Americas

Libyan crisis exposes gaps in Europe’s military capabilities

By Philip Stevens, the Financial Times

From Philip Stevens, the Financial Times:  Above all, however, the Libyan venture has betrayed the paucity of Europe’s military capability.

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 […]

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

NATO’s top military commander in Turkey

By the AP

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.

Day 6 of NATO’s Political Impasse: “No decision on anything”

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

Obama: “The exit strategy will be executed this week”

By the AP

From the AP:  Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he can’t predict how long the no-fly zone operation will last, but that the U.S. could turn over control of it as early as Saturday.

NATO briefing on Operation Unified Protector

By NATO

From NATO:  Excerpts from briefing by NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu, Brigadier General Pierre St-Amand of the Canadian Air Force and Director of the Strategic Plans in the Capability Plans and Policy Branch at Allied Command Operations

Norway threatens to ground its F-16s over operational decisions

By Wojciech Moskwa, Reuters