Libya

Mullen: Rebels Headed Toward Stalemate

Airstrikes have taken out 40 percent of Gaddafis' forces.

Admiral Mike Mullen has some good news, and some bad news. The good news: Coalition air strikes have degraded Gaddafi's ground forces by 30 to 40 percent. Nevertheless, “It's certainly moving toward a stalemate,” the chairman of the U.S. Joint chiefs of staff told troops during a visit to Baghdad. In Libya, however, the rebels seemed to gain some ground on Gaddafi's forces, taking the Tunisian border town of Wazen and sending Gaddafi's forces fleeing across the frontier. They also made progress in Misrata, bolstered by new airstrikes and aid shipments. In further good news for the rebels, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the U.S. would be sending armed Predator drones to assist with the coalition airstrikes.