United Kingdom

French admiral suggests sharing aircraft carrier with Britain

By Thomas Harding, the Telegraph

From Thomas Harding, the Telegraph:  Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier also disclosed that the French navy was amazed by the swath of cuts last year that severely reduced the Royal Navy with the axing of aircraft carriers and Harrier jump jets alongside warships.

First strikes by NATO helicopters against Gaddafi forces

By MSNBC

From MSNBC:  British Apache and French attack helicopters struck targets for the first time in NATO’s campaign in Libya, hitting Moammar Gadhafi’s troops early Saturday near a key coastal oil city, the alliance said. The action was a significant step-up in NATO’s operations and a major boost to Libyan rebels on the ground, just a […]

First images of Western “boots on the ground” near Misrata battlelines

By Tony Birtley, Al Jazeera

Are US caveats in Libya operation prolonging the conflict?

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  Each time he addresses the war in Libya, President Obama seems to contradict himself.

Obama’s Westminster speech highlights NATO and the transatlantic relationship

By Barack Obama, the White House

From Barack Obama, the White House:  We are the allies who landed at Omaha and Gold, who sacrificed side by side to free a continent from the march of tyranny, and help prosperity flourish from the ruins of war.

US-UK Relationship Essential, Not Special

By Julian Lindley-French

President Obama has done Britain and Europe a huge favor. By recasting the ‘special’ relationship as an essential relationship the president has released London from the shackles of an increasingly hollow ‘specialness.’

NATO’s air war in Libya is “grinding down the regime”

By Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:  As Tuesday’s heavy airstrikes in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, underscored, NATO is escalating the pace and intensity of attacks on Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces

Obama worried about UK leaving Afghanistan, Cameron worried about US leaving Libya

By Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post

From Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post:  Obama arrives as Britain is attempting to balance financial constraints against a still ample desire for global influence — an influence bought in large part through its strategic and military alliance with the United States.

“The Libyan operation has been a strategic shock to Europe”

By Roger Cohen, the New York Times

From Roger Cohen, the New York Times:  The Libyan operation has been a strategic shock to Europe — and here we get to the careful-what-you-wish-for side of un-slavishness.

Cameron and Obama: Special Relationship thrives “because it advances our common interests and shared values”

By David Cameron and Barack Obama, British Foreign Ministry

From David Cameron and Barack Obama, British Foreign Ministry:  [W]hen the United States and Britain stand together, our people and people around the world can become more secure and more prosperous.