Atlantic Council blogs

NATO Commander Calls for More Warplanes

By Stephen Fidler, the Wall Street Journal

From Stephen Fidler, the Wall Street Journal:  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization needs eight sophisticated ground-attack fighters to carry out its mission in Libya, according to the alliance’s top military commander.

Libya tests limits of NATO without US

By Robert Burns, the AP

From Robert Burns, the AP:  President Barack Obama’s insistence that NATO, not the U.S., take the lead in attacking Moammar Gadhafi’s military is exposing a hard truth

NATO states resist French, British call on Libya

By Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO allies rebuffed on Thursday French and British calls to contribute more actively to the air war in Libya despite fears of a military stalemate.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on April 13

Clinton warns NATO: “Gaddafi is testing our determination”

By Matt Spetalnick, Reuters

From Matt Spetalnick, Reuters:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged NATO on Thursday to maintain unity, saying Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was trying to test the alliance’s resolve in the Western-led air campaign against his forces.

Operation Libyan Freedom

By Harlan Ullman

The stated political aim of NATO and the coalition now conducting military operations over Libya authorized by U.N. Security Resolution 1973 to “use all necessary measures” to protect civilians is to end the rule of Moammar Gadhafi and his regime. But when queried about the seeming inconsistency between the military objective of protecting civilians and […]

Sarkozy and Cameron wrestle with NATO’s burden sharing problem

By Edward Cody, the Washington Post

From Edward Cody, the Washington Post:  President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the vanguard of intervention in favor of rebel forces, met at the Elysee Palace with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Coming Geopolitical Upheaval

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born, then add the age you will be this year – and the result will be 111 for everyone born in the 20th century. This year will also experience four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11/ 11/11/11. October 2011 will have five Sundays, five […]

Atlantic Update 4/14/11

By Klee Aiken

Today Europe is preoccupied with finance. Finland threatens to block the Portuguese bail out, The European Commission looks to increase its budget, and Greece is on the edge of further unrest as austerity measures lead to restructuring. Meanwhile in Berlin NATO foreign ministers discuss the way forward in Libya including the recent call for Gaddafi […]

Berlin’s stance on Libya has isolated Germany in NATO

By Nicholas Burns, Deutsche Welle

From Nicholas Burns, Deutsche Welle:  There’s no question that the European members of NATO would have been more effective as a military unit if German forces had contributed to the mission.