NATO chief Rasmussen to ask allies to step up their participation in Libya operation

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Monday he will ask some of the more reluctant allies to step up their participation in the military campaign against Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

Fogh Rasmussen said that the three-month extension of the Libya mission decided last week has raised the question of using additional assets from NATO nations which have yet to participate to their full potential.

He did not mention specific nations but said he would make it a “focus” of the two-day NATO defense ministerial opening Wednesday at alliance headquarters in Brussels. Britain and France have been heavily involved since the mission started two months ago.

“Obviously some of those allies and partners carrying the heavy burden start to ask whether it would be possible to broaden the participation a bit,” Rasmussen said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/with-1800-military-targets-damaged-or-destroyed-nato-chief-rasmussen-sees-gadhafi-weakened/2011/06/06/AGudsBKH_story.html

[Arctic Dave]

1. I thought NATO was set up to defend a state if it were attacked.

Why would NATO need to do anything, NONE of them were attacked. It would seem that by joining this CF they would be stepping outside of their intended role.

[jakeXT]

2. So the UK realized they are broke? Maybe planning the war last year was easier

than doing it.