Should We Arm the Libyan Rebels?

The rebels in Libya are having trouble holding their ground against Gadhafi’s forces and the question has arisen as to whether the international community should step in to arm the rebels. Speaking Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that this might be possible, saying “There could be legitimate transfer of arms if a country were to choose to do that, as I said, we have not made that decision at this time.” However, this is a complicated issue. There are worries that this would mean arming extremists as well as severe practical problems. Beyond providing artillery, the rebel groups need training. The BBC’s Jonathan Marcus reports.