United States and Canada

Allies may give NATO operational control, but not political control

By Scott Wilson and and Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post

From Scott Wilson and and Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post:  The United States appeared to be closer Tuesday to turning over command of the military operation in Libya, with key NATO countries tentatively agreeing that the alliance would take the leading role.

Allied leaders comment on NATO Impasse

By the Telegraph

Day 5 of NATO’s Political Impasse

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  As the military operation continued over Libya on Monday, there was some confusion about which country or organization is actually leading it, and for how long. France, Britain and the United States are in charge of their own operations, which each have different code names.  The participants are […]

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 […]