United States and Canada

Empty threats or creeping toward intervention?

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  On Monday, the United States said it was moving military ships and planes closer to the Libyan coast, without specifying what they might do.

Accuser in psyops scandal admits he is not a psyops officer

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran, the Washington Post

From Rajiv Chandrasekaran, the Washington Post:  A spokesman for [Lt. Gen. William] Caldwell, Lt. Col. Shawn Stroud, said the general is not commenting on the allegations because of the ongoing investigation.

Obama tells Merkel that Gaddafi needs to leave

By the White House

From the White House:  Readout of President Obama’s Call with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany

Cyberspace Wars

By Joseph Nye, Jr., the International Herald Tribune

From Joseph Nye, Jr., the International Herald Tribune:  The costs of developing multiple carrier taskforces and submarine fleets create enormous barriers to entry and make it possible to speak of U.S. naval dominance.

Italy suspends treaty with Libya

By Alessandra Rizzo, the AP

From Alessandra Rizzo, the AP:  Italy has effectively suspended a treaty with Libya that includes a nonaggression clause, amid turmoil in the North African nation, the foreign minister said Sunday.

Obama consults with leaders of France, Britain, Italy and Turkey on Libyan crisis

By the White House

From the White House:  Readout of President Obama’s Calls with President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy.

Reaction Muted in Europe to Losing U.S. Tanker Contract

By Judy Dempsey, International Herald Tribune

From Judy Dempsey, International Herald Tribune:  European officials seemed resigned Friday after a $35 billion U.S. Air Force contract for aerial fueling tankers went to Boeing rather than to European Aeronautic Defense & Space, the company that builds Airbus planes.

General Is Said to Order Effort to Sway U.S. Lawmakers

By Thom Shanker, the New York Times

From Thom Shanker, the New York Times:  The American commander in Afghanistan will order an investigation into accusations that military personnel deployed to win Afghan hearts and minds were instructed over their own objections to carry out “psychological operations” to help convince visiting members of Congress to increase support for the training mission there, military […]

UK urges pressure on Gaddafi, EU weighs intervention

By Adrian Croft and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters

Palin calls for NATO involvement in Libya

By Sarah Palin, Facebook

From Sarah Palin, Facebook:  It’s a little perplexing looking at the White House today.