Americas

In Libya, an Odd-Couple Alliance

By Mark Landler, the New York Times

From Mark Landler, the New York Times:  At home in France, he has long been called “Sarko l’Américain.

Grounds for U.S. military intervention

By Henry A. Kissinger and James A. Baker III, the Washington Post

From Henry A. Kissinger and James A. Baker III, the Washington Post: Like most Americans, we believe that the United States should always support democracy and human rights politically, economically and diplomatically

US announces smaller troop cuts in Europe

By the Department of Defense

From the Department of Defense:  The Department of Defense announced today that it is revising its 2004 plan to withdraw two of its four brigade combat teams (BCTs) from Europe.

Tensions emerge in NATO’s Libya mission

By the Financial Times

Russia wants joint “red-button” control over NATO missile defense system

By Simone Baribeau and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg

From Simone Baribeau and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg: Russia wants to join in the planned U.S. missile shield in Europe with “red-button” rights to launch strikes at incoming weapons, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said. Russia, which is pursuing talks on the issue with the U.S., will only accept an agreement that allows it to have a […]

British Say NATO Faces Jet Shortage

By Alistair MacDonald and Stephen Fidler, the Wall Street Journal

From Alistair MacDonald and Stephen Fidler, the Wall Street Journal:  The U.S. pullout from the front line of military activity in Libya has left a shortage of ground-attack jets, prompting the British government to pressure its European allies to send more aircraft into the theater.

Moving toward a joint NATO-Russia missile defense center

By Madeline Albright and Igor Ivanov, the International Herald Tribune

From Madeline Albright and Igor Ivanov, the International Herald Tribune:  Moscow and Washington need a better understanding on missile defense, which otherwise could stall further nuclear reductions.

Keeping Ahead of Qaddafi

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  Wars are messy business, and the international effort to keep Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces from slaughtering Libyan rebels and civilians is proving no exception.

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.

NATO: “No country is vetoing this target or that one, it’s not like Kosovo”

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  Angry charges by Libyan rebels that NATO has failed to come to their aid point up a question that has haunted the Western air campaign from the start: how to avoid a stalemate and defeat the Libyan leader without putting foreign troops on the ground.