Atlantic Council blogs

Turkey puts F-35 order on hold over US refusal to share technology

By Emre Soncan, Zaman

From Emre Soncan, Zaman:  Turkey has announced that it is putting the planned purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets from the US on hold because the Pentagon refuses to share the source code used in the software designed for the aircraft

German leaders criticize Merkel’s split with NATO and European allies

By Steven Erlanger and Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger and Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  Driven by electoral pressures and Germany’s postwar aversion to war and nuclear power, Chancellor Angela Merkel has deeply strained relations with allies in the European Union and the NATO alliance

Libya and Africa

By Peter Pham

As Western-led operations against forces loyal to Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi continue, most analysis in the media has situated events in the context of the developments in the Middle East and its impact on it. Largely forgotten, however, is that Libya is an African power whose fate has significant implications for the rest of the […]

Putin visits Serbia and commemorates anniversary of NATO bombing campaign

By Henry Meyer, Bloomberg

NATO’s top military commander in Turkey

By the AP

Libyan Quagmire

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Are we becoming the tribe that lost its head? The war to get rid of Moammar Gadhafi, the Libyan fashion plate wreck, is already running $100 million a day. The White House says it isn’t planning to request emergency funding — at least not yet. The Pentagon will have no choice in the matter. It […]

Mr. Sarkozy, tear down this wall

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  Mr. Sarkozy needs to step back and let NATO take the lead.

Juppé: “It is important to make clear that the leadership is not NATO”

By Ian Traynor and Nicholas Watt, the Guardian

From Ian Traynor and Nicholas Watt, the Guardian:  Amid arguments over the scope and command of the air campaign against Tripoli, Turkey both blocked Nato planning on the no-fly zone and insisted that Nato be put in control of it, in order to be granted a veto over its operations, senior Nato officials said.

Allied leaders speak out: “This command-and-control business is complicated”

By Mark Landler and Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Mark Landler and Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  “This is complicated,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said to reporters with him in Moscow.

Coalition News: Arab obstacles, Romanian delays, and Ops data

By Andrew Rettman, EUobserver

From Andrew Rettman, EUobserver:  Cyprus, which opposes the campaign, first declined permission for three Qatari planes to use its Larnaca airport to refuel on the way to Libya.