Mission Creep in Libya, Continued

The latest:

The French government said Wednesday it would join Britain in sending a small number of military liaison officers to support the ragtag rebel army in Libya, offering a diplomatic boost for the insurgent leader, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, as he met with President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.

. . . the moves, likened by some critics to America’s decision to send military advisers to Vietnam, raised worries in both countries that their military establishments were being drawn closer into the conflict. The French government spokesman, François Baroin, told reporters on Wednesday that the number of military liaison officers would be in single digits and their mission would be to help “organize the protection of the civilian population.” The British deployment could involve up to 20 advisers.

French government ministers stressed that they do not plan to send ground troops to support the rebels.

By this point you have to ask, why not send troops? If the French and British are determined to get rid of Qaddafi, why not land a parachute regiment on his compound and have done with it?