U.S. defends role in Libya

White House spokesman Jay Carney said there had been a "dramatic increase" in NATO sorties Sunday and Monday. STORY HIGHLIGHTS"We have no plans to change our posture," says the White House spokesmanJay Carney says a two-day "dramatic increase" in NATO sorties shows capabilityA State Department official says the NATO-led mission has protected civilians Washington (CNN) -- U.S officials defended America's role in the NATO-led mission in Libya Monday, amid criticism that Washington is not doing enough as the coalition struggles.

White House spokesman Jay Carney downplayed reports that NATO is running out of munitions to fight the war.

Carney told reporters that "a dramatic increase" in NATO sorties Sunday and Monday "demonstrates the capacity of NATO to fulfill its mission" in securing a no-fly zone over Libya.

"We have no plans to change our posture," he said.

At the State Department, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said if NATO commanders need assets that can only be provided by the United States, they can ask for them, and the U.S. would consider those requests.

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"The U.S. has other assets in theater," Gordon said, and "at this time those commanders have not asked the United States to do so."

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