NATO first to blink in Libya (or how NATO allies will leave General Obama holding the bag)

Yahoo News ^ | 6/6/2011

[chuckee]

Reflecting frustration at NATO's inability to achieve quick results in a campaign some had forecast would be over in days or weeks, the U.S. defense secretary rounded on European allies last week for failing to back the mission the alliance took over in late March.

"The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly armed regime in a sparsely populated country," Robert Gates said, "yet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the U.S., once more, to make up the difference."

Now it's not only bombs, but the planes to deliver them that NATO risks running short of, with no sign of any new commitments to sustain the mission despite dire warnings from Gates about the very future of NATO and direct appeals to defense ministers from alliance Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

While Rasmussen has expressed his hope that the Libya mission can be concluded before the end of a second 90-day operations cycle in late September, many analysts consider this wishful thinking, given Gaddafi's resilience.

A mission that drags on beyond that date could present major problems, with some allies already stretched in their commitment and the United States reluctant to get dragged back into a leading role in the conflict as President Barack Obama faces criticism for the mission in the U.S. Congress.

Only eight of the 28 NATO states have provided planes for strike missions in Libya and pressure by Gates on others with available resources to do so, such as Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey and Germany, appear to have fallen on deaf ears.....

[chuckee]

Britain and France wanted this war and they convinced Genaralissimo Obama to join them at the party in which the US had no vital national interest. Now Western Europe as always came up a dollar short and are running out of military assets about to leave the Genaralissimo to clean up after them. Can you spell sucker.

[tophat9000]

Funny how we are called pricks when we fight wars in our interest but Europe and the UN love us when we fight wars in their interest

[Tallguy]

Can you spell sucker?

Sure! B-A-R-A-K, Barak! It also means "Bastard" in Swahili.

[MrEdd]

I say Republicans in the house should pull all funding for Libya and the Balkans, force a withdrawal, and let old Europe chew on just how small their militaries are.

[Georgia Girl 2]

What else is new? We are the ongoing patsies for Europe. It never ends.

[joe fonebone]

We have no allies in europe...or africa...or asia...or south america...or even antarctica...the only allies we have are australia and israel ( and fubo is trying to kill that one )..defund all the rest of the world except these two..

[libstripper]

Nearly all of us here on FR called this monstrosity a giant cluster f**k from the very beginning. Now we’re being vindicated.

[EQAndyBuzz]

ITS A QUAGMIRE!!!!!!!!

[WMarshal]

What do we expect from the European welfare state mentality? Of course they would naturally want someone else to provide protection for them, they are natural-born free-riders.

They need to learn to stand on their own and they will only do that when we cut them off. Unfortunately, they won’t take military capability seriously until someone (probably some Muslim f**ks), starts to kill and brutalize them in spectacular fashion.

[Yo-Yo]

Not as easy as it looks, eh France?

[jongaltsr]

Can you spell sucker?
U.S. - More precisely -> B.O.!

[Loyal Buckeye]

Reflecting frustration at NATO's inability to achieve quick results in a campaign some had forecast would be over in days or weeks...

What's this SOME B.S.? The beat goes on with the media continue to cover Obama's screw-ups.

[jongaltsr]

Funny how we are called pricks when we fight wars in our interest but Europe and the UN love us when we fight wars in their interest
As clearly as I can put it, they are the pricks and our beloved politicians love leaning over and taking it from them.

[satan]

ITS A QUAGMIRE!!!!!!!! with no exit strategy

[alarm rider]

Considering the EU, it might not be long before old Europe is chewing up their small militaries against each other.

[jongaltsr]

I say Republicans in the house should pull all funding for Libya and the Balkans, force a withdrawal, and let old Europe chew on just how small their militarys are.
Send them Weiner and let them chew on that for awhile.
Mean time we can give our military leave time to chase the girls and get some R&R.

[jongaltsr]

What else is new? We are the ongoing patsies for Europe. It never ends.
Remember when we were the "UGLY AMERICANS?
Maybe we should become UGLY again and wait till we get some respect.

[jongaltsr]

ITS A QUAGMIRE!!!!!!!!
Stepping in $hit is not quagmire.
Lead with your nose. If you smell $hit - step over it, around it or just turn around and go home.

[jongaltsr]

We have no allies in Europe...or Africa...or Asia...or south America...or even Antarctica...the only allies we have are Australia and Israel ( and fubo is trying to kill that one )..defund all the rest of the world except these two..
Act like you don't need friends and allies and do the right thing for people (show compassion) or (show strength) and it is surprising how quick we gain friends.
The second trick is to only accept those that will stand shoulder to shoulder with you to help others, or fight the bad guys.
Those that don't meet those two requirements are left behind to clean latrines, pull KP and police up cigarette butts.

[jongaltsr]

Nearly all of us here on FR called this monstrosity a giant cluster f**k from the very beginning. Now we’re being vindicated.
Europe (and others) love "Cluster F**ks".
Do as I do with dogs when they F++k. Turn the hose on them.