Pentagon rules out sending ground troops to Libya

The Pentagon has ruled out sending ground troops to Libya and reiterated that any change in the leadership would be determined by the people of the country and not by any external forces.

"The fact of the matter is, US military boots on the ground are prohibited by the President of the US in Libya. That is just the way it is, and I don't foresee that changing."

"Obviously the commander-in-chief is within his right to adjust to situations, but as the (defence) secretary told the Congress last week, he does not anticipate that changing," he said.

With regards to whether or not other assistance is being contemplated for the rebels in Libya, no decision has been made yet on arming the rebels.

"I think the (defense) secretary made it clear what his preference is with regards to that, that is the course of action that the alliance chooses, the coalition chooses to pursue, that it be done by others, given all that is currently on our plate," he said.

"Right now, the focus, primarily in terms of the interagency discussions on this matter, is what kinds of support we could provide in a nonlethal respect for the rebels in Libya. But that's a complicated discussion. It's an ongoing discussion. But I think that's where the focus is, not on reconsidering the boots-on-the-ground decision," he said.

Morrell said the focus over the past couple of weeks has been on the opening phase of engagement, which has relied heavily on American air power, and naval power for that matter.

"Now we're transitioning into more of a support role that has requirements all its own. We've got a heavy commitment of jamming aircraft; of ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) of all sorts, manned and unmanned; of tankers. So there's a lot that we are contributing to this mission beyond strike sorties and of course, command and control, as well," he said.

Even though Obama administration wants Gaddafi to be out of power, Morrell said it's up to the Libyan people to choose their leaders.

"They have been pretty clear that Libya's next leader needs to be someone who rejects violence, respects the will of the Libyan people and is responsive to their call for change. I'm not certain that any of his children fit the bill," he observed.

"He (Gaddafi) could come under his own volition to realise that it's the right thing to do. He could -- he could be pressured into doing so by some of the military actions that are being brought against him and his forces."

"His military may just find that they are sick and tired of dealing with him and the cost that they are bearing as a result of it," Morrell said.

"There is also the possibility that his family may choose to deal with it in some internal way. But I have not heard him expand on any one of the -- I think he's got seven or eight kids -- on what the merits of one versus the other could be in succeeding him. But this is ultimately a choice for the Libyan people to make," he said.