THE PREZ CLARIFIES THE U.S. STANCE ON LIBYA…

According to a U.S. national security official yesterday, some of Moammar Gadhafi’s forces have “pulled back” from a few Libyan towns after U.N.-authorized airstrikes heavily impaired their defenses. Advances by Gadhafi’s troops had been “stalled” in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, as well as Ajdabiya and Misrata. However, the official said Gadhafi’s forces were still active and a cease-fire does not seem likely. The military action by U.S. and European forces began Saturday, and on Sunday British forces struck Gadhafi’s compound in Tripoli. The strike was reportedly targeting Gadhafi’s military command ability, but not Gadhafi himself. It was not known where the longtime leader was when the missile hit. There was a report yesterday that one of Gadhafi’s sons, 27-year-old Khamis, was killed when a Libyan pilot deliberately crashed his plane into Khamis’ compound in a kamikaze attack, but officials have denied this. Speaking from Chile yesterday, President Obama said that while Gadhafi must go, the mission in Libya is strictly humanitarian.