they ought to tell us what the objectives are. be very clear and very transparent about it. if they re not, and we get into this mission creep as we call it where you gradually start changing the objectives and the french may have different objectives than the brits than the dutch than the italians. the italians are crucial in this. they have a good relationship with libya, so all these complications, i think, are just bringing up questions when you commit military force. it s easy to commit them. it s how you get into the end game. that s why i m questioning this. how are we going to get into an end game that doesn t overcommit us when we re already committed now? we ve got this crisis in japan we re trying to help with, etc. so we are stretched thin. reporter: general and michael, thank you very much. thanks, shannon. well, a leading figure of the libyan opposition movement has released a statement praising coalition forces for military action against qaddafi s regime.