Western Europe

Hillary’s War: Clinton credited with key role in success of NATO airstrikes, Libyan rebels

By Joby Warrick, the Washington Post

From Joby Warrick, the Washington Post:   At 5:45 p.m. on March 19, three hours before the official start of the air campaign over Libya, four French Rafale jet fighters streaked across the Mediterranean coastline to attack a column of tanks heading toward the rebel city of Benghazi.

NATO’s Success in Libya

By Ivo H. Daalder and James G. Stavridis, the International Herald Tribune

From Ivo H. Daalder and James G. Stavridis, the International Herald Tribune:  Monday, Oct. 31st, seven months after it started, NATO’s operation in Libya will come to an end.

Britain and France should not give up on EU defence co-operation

By Clara Marina O’Donnell, the Center for European Reform

From Clara Marina O’Donnell, the Center for European Reform:  Britain and France must work with Poland to refocus the EU debate on military capabilities. Britain should adopt a more constructive stance towards operational headquarters and agree to explore the matter so long as other EU countries improve their armed forces beforehand. Instead of asking EU […]

U.N. ends mandate for NATO operations in Libya

By Louis Charbonneau, Reuters

From Louis Charbonneau, Reuters:  The U.N. Security Council on Thursday canceled its authorization for a seven-month-old NATO military operation in Libya that led to the ouster and death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Is NATO’s intervention in Libya a model for future wars?

By Thom Shanker and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From Thom Shanker and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:  The United States military has spent just $1.1 billion in Libya, and in the words of Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., “didn’t lose a single life.” He added that “this is more of the prescription for how to deal with the world as we […]

Gaddafi almost escaped after rebels failed to heed warning from British and Qatari special forces

By Ben Farmer, the Telegraph

From Ben Farmer, the Telegraph:  More than 6,000 miles away, deep in the lunar landscape of the Nevada desert, American specialists trained to their computer screens spotted unusual activity at around 7.30am in District Two.

In Europe, new fears of German might

By Michael Birnbaum, the Washington Post

From Michael Birnbaum, the Washington Post:  For decades, Germany’s role in Europe has been to supply the cash, not the leadership.

In Libyan Conflict, European Power Was Felt

By Brian Knowlton, the New York Times