Western Europe

Obama: “Our most effective alliance, NATO, has taken command”

By Barack Obama, the White House

From Barack Obama, the White House:  In this effort, the United States has not acted alone. Instead, we have been joined by a strong and growing coalition.

North Africa is Europe’s problem – not Obama’s

By the Editors of the Observer

From the Editors of the Observer:  Committees are sometimes the fairest way to decide policy; rarely, if ever, are they the most efficient. As a system for conducting wars, their shortcomings are obvious.

Behind NATO’s agreement on Libya, friction remains

By Ian Traynor and Julian Borger, the Guardian

Sarkozy reignites row over NATO military role in Libya

By Ian Traynor, the Guardian

From Ian Traynor, the Guardian:  Nicolas Sarkozy has belittled Nato’s role in the military operations against Muammar Gaddafi, re-igniting the row over who replaces the Americans in charge of the campaign in Libya. … The Nato decision is expected by Monday, before foreign ministers meet in London on Tuesday to discuss Libya. Senior officials were […]

US expects more from its partners

By Philip Stevens, the Financial Times

From Philip Stevens, the Financial Times:  Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron put themselves in the vanguard of diplomacy to stop Libya’s Muammer Gaddafi. When Mr [Barack] Obama eventually consented, he attached a condition: you want it, you can own it.

Juppe praises Clinton diplomacy: “Bravo, Hillary”

By MSN India

From MSN India:  "[I]t was a four-way call with the French foreign minister, the British, the Turk, and Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton, during which time they hammered out the deal that was later announced," said the [senior administration] official.

Coalition command compromise: small war council, plus broader assembly

By Ian Traynor and Nicholas Watt, the Guardian

From Ian Traynor and Nicholas Watt, the Guardian:  The US, Britain, France and Turkey agreed to put the three-pronged offensive – a no-fly zone, an arms embargo, and air strikes – under a Nato command umbrella

Libyan crisis exposes gaps in Europe’s military capabilities

By Philip Stevens, the Financial Times

From Philip Stevens, the Financial Times:  Above all, however, the Libyan venture has betrayed the paucity of Europe’s military capability.

German leaders criticize Merkel’s split with NATO and European allies

By Steven Erlanger and Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger and Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  Driven by electoral pressures and Germany’s postwar aversion to war and nuclear power, Chancellor Angela Merkel has deeply strained relations with allies in the European Union and the NATO alliance

NATO’s top military commander in Turkey

By the AP