Western Europe

Washington’s Options on Libya

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  The Obama administration is throwing out so many conflicting messages on Libya that they are blunting any potential pressure on the Libyan regime and weakening American credibility.

Gates: “no unanimity within NATO for the use of armed force”

By Ewen MacAskill and Julian Borger, the Guardian

From Ewen MacAskill and Julian Borger, the Guardian:  Despite the rhetoric of the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in backing a no-fly zone, French Nato officials are averse to the alliance’s intervention in north Africa, arguing it would discredit the pro-democracy movement and provide an opening for Islamist extremists to exploit the turmoil and declare an […]

What message is Europe sending?

By Gavin Hewitt, the BBC

Cyberspace Wars

By Joseph Nye, Jr., the International Herald Tribune

From Joseph Nye, Jr., the International Herald Tribune:  The costs of developing multiple carrier taskforces and submarine fleets create enormous barriers to entry and make it possible to speak of U.S. naval dominance.

Obama consults with leaders of France, Britain, Italy and Turkey on Libyan crisis

By the White House

From the White House:  Readout of President Obama’s Calls with President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy.

Proposals and disagreement over NATO meeting on Libya

By Slobodan Lekic, the AP

From Slobodan Lekic, the AP:  Before the North Atlantic Council meeting began Friday afternoon, Spain said it will propose that NATO deploy radar-equipped surveillance aircraft known as known as AWACS off Libya’s coast to monitor the situation.

UK urges pressure on Gaddafi, EU weighs intervention

By Adrian Croft and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters

Gates: US has not discussed Libyan operation with NATO allies

By Stephen Hayes, the Weekly Standard

From Stephen Hayes, the Weekly Standard:  Defense secretary Robert Gates says the United States has not had discussions with its NATO partners about how to handle the unfolding crisis in Libya, and he believes that the United States could not quickly enforce a no-fly zone in the country to keep military jets from shooting on […]

Battling US for huge deal, Eurofighter woos Japan

By Eric Talmadge, the AP

From Eric Talmadge, the AP:  In a deal that could be worth billions of dollars and determine one of the primary fighter jets in Asia for decades to come, European aircraft makers are trying to convince Japan to do something it has never done before – snub America.