Category: NATOSource

President Obama’s Statement on Libya

By Barack Obama, the White House

From Barack Obama, the White House:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I just completed a call with my National Security Council on the situation in Libya.

National Composition of NATO Strike Sorties in Libya

By Jorge Benitez

Eight nations participated in strike sorties in NATO’s Operation Unified Protector (OUP) in Libya. These nations are the US, France, Great Britain, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway.  However, there are now only seven nations conducting strike sorties because Norway withdrew its aircraft as of August 1. Britain contributed four additional fighters to help offset the loss […]

NATO Proves Critics Wrong

By Barry Pavel, the New Atlanticist

From Barry Pavel, the New Atlanticist:  The naysayers were proven wrong last night, as the Libyan rebels, much more quickly than even the closest observers predicted, took the Libyan capital from its dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, who had ruled with an iron fist for over 40 years.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on August 21

By NATO

Collapse of Gaddafi’s defenses startles NATO

By Michael Birnbaum, the Washington Post

From Michael Birnbaum, the Washington Post:  As rebels in Libya continued to establish their control of Tripoli on Monday, senior NATO officials they were startled by the speed with which Moammar Gaddafi’s defenses have collapsed.

NATO: combat air patrols over Libya to continue until all pro-Gadhafi forces surrender

By the AP

From the AP:  NATO will continue its combat air patrols over Libya until all pro-Gadhafi forces surrender or return to barracks, officials said Monday.

President Obama’s Statement on the Collapsing Gaddafi Regime

By the AP

From the AP:  Tonight, the momentum against the Gadhafi regime has reached a tipping point. Tripoli is slipping from the grasp of a tyrant. The Gadhafi regime is showing signs of collapsing.

Surveillance and Coordination With NATO Aided Rebels

By Eric Schmitt and Steven Lee Myers, the New York Times

From Eric Schmitt and Steven Lee Myers, the New York Times:  As rebel forces in Libya converged on Tripoli on Sunday, American and NATO officials cited an intensification of American aerial surveillance in and around the capital city as a major factor in helping to tilt the balance

Update: NATO activities in Libya on August 20

By NATO

NATO Secretary General: “The future of Libya belongs to the Libyan people”

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  The Qadhafi regime is clearly crumbling. The sooner Qadhafi realises that he cannot win the battle against his own people, the better — so that the Libyan people can be spared further bloodshed and suffering.