Gadhafi shells rebel stronghold.......no fly zone still grounded

Moammar Gadhafi's air force began bombing the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Wednesday, marking the first assault against the safe haven. Government forces have virtually routed the uprising in recent day's since Gadhafi began using his warplanes. If Benghazi is surrounded and sieged, it could spell a quick end to the organized revolt.

Meanwhile, amid French and English calls for action, the much talked about no fly zone is no closer to becoming a reality, and time is running out. The rebel forces have been asking for NATO air support to ground government warplanes, but international opinion has been mixed. A no fly zone would involve air strikes to destroy Gadhafi's air defense system and thus would be an act of war, a step the United States has not been willing to take.