The repositioning of US ships and aircraft closer to Libya is widely seen as a symbolic show of force since neither the United States nor its NATO allies have shown any appetite for direct military intervention in the turmoil that has seen Qaddafi lose control of large swaths of his country.

The White House said the ships were being redeployed in preparation for possible humanitarian efforts. But it stressed it “was not taking any options off the table,” diplomatic language that signals military action is still a possibility.

But beyond flexing military muscle and freezing a record $30 billion in Libyan assets, Washington has limited influence on events inside Libya. Republican lawmakers and others have pressed President Barack Obama to do more militarily, but they have focused mainly on imposing a “no-fly” zone.

The USS Barry, a destroyer, moved through the Suez Canal on Monday and is now in the southwestern Mediterranean. Two amphibious assault ships, the USS Kearsarge, which can carry 2,000 Marines, and the USS Ponce, are in the Red Sea and now heading to the canal.

“We are going to keep the pressure on Qaddafi until he steps down and allows the people of Libya to express themselves freely and determine their own future,” Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
 

At the same time, the United States would work to stabilize oil prices, which soared to a 2 1/2-year high last week over unrest in the oil-producing North African country and elsewhere in the region, she said.

“This is a situation that does have potential implications for oil supply, oil prices,” she said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned of civil strife if Qaddafi, whose forces are trying to regain control of areas now in rebel hands, refused to step down.

“In the years ahead, Libya could become a peaceful democracy or it could face protracted civil war, or it could descend into chaos” she told lawmakers in Washington.

Clinton said the United States and its NATO allies were actively considering imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.

That would prevent Qaddafi from using his air force against the rebels, although analysts say the Libyan leader has been relying mainly on ground forces to attack protesters, who are demanding an end to his 41-year rule.

A US military official said imposing the no-fly zone would be challenging, citing Libya’s anti-aircraft defenses.

“You would have to remove air defense capability in order to establish a no-fly zone, so no illusions here,” General James Mattis, commander of US Central Command, told a Senate hearing.

Libya’s Air Defense Command is estimated to have at least 216 surface-to-air missiles and 144 towed and 72 self-propelled missiles. But many analysts say much of Libya’s military equipment is poorly maintained or unusable, raising questions about what threat the anti-aircraft missiles would pose.

US planes bombed Libya in 1986, killing more than 40 people, in response to the bombing of a Berlin disco used by US servicemen that was blamed on Libya.