Western Europe

Behind Qatar’s Intervention In Libya

By David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs

From David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs:  Qatar’s actions in Libya took most analysts by surprise when, in March, it sent six Mirage fighter jets (which likely represented the majority of Qatar’s operational fighter strength) to join in NATO air operations.

With NATO’s blessing, Britain withdrawing helicopter carrier from Libya op

By Craig Hoyle, Flightglobal

From Craig Hoyle, Flightglobal:  Six aircraft from the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy have returned to the UK after participating in the NATO-led operation to safeguard Libyan civilians.

List of nations with special forces in Libya conflict

By David Stringer, the AP

From David Stringer, the AP:  RUSI’s examination also concluded that special forces had played a key role in the Libya conflict, despite the fact the U.N. resolution ruled out the deployment of foreign ground troops.

British think tank: Libya campaign needed luck

By David Stringer, the AP

From David Stringer, the AP:  The NATO-led air campaign in Libya needed luck to overcome its initially haphazard command, complex new international partnerships and the withdrawal of the United States from a leading role, a top military think tank says.

Germany’s Woeful Security Council Record

By Ralf Neukirch, Spiegel

From Ralf Neukirch, Spiegel:  March 17 of this year. That was the day on which the Security Council passed its Resolution 1973 on Libya, which called for the implementation of a no-fly zone and the use of military force to protect the civilian population. All Western and African members of the council voted in favor […]

Britain begins withdrawing fighter jets and attack helicopters from Libya operation

By Craig Hoyle, Flightglobal

From Craig Hoyle, Flightglobal:  The UK is to scale back its equipment contribution to NATO’s Operation Unified Protector campaign, but has said its decision will not reduce its current fast jet sortie rate over Libya.

Are the Franco-British defence treaties bad for NATO?

By Benoit Gomis, defensemanagement.com

Obama seeks to ease doubts on global leadership

By Matt Spetalnick and Laura MacInnis, Reuters

From Matt Spetalnick and Laura MacInnis, Reuters:  President Barack Obama sought to ease doubts about his leadership on the world stage on Wednesday as he confronted a looming diplomatic crisis in the Middle East and hailed popular revolts shaking the Arab world. Obama attempted to reassert his credentials as a world statesman in an address […]

SAIC-led consortium to analyse NATO missile defense

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO signed a contract with a consortium led by U.S.-based Science Applications International Corp on Tuesday to analyse ways of transforming the alliance’s battlefield missile defence system. . . . It said engineers from France’s EADS Astrium , Germany’s IABG, Italy’s SELEX SI, TNO of the Netherlands, Britain’s QINETIQ and SAIC […]