Analysis: Rebels are dying as Nato's willingness falters

SO NATO has finally attacked the forces of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi outside the besieged city of Misrata with British Apache attack helicopters - but the question is: does the alliance have the stomach for this murderous game of poker?

Nato clearly has the capacity and, finally, the nerve, to strike key targets in Col Gaddafi's killing machine, destroying tanks, armoured vehicles and anti-aircraft positions close to Misrata.

Yet when Col Gaddafi responded with his day-long bombardment, the sky was empty of Nato jets - leaving the rebels to take the full brunt of the dictator's fury.

Just the night before, rebel commanders had complained that they had requested air support during a week of attacks - the ferocity of which were only eclipsed by the events of yesterday.

But the truth is Nato lacks the capability and the will to intervene. Without forward air controllers at Misrata, the fast jets and Apaches would struggle to find targets.

Nato's problem is its insistence in fighting a half-war. For political reasons, it refused to put boots on the ground or even deploy the forward air controllers who would have turned the tide in yesterday's battle. It is also hamstrung because the Apaches and French Tigers and Gazelles are fragile beasts; vulnerable to ground fire and unable to intervene alone in a battle without close control.

Nato also has no realistic way of hitting the dozens of Grad launchers - metal tubes that can be erected in minutes to unleash the ground-to-ground rockets that caused such havoc on rebel frontlines. Nothing short of carpet bombing can deal with this threat.

Add to that the fact that the UN, which ordered Nato into action, has forbidden the rebels from buying the weapons to counter Col Gaddafi's forces.

Supposedly that job lies with Nato. But its existing strategy of an airstrike every few days is not working, and the rebels are dying.