NATO's campaign in Libya has reached stalemate, the media has concluded; but some political leaders counter that time is on NATO's side, rather than with the Libyan regime. Both views are too simplistic. Modest recent gains by rebel forces in western Libya suggest that the war is not completely deadlocked. But NATO has not yet applied sufficient combat power to decisively change the balance on the ground. And the longer the campaign goes on, the greater the risks posed by a possible bombing blunder or unpredictable turn of events. Awareness of such risks may be behind the stepping-up of NATO efforts.