Gates: U.S. will 'ramp down' Libya ops

WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates Thursday told the House Armed Services Committee U.S. forces will "significantly ramp down" their commitments in Libya.

Gates, who spoke as NATO assumed command of coalition operations in the North African country, said the United States will continue to provide "the capabilities other nations don't have in kind and scale," the Defense Department said in a release.

While U.S. forces provided the majority of assets and firepower during the initial phase of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the U.S. focus going forward will be on "electronic attack, aerial refueling, lift, search and rescue, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support," the release said.

"There will be no American boots on the ground in Libya," Gates told the committee, adding the coalition is not bent on ousting Col. Moammar Gadhafi from power.

"In my view, the removal of Colonel Gadhafi will likely be achieved over time through political and economic measures and by his own people," Gates said.

The NATO-led mission, called Operation Unified Protector, is aimed at degrading Gadhafi's capabilities "to the point where he -- and those around him -- will be forced into a very different set of choices and behaviors in the future," Gates said.

"In the space of about two months, the world has watched an extraordinary story unfold in the Middle East. The turbulence being experienced by virtually every country in the region presents both perils and promise for the United States," Gates cautioned.

"The security and prosperity of the United States is linked to the security and prosperity of the broader Middle East. It continues to be in our national interest to prevent Gadhafi from visiting further depredations on his own people, destabilizing his neighbors, and setting back the progress the people of the Middle East have made in recent weeks."

White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Thursday NATO took sole command of international air operations over Libya at 6 a.m. GMT.

Asked about President Barack Obama's public statements that the mission will be limited in duration, Carney acknowledged the administration "can't predict, and obviously this could go on for a certain amount of time."

"The scope of the U.S. involvement will be limited," he said.