Here's hoping

My general agreement with the UN security council's decision to authorise the use of military force against the Gaddafi regime is, at the moment, tinged by sadness on two issues.

First, it may be too little, too late, though this doesn't negate, in my view, the point of trying to salvage what one can from this not at all optimistic-looking situation.

Second, I'm disappointed not only that the Luftwaffe will not be taking part (except, perhaps, as crew in AWACS planes) but also that Germany didn't use its vote on the security council in favour of the operation.

Yet another embarrassing misstep by an increasingly embarrassing government.

Ah well.

Far more importantly: here's hoping that the bombs fall only where they should and that the aircrews make it back safely.