What was billed as a UN intervention to prevent a bloodbath, has developed into a cynical means of decapitating the Libyan state by killing Muammar el-Qaddafi. NATO has twice before targeted the despot, claiming it was destroying "command and control" installations. The third strike was close enough to Qaddafi to kill his son Seif, and three grandchildren. Repugnant Senator Lindsey (SC) has cried for blood on American television saying that NATO should "cut the head of the snake off" to avoid a stalemate. Prime Minister Putin, during an official visit to Denmark, expressed his distaste for the allied overstepping of the UN mandate to protect civilians from Libyan government attacks. At a news conference Putin pointedly asked, who gave NATO permission to eliminate Qaddafi? He also said NATO was becoming a belligerent on one side of the conflict. Prime Minister Putin later added Russia would not approve further UN action on Libya unless it leads directly to peace negotiations. Qaddafi has offered to talk with NATO, but his offered was ignored. The western alliance has repeatedly demanded that Qaddafi leave power. NATO ground forces are already operating in Libya according to this report from RT: