Western Europe

Political Gridlock at NATO

By Con Coughling, the Wall Street Journal

From Con Coughling, the Wall Street Journal:  Many European powers, such as Germany, insist the NATO mission should be confined to the humanitarian objectives set out in U.N. resolution 1973, namely to protect innocent civilians and establish a cease-fire.

NATO aims to close 4 bases

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom, Reuters:  NATO officials also declined to provide details, but the reforms proposed by Rasmussen aimed to cut the number of major NATO bases to seven from 11.

Liam Fox on NATO allies: “Too many are doing too little”

By the AP

From the AP :  The pressure on Germany, Poland, Spain, Turkey and Netherlands comes as the alliance continues with intensified airstrikes on Libya’s capital

French admiral suggests sharing aircraft carrier with Britain

By Thomas Harding, the Telegraph

From Thomas Harding, the Telegraph:  Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier also disclosed that the French navy was amazed by the swath of cuts last year that severely reduced the Royal Navy with the axing of aircraft carriers and Harrier jump jets alongside warships.

First strikes by NATO helicopters against Gaddafi forces

By MSNBC

From MSNBC:  British Apache and French attack helicopters struck targets for the first time in NATO’s campaign in Libya, hitting Moammar Gadhafi’s troops early Saturday near a key coastal oil city, the alliance said. The action was a significant step-up in NATO’s operations and a major boost to Libyan rebels on the ground, just a […]

First images of Western “boots on the ground” near Misrata battlelines

By Tony Birtley, Al Jazeera

Are US caveats in Libya operation prolonging the conflict?

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  Each time he addresses the war in Libya, President Obama seems to contradict himself.

Obama’s Westminster speech highlights NATO and the transatlantic relationship

By Barack Obama, the White House

From Barack Obama, the White House:  We are the allies who landed at Omaha and Gold, who sacrificed side by side to free a continent from the march of tyranny, and help prosperity flourish from the ruins of war.