Libya war divides NATO

[Catherina]

Libya war divides NATO
By Peter Schwarz
24 March 2011

The war against Libya has ignited a heated conflict within NATO. After several days of negotiations, the 28 members of the military alliance were unable to agree on the command structure for the action against Libya. On Monday, the conflict escalated to the point where the German and French delegations walked out of a NATO Council meeting on the war.

Finally, it was agreed that NATO would monitor the arms embargo against Libya by sea—a secondary military task. Germany, which is not participating in the war against Libya, then withdrew its warships from the NATO flotilla in the Mediterranean.

The most steadfast opposition to NATO assuming command of the war has come from France and Turkey, although for opposed reasons. France is afraid of losing its leading role in the war, while Turkey objects to a NATO dominated by French interests and is insisting on a greater role for the United Nations.

France played a leading role in both the preparation for war and the initial military strikes. The overthrow of the dictatorships in Egypt and Tunisia, both of which have close economic and political relations with France, was a blow to French influence in North Africa. The events in Libya offered an appropriate opportunity for a counter-offensive.

...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/nato-m24.shtm...

[JoePhilly]

1. Turkey is so mad, they sent elements of their navy to help.

And they want NATO to take the lead.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12864742

[Catherina]

2. Anything to wreck Sarkozy's plans

"I wish that those who only see oil, gold mines and underground treasures when they look in Libya's direction, would see the region through glasses of conscience from now on."

"The aim is not the liberation of the Libyan people. There are hidden agendas and different interests."

- Turkey

...

Earlier this week, Claude Guéant, the French interior minister who was previously Sarkozy's chief adviser, outraged the Muslim world by stating that the French president was "leading a crusade" to stop Gaddafi massacring Libyans.

...

The Turkish government accused Sarkozy of launching not only the no-fly zone, but his presidential re-election campaign.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/24/turkey-fran...

I hate that man. I can't wait to see him fall.

Putin's eating him for lunch. As an appetizer.