Sorry, this isn't about our leadership position (the fact that we've been reluctant to do anything, so nothing has in fact happened settles the score on that one); it's simply not our fight. We have no vital interests in Libya. If Europe wants to secure it's oil supply there, than they can do it themselves and we'll provide AWAC support or other inexpensive, non-combat roles to fulfill our treaty obligations like they do; let the Germans fight this one. NATO is a euphemism for the U.S., with some British back-up and French applause. It's a backdoor way of getting the U.S. to do it and everyone knows it. We haven't been "called upon to help" either, in fact most of the rebels on the street are telling us not to get involved, and in any event, there's no organized leadership to deal with anyway. If we did help them, they would just as likely end up hating us and we'll be held responsible for the Islamist government that follows. If they want to slaughter their own people, it surely wouldn't be the first time the world watched, i.e, Darfur, Rwanda, Congo, etc. Maybe the African union should take the lead, or the EU, or gee, how about the Arab world. No more for us.
Italy has been quiet ?
Are the pipelines under the Mediterranean still flowing?
If the Europeans shipped from Italy today they would be there tomorrow.
Why they would welcomed as great friends with parades and festivities!
Any aircraft destroyed will have been on a medical mission from/to a wedding that was bombed by the United States.