The United States must be circumspect about any military response to escalating violence in Libya.
In the aftermath of popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, Libyans are attempting to remove dictatorial President Moammar Gadhafi from power. Their protests have been met with violent reprisals, including bombing strikes by Gadhafi's military.
In response to the crackdown, NATO allies are formulating a military response, which pressures U.S. President Barack Obama to contemplate the nature and level of participation.
The alliance has boosted surveillance flights over Libya. Options being considered include a no-fly zone and arming Gadhafi's opponents.
Those options contain drawbacks.
A no-fly zone designed to protect Libyans from Gadhafi's airstrikes is characterized by U.S. officials as a complex and expensive operation that may have little or no effect.
Ivo Daalder, U.S. ambassador to NATO, said: "The kinds of capabilities that are designed to attack the rebel forces and indeed the population will be largely unaffected by a no-fly zone."
With regard to arming the rebels, the White House readily admits we don't know which groups make up the rebel forces and whether it would be prudent to arm them.
During a conversation Monday with Orli Gil, Israel's consul general to the Midwest, we agreed much remains unknown about how uprisings in the Middle East will affect those countries and - by extension - Israel and the U.S.
Much will depend not simply on removing the existing leadership, but on what leadership or government structure follows.
Libya, for example, now is dominated by strife, violence and chaos. Will it be replaced by stability, peace and democracy?
Before making a military commitment, the U.S. must have reasonable assurance its commitment will be effective and beneficial.