United States and Canada

Donilon: NATO to take command in days, not weeks

By the White House

From the White House: National Security Advisor Tom Donilon discusses U.S. transfer of command to NATO.  MR. DONILON : [W]e would then transfer, as the President has said, in a matter of days, not weeks, over to coalition partners using the NATO machinery the responsibility for the ongoing exercise of those activities. And the United States at […]

Italy threatens to take back its bases unless NATO is in command

By AGI

From AGI:  [Foreign] Minister Franco Frattini has said Italy will take back its bases if NATO does not assume command of operations in Libya.

Turkey Blocks NATO Mission in Libya

By Spiegel

Turkey criticises France’s role in Libya intervention

By Reuters

Putin: anti-Libya force reminiscent of Crusades

By the AP

From the AP:  Russia’s prime minister is strongly criticizing the U.N. resolution allowing international use of force in Libya, saying it reminds him of the Crusades.

Diplomat claims France is the only ally “opposed to a unified command under NATO. It is completely isolated.”

By AFP

From AFP:  A push by several allies for NATO to take over operations in Libya ran into resistance from France on Monday, as the alliance remained on the sidelines of the international campaign.

War by Global Committee

By the Editors of the Wall Street Journal

From the Editors of the Wall Street Journal: Too many commanders in chief could save Gadhafi and undermine U.S. interests. America’s founders gave the powers of Commander in Chief to the President because they knew that war had to be prosecuted with determination, discipline and the national interest foremost in mind. By marked contrast, the use […]

NATO agreement on Libya arms embargo, but not on enforcing no-fly zone

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO ambassadors approved an operations plan for the alliance to help enforce a U.N. arms embargo on Libya on Sunday, a NATO statement said. A NATO official said more discussion was needed on another plan for possible NATO involvement in enforcing a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya. Alliance member Turkey, which […]

NATO divided over direct role in Libya

By Angela Charlton, the AP

From Angela Charlton, the AP:  NATO is divided over whether it should take a leading role or just provide support to air forces already engaged in the mission. In Brussels, NATO’s top decision-making body appeared poised to decide on Sunday "if and how the alliance will join" the effort, said Martin Povejsil, the Czech Republic’s […]

Spain providing aircraft and warships to anti-Gaddafi coalition

By DPA

From DPA:  Spain will provide six aircraft, a frigate and a submarine as part of the international effort to enforce a no- fly zone to protect the Libyan people, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Saturday.