Peace on the horizon in Libya?

There has been a lot of chatter over the past two weeks about cease-fire and peace agreements between rebel fighters and the Libyan government.  In many cases, the rumors are quickly contradicted by the actions of Gaddafi or refuted by the representatives of the rebellion.  The latest report is that the African Union has sent a delegation to both Tripoli and Benghazi in the hopes to negotiate a cease-fire, even though the African Union itself is divided over Gaddafi and the current war.

While the talks are trying to get underway, the European Union resolved this week to conduct military operations on the ground in Libya to provide humanitarian aid and to protect refugees.  These operations would be separate from the current NATO/UN-backed no-fly zone, so the UN would have to authorize the use of troops on the ground.  With the no-fly zone crippling both the Libyan air force as well as aircraft ground support equipment, the European forces can keep their attention focused on threats on the ground.  However, the coalition forces are having problems identifying friends from foes.

Coalition planes bombed rebel positions two weeks ago, killing 14 fighters in the process.  Reports by both rebel leaders and coalition members cite a pro-government operative running into a rebel-controlled area and fired anti-aircraft guns into the air.  Coalition planes responded to the threat by destroying the installation.  A week later, coalition planes killed 5 fighters after bombing suspected pro-government tanks that actually belonged to the rebellion.

For the sake of the innocents on the ground, it is our hope that either a resolution to the war comes sooner, and/or aid from the European forces reach those in need.  There is no sign that Gaddafi will be stepping down from power on his own, and the pro-government and rebel forces seem to be caught in a stand-still around cities like the oil-town of Brega.  With such fluid conditions on the ground, and confusions over who is truly gaining control over the different regions on the ground, the concept of peace might be out of reach at the moment.