Seemingly with an eye to Russia, Defense Secretary Robert Gates excoriated those who “are taking at face value Qaddafi’s claims about the number of civilian casualties, which, as far as I’m concerned, are just outright lies.” He also said the “kinetic energy” of the assaults would slow, “I assume in the next few days.” H/T the Times.
China has gone farther than Russia in its condemnations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said, “We’ve seen reports that the use of armed force is causing civilian casualties, and we oppose the wanton use of armed force leading to more civilian casualties,” while the People’s Daily and the Global Times editorialized against this “humanitarian disaster.”