Operation could last months: US officials

Lawmakers of both parties voiced skepticism over the length, scope and costs of the mission.

“We have to a very large extent completed the military mission in terms of getting it set up. Now, the no-fly zone and even the humanitarian side will have to be sustained for some period of time,” said Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

Asked for how long on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Gates said, “Nobody knows the answer to that question.” But he said sustaining the no-fly zone would take “a lot less effort” than establishing it.

He said the Pentagon was planning to shift some of its resources to European and other countries pledging to take on a larger role.