Category: NATOSource

Allies flying more air patrol missions over Libya than US

By Philip Ewing, Morning Defense

From Philip Ewing, Morning Defense:  “We flew a total of 130 coalition sorties, 49 of which were strike-related, meaning they were designed to hit a designated target. Of those total sorties, roughly half were flown by pilots from partner nations,” he [Adm. Gortney] said. “In fact, nearly all, some 75 percent of the combat air patrol […]

Day 7 Partial NATO Breakthrough: “There will still be a coalition operation and a NATO operation”

By Slobodan Lekic, the AP

From Slobodan Lekic, the AP:  NATO agreed late Thursday to take over part of the military operations against Libya – enforcement of the no-fly zone – after days of hard bargaining among its members.

Diplomats mourn “death” of EU defence policy over Libya

By the DPA

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

Putin visits Serbia and commemorates anniversary of NATO bombing campaign

By Henry Meyer, Bloomberg

NATO’s top military commander in Turkey

By the AP

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.