The Gulf War of 1991 was similar in some respects in that its aims were to evict Saddam Hussein's troops from Kuwait and damage their capability so much that they would cease to be a threat to the region.

BBC: Why war effort to oust Gaddafi has few options remaining

By so doing, the United States could make clear that its "national" missile defense system will actually be a global capability, thus denying critics and those who would divide America from her allies the argument that the former will be protected at the latters' expense.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy