Western Europe

Europe and NATO weakened despite Libya victory

By AFP

From AFP:  The intervention mandated by the United Nations and carried out under NATO command "is a success because two major nations took their responsibilities," French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said earlier this week.

What Are Russian Strategic Nuclear Bombers Doing Infiltrating NATO Airspace?

By Jesus Diaz, Gizmodo

From Jesus Diaz, Gizmodo:  This is really strange and nobody is talking about it: the Russians are getting their Tu-95 Bear strategic nuclear bombers deep into European airspace without permission.

Well Done, NATO!

By Julian Lindley-French, the New Atlanticist

From Julian Lindley-French, the New Atlanticist:  NATO will soon suspend Operation Unified Protector over Libya. Nigh on ten years after 9/11 and after a gruelling decade of controversy and division the Alliance can finally chalk up an unequivocal success.

Europeans Retreat on Defense Spending

By Stephen Fidler and Alistair MacDonald, the Wall Street Journal

From Stephen Fidler and Alistair MacDonald, the Wall Street Journal:  Europe’s strapped militaries are looking for ways to cooperate with one another to compensate for cutbacks. But past efforts on that front have run into difficulties.

Could NATO’s Libya mission be its last hurrah?

By Robert Marquand, the Christian Science Monitor

From Robert Marquand, the Christian Science Monitor:  Despite Qaddafi’s prediction that Western leaders would fall “like Hitler and Mussolini” and his claims that he was "ready for a long war,” NATO weathered six months of a see-saw battle in Libya

Curious victory for NATO in Libya

By Michael Clarke, Royal United Service Institute

From Michael Clarke, Royal United Service Institute:  Few dispute the assertion that NATO jets enabled Libyan rebels to come knocking on Qadhafi’s door in Tripoli. But as he  falls, it will be difficult to avoid the conclusion that NATO emerges from this successful operation weaker than it went into it. . . . The NATO-led […]

Success in Libya reinforces value of NATO

By David Owen, the Telegraph

From David Owen, the Telegraph:  Paradoxically, it is Nato rather than the UN that emerges battered and divided from the intervention. Only eight of its 28 members – less than one third – agreed to engage their air forces and bomb Libya.

Libya’s impact on transatlantic security

By James Blitz, the Financial Times

From James Blitz, the Financial Times:  Above all, the US, having spearheaded the initial assault, took a back seat – catching Britain and France by surprise.

Libya doesn’t equal success for NATO

By Kurt Volker, Foreign Policy

Covert teams from NATO members “provided critical assistance” to Libyan rebels

By Lolita C. Baldor and Slobodan Lekic, the AP

From Lolita C. Baldor and Slobodan Lekic, the AP:  As the battle in Libya appeared at stalemate, it was an open secret that foreign military advisers were working covertly inside the country providing guidance to rebels and giving tactical intelligence to NATO aircraft bombing government forces.