French diplomatic sources said military action could come within hours, and could include France, Britain and possibly the United States and one or more Arab states; but a U.S. military official said no immediate U.S. action was expected following the vote.

Got that? According to this military source, we voted to authorize a use of force to stop an impending massacre, but no immediate action is required.

That's life under the Obama Administration .

Meanwhile, from Ace of Spades:

Lindsey Graham: I'm Just Thinking the American President Should Be As Bold As The French One. Is That Too Much To Ask?

Vid at CNN.

A couple of points here: The problem is not just that Obama has been, until now, de facto in support of Qaddaffy staying in power. That sort of realpolitik judgment might be defensible.

The problem is that his desire to look good for the cameras and his Michael-Jackson-like dwindling band of worshippers causes him to say things like "Qaddaffy must go" and then sneak in a quick long 18 holes of golf.

Announce a policy, idiot, and then commit to it. Do not encourage Libyans to join the rebellion only to then sit back and be slaughtered in huge numbers.

That's blood on the hands.

If it is your policy to sit back and do nothing, then say so, so people can make potentially life-saving decisions based upon the real facts of the situation.

Meanwhile, the French say they're ready to begin airstrikes at 6:00 ET tonight. And that will entail attacking Qaddaffy's air-defense network and radars and radio towers and such. (That always needs to be done as a first step if you're flying over hostile territory, of course.)

I actually think the French can do this and turn the war around.