US hands over Libya No-Fly Zone to NATO

[240 is Back]

It's a NATO responsibility now.

[Kazan]

So that means no more US air craft involved? If not then it doesn't mean anything. Further more is the US part of NATO? This is simply a move by the POTUS to make it appear that he is not longer on the hook if shit goes bad. What happens if NATO decides to send in ground troops and Americans are involved ( And more than likely we already have SF in country) then what?

[Johnny_Blaze]

Basically a nice way for America to blame it on NATO if shit hits the fan.

[Fury]

So that means no more US air craft involved? If not then it doesn't mean anything. Further more is the US part of NATO? This is simply a move by the POTUS to make it appear that he is not longer on the hook if shit goes bad. What happens if NATO decides to send in ground troops and Americans are involved ( And more than likely we already have SF in country) then what?

NATO's military capabilities = US military. I doubt anything will change and we'll still probably be flying the overwhelming majority of the sorties.

[GigantorX]

NATO's military capabilities = US military. I doubt anything will change and we'll still probably be flying the overwhelming majority of the sorties.

Yep. Just look to the war in Afghanistan and why the we (The USA) didn't really ask for or want NATO "help" and we chose to go it alone for the initial stages. The campaigns in Bosnia and the Balkans left a very, very, very bad impression on the U.S. military as to the capabilities of other Western nations.

[Fury]

"But attacks on the ground will continue to be run by the coalition led by the U.S., which has been anxious to give up the lead role."

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fgw-nato-no-fly-zone-20110325,0,2100518.story

So nothing changes.

[Soul Crusher]

US Likely to Keep Combat Role After Libya Shift
Aol News/AP ^ | 25/3/11 | Erica Werner and Robert Burns




WASHINGTON -- The United States welcomed a partial handover for the Libyan air campaign to NATO on Thursday, but the allies apparently balked at assuming full control and the U.S. military was left in charge of the brunt of combat.

NATO agreed to take over command of the newly established no-fly zone over Libya, protective flights meant to deter Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi from putting warplanes in the air. That leaves the U.S. with responsibility for attacks on Gadhafi's ground forces and other targets, which are the toughest and most controversial portion of the operation.

The U.S had hoped the alliance would reach a consensus Thursday for NATO to take full control of the military operation authorized by the United Nations, including the protection of Libyan civilians and supporting humanitarian aid efforts on the ground. It was not immediately clear when the allies could reach agreement on the matter.


(Excerpt) Read more at aolnews.com ...