White House plays down intel assessment of Libya

The White House played down a US intelligence assessment of Libya Thursday that said Moamer Gaddafi's forces are better equipped to outlast the rebels in a prolonged conflict, dpa reported.

President Barack Obama's national security advisor Tom Donilon told reporters the assessment was "one-dimensional" and did not account for the international pressure bearing down on Gaddafi's regime, nor for the aid that could come to the rebels.

"I don't think that is the most informative analysis," Donilon said.

The top US intelligence official, James Clapper, told members of Congress Thursday that Gaddafi was more likely to hold onto power the longer the conflict dragged out because his forces had a better supply of weaponry and was logistically superior. "From a standpoint of attrition ... ," Clapper said, "the regime will prevail."

Donilon said that viewpoint was solely based on Gaddafi's military capabilities, and did not account for the various "dynamics" that include the vast movement throughout the Middle East for change, and the continued international isolation of Gaddafi through sanctions.

"Clapper was presenting a flat out resource analysis in terms of the regime," Donilon said. "From a standpoint of just attrition analysis you get to (his) conclusion."

Donilon noted there is now an international arms embargo on Gaddafi that could limit his ability to fight in the future, and he noted there was growing support and outreach to the opposition rebels who control the eastern part of the country.