Western Europe

U.S. action helped cause of freedom in Libya

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  We’ve seen across the Middle East, as in the rest of the world, that freedom isn’t something that gets “imposed.

Should the Libya Model be applied elsewhere?

By Robert Haddick, Small Wars Journal

From Robert Haddick, Small Wars Journal:  Although NATO explicitly stated that it had "no intention of deploying land forces anywhere in Libyan territory," the New York Times asserts that this was not the case.

NATO Campaign Won’t Be a Model for Future Action

By Alistair MacDonald, John W. Miller and Nathan Hodge, the Wall Street Journal

From Alistair MacDonald, John W. Miller and Nathan Hodge, the Wall Street Journal:  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Libyan air campaign succeeded in helping rebel fighters on their way to Tripoli, but NATO’s involvement lasted longer than politicians hoped

Intell and Special Forces from allies helped rebels take Tripoli

By Karen DeYoung and Greg Miiler, the Washington Post

From Karen DeYoung and Greg Miiler, the Washington Post:  The rapid weekend advance of Libyan rebel troops into Tripoli was the result of an opposition strategy put in place two weeks ago with the advice of British, French and Qatari special forces on the ground

National Composition of NATO Strike Sorties in Libya

By Jorge Benitez

Eight nations participated in strike sorties in NATO’s Operation Unified Protector (OUP) in Libya. These nations are the US, France, Great Britain, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway.  However, there are now only seven nations conducting strike sorties because Norway withdrew its aircraft as of August 1. Britain contributed four additional fighters to help offset the loss […]

Surveillance and Coordination With NATO Aided Rebels

By Eric Schmitt and Steven Lee Myers, the New York Times

From Eric Schmitt and Steven Lee Myers, the New York Times:  As rebel forces in Libya converged on Tripoli on Sunday, American and NATO officials cited an intensification of American aerial surveillance in and around the capital city as a major factor in helping to tilt the balance

As NATO scales back in Libya, pressure mounts to end war soon

By Paul Richter, the Los Angeles Times

The Slow Death of Europe

By Walter Laqueur, the National Interest

From Walter Laqueur, the National Interest:  With all its importance, the economic crisis is only part of our sad story—and probably not even the decisive one. For the present debacle is also one of an apparent lack of a common European identity and values, of national interests prevailing over a shared European interest.

Churchill and the need for transatlantic leadership

By David Gergen, CNN

From David Gergen, CNN:  In Europe and especially in the U.S., the public is disgusted with politics because their leaders squabble like kids in a sandbox. Churchill lived in a day when there were bitter fights too. But upon taking the reins, he immediately formed a coalition government.