Western Europe

NATO meeting leads to more planning

By David Brunnstrom and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters:  Diplomats said a meeting of ambassadors from the 28 NATO states did not reach a decision on whether the alliance would take part in military operations against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi authorized by a United Nations resolution.

NATO military assets for Libya action

By Reuters

NATO Goes To War. Again.

By James Joyner, the New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, the New Atlanticist:  This time, "NATO" is not a fig leaf for "the United States." While Afghanistan remains a NATO operation in name, it has long since Americanized on the ground.

Cameron: “Britain will deploy Tornadoes and Typhoons” to enforce UN Resolution

By David Cameron, Office of the Prime Minister

From David Cameron, Office of the Prime Minister:  The resolution specifically authorises notifying Member States to use all necessary measures to enforce a No Fly Zone and to protect civilians and civilian populated areas, including Benghazi.

NATO may carry out airstrikes against Libya in next few hours – source

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  NATO is ready to carry out precision airstrikes against Libya, and the military operation may begin in the next few hours, a NATO source said on Friday. "The decision is expected to be formally approved during today’s meeting of the NATO Council. Relevant military planning for this case has already been made, […]

NATO to meet Friday to decide involvement in Libya

By the Wall Street Journal

From the Wall Street Journal:  NATO ambassadors were set to meet Friday morning to decide on involvement in the operation, diplomats said.

US and allies debating details of intervention in Libya

By Dan Bilefsky and Mark Landler, the New York Times

From Dan Bilefsky and Mark Landler, the New York Times:  After the [UN] vote, President [Barack] Obama met with the National Security Council to discuss the possible options, European officials said. He also spoke by telephone on Thursday evening with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, a French diplomat […]

UN authorizes military action in Libya

By Maria Golovnina and Patrick Worsnip, Reuters

From Maria Golovnina and Patrick Worsnip, Reuters:  The United Nations authorized military strikes to curb Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, hours after he threatened to storm the rebel bastion of Benghazi overnight, showing "no mercy, no pity.

NATO nations to increase sharing of imagery and intelligence assets

By NATO

From NATO:  In the spirit of “smart defence”, nine Nations have launched at the end of February a five-year project that will significantly boost the Alliance’s ability to tackle new challenges such as piracy by rapidly sharing imagery and other information from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets.

European governments “completely puzzled” about U.S. position on Libya

By Josh Rogin, the Cable

From Josh Rogin, the Cable:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s meetings in Paris with the G8 foreign ministers on Monday left her European interlocutors with more questions than answers about the Obama administration’s stance on intervention in Libya.