'Military Compound' Downed in Tripoli: NATO

BRUSSELS - The building in Tripoli destroyed April 25 by NATO was a "military compound" where "there were various houses and residences, as well as administrative and technical command and control nodes," said Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, commander of the NATO military mission in Libya, in a video link to NATO Headquarters on April 26.
The Canadian Air Force general said all targets NATO engages "are legal, authorized targets" and assured reporters that "the intent is to engage command-and-control nodes."

Asked if NATO was hunting Col. Moammar Gadhafi, Bouchard said the mission was "to bring an end to violence against the [Libyan] population. It's about command-and-control nodes, not individuals."
After another question, he said "it was not about regime change."
Of the three core areas of the alliance's mission - the maritime embargo, enforcing a no-fly zone, and protecting civilians and civilian-populated areas - Bouchard indicated the latter was "probably the toughest." The mission's commander expressed concern that pro-Gadhafi forces were shielding themselves with men, women and children. He also reiterated that NATO's mission was to create an environment where dialogue can take place and where Libyans can decide on their own future. He insisted that efforts to bring about peace were not just military but political and diplomatic.
Asked for an update on progress because NATO said about 30 percent of the pro-Gadhafi regime's firepower had been destroyed, Bouchard said, "This is not a number game" and "is not about the number of tanks destroyed" but is "about bringing effects, reducing the capacity and will of pro-Gadhafi forces to engage civilians."
Bouchard hailed pro-Gadhafi troops who had switched to the anti-Gadhafi side, had sought refuge in neighboring countries or had not reported for duty.
He also said NATO was working on stopping the movement of weapons.
Asked about the introduction of U.S. Predator drones, Bouchard said he welcomed any assistance.
"These weapon systems can engage at close quarters and more will follow," he said.