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Fri, April 22, 2011 | Rubin Reports | By Barry Rubin

NATO enforcing Libyan no-fly zone. Three Dutch F-16 aircraft prepare for landing at the Decimomannu airbase, in Sardinia, Italy, Thursday, March 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Rosi Coroneo)

The Plan in Libya (in 100 words)

Here’s what’s happening now in Libya:

— Western forces bomb Libyan government forces on various pretexts.

— Give intelligence to rebels.

— Give military advisors to rebels.

— Give rebels arms indirectly.

Goal: Rebels win war with no direct Western intervention on the ground or Western casualties. Dictator Muammar Qadhafi falls; Western intervening states say: All we did was protect civilians and have a no-fly zone! We stuck to the UN resolution.

What happens afterward? Not clear anyone has thought that through.

In a few years critics will skewer this operation as deceptive. One hopes they won’t also be ridiculing a catastrophic outcome.