The Hill News

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that a no-fly zone will not be enough to stop Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's brutal crackdown on rebels but he precluded the use of ground troops there.

"Now, a no-fly zone is not enough. There needs to be other efforts made," McCain said on CNN's “State of the Union.” The 2008 Republican presidential nominee added that he was not referring to ground troops, but instead to jamming Gadhafi's communications systems, sending more aircraft carriers into the area as well as sending weapons to Libyan rebels. 

"I want to preclude ground troops," McCain said. "That is not what we are talking about." 

Also on the program was Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). He said considering the president's words that Gadhafi must step down, the end game in Libya must include the ending of his regime there.

"If we don't work with our allies to make sure that Gadhafi does go, America's prestige and credibility suffers all! over the world," Lieberman said.

McCain said President Obama waited too long to order the no-fly zone over Libya but he believes the effort will be successful in the end and will lobby other lawmakers for their support.

"He waited too long. There is no doubt about it in my mind, but it is what it is," McCain said. "We need now to support him."