Comment du Jour

NATO’s Transatlantic Divide Over Libya

As NATO warplanes blast targets throughout Col. Gaddafi’s Libya and enforce a “No Fly Zone” over the North African desert, much of the collateral damage appears to be diplomatic; especially between the USA and the French/British alliance flying most of the missions, as well as much of the Libyan opposition who complains that NATO air strikes are often too little, too late.

The Obama Administration, after indecisive diplomatic dithering, only signed onto the Libyan operation late in the game. The humanitarian compass pointed to protecting civilians in freed eastern Libya from the dictator more than the strategic aim of toppling the longtime tyrant. When the USA joined Britain and France in UN Security Council resolution #1973 passed on St. Patrick’s Day, the balance initially favored the rebels and the imminent overthrow of Gaddafi. A month later, there’s a stalemate on the military game board.

Initially the United States Air Force pounded Libyan air defenses and radar as a prelude to enforce the “No Fly Zone.” Then Washington shifted gears, and turned the operation over to NATO.

While six NATO countries (out of 28 in the Atlantic Alliance) among them the USA, Britain, Belgium, Canada, France, Denmark and Norway are flying sorties over Gaddafi- land, key NATO members Germany and Turkey sit on the sidelines and are politically sniping away. Thus there are divides inside NATO and across the Atlantic too over an unfocused operation in what has become a civil war.

NATO’s leaders call for “a few more aircraft” to fly ramped-up attacks on Gaddafi’s tanks and troops. Everybody is nervous about “boots on the ground,” namely sending in troops, supplies , and advisors, to help the rag-tag Libyan opposition fight more seriously.

It may well come to boots on the ground—and may I make a suggestion? France who is one of the few countries to diplomatically recognize the rebels in Benghazi holds the ultimate card. Beyond a very lethal Air Force, what about the vaunted and legendary French Foreign Legion?

These are troops specifically suited for this terrain, mission, and overall operation. A few battalions of the La Legion Etrangere, will bring a real meaning of “Boots on the ground” and will vanquish Colonel Gaddafi’s fourth-rate army.

Moreover, is this mission really just to protect civilians from Gaddafi or oust the Libyan dictator? NATO needs to be clear on both objectives.