U.S. eye more firepower to hit pro-Qaddafi forces

As the military eyes other tools in its arsenal, the White House announced late Friday that President Barack Obama will give a speech to Americans on Monday evening explaining his decision-making on Libya to a public weary after a decade of war.

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy a Qatar Emiri Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet takes off on Friday from Souda Bay, Greece. Photo: AP,

Battered by a week of allied air strikes, forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi still remain a potent threat to civilians, according to Pentagon officials, who are considering more firepower and airborne surveillance systems to find and attack the enemy troops.

As the military eyes other tools in its arsenal, the White House announced late Friday that President Barack Obama will give a speech to Americans on Monday evening explaining his decision—making on Libya to a public weary after a decade of war.

The timing comes as Republicans and Democrats have complained that the president has not sought their input about the U.S. role in the war or explained with enough clarity about the U.S. goals and exit strategy.

Among the weapons being eyed for use in Libya is the Air Force’s AC—130 gunship, an imposing aircraft armed with cannons that shoot from the side doors with precision.

Other possibilities are helicopters and drones that fly lower and slower and can spot more than fast—moving jet fighters.

With the U.S. pressing to shift full command of the Libya air campaign to the NATO alliance, the discussion of adding weapons to step up the assault on Col. Qaddafi’s ground troops reflects the challenges the coalition faces in hitting the right targets.

U.S.—led forces began launching missile strikes last Saturday against the defences of embattled Libyan strongman Qaddafi to establish a no—fly zone and prevent him from attacking his own people.