International Organizations

Germany and Libya

By Charlemagne, the Economist

Cold War neutrals now taking sides, timidly

By Karl Ritter, the AP

From Karl Ritter, the AP:  Swedish fighter jets are roaring into action over Libya under NATO command.

Netherlands unveils severe military cuts

By the AP

From the AP:  The Dutch government will cut 12,000 military jobs, or more than one in six of all armed forces personnel, as part of spending cuts aimed at balancing the budget by 2015, officials said Friday.

Germany willing to participate in EU mission in Libya

By Spiegel

From Spiegel:  In a Thursday interview with the television channel N24, [German Foreign Minister Guido] Westerwelle said that Germany would take part in a European Union humanitarian mission should such an operation come to pass.

US fuel stops Sweden’s jets from flying Libya mission

By the Local

From the Local:  The Swedish JAS Gripen aircraft deployed in Sicily as part of NATO’s Libya mission remained grounded on Thursday as the fuel available is suitable only for US navy aircraft.

Global Watercooler: A More Robust UN?

By Frederick Kempe

 Around the watercooler today: UN acts in Ivory Coast; China outbids Australia for a Canadian copper mining company; and Germany chooses a new path. UN Watch:  Taking Sides in a Regime Change Strip out all the diplomatic niceties, and what we’re watching in the Ivory Coast is this: the United Nations is enforcing with military […]

EU setting up military operation for Libya

By the Council of the European Union

From the Council of the European Union:  The Council adopted today a decision on a European Union military operation in support of humanitarian assistance operations in response to the crisis situation in Libya ("EUFOR Libya" operation).

Europe needs a miliary avant-garde

By Charles Grant, the Center for European Reform

From Charles Grant, the Center for European Reform:  The Libyan operation has shown that the US now expects Europe to look after its own backyard.

Advice for Obama: Coalitions require constant care and attention

By Meghan O’Sullivan, the Washington Post

From Meghan O’Sullivan, the Washington Post:  Given the most obvious differences between Iraq and Libya — no ground troops in Libya and no U.N. resolution in Iraq — few will take issue with [President Barack] Obama’s protestation.