do I really have to say it???
Posted on 03/24/2011 4:54:31 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Italy Calls for Separate Command Unless NATO Takes Over US ready to step down. Berlusconi “sorry for Gheddafi”. Italian planes will not open fire
ROME – Those who once were “the willing” are now “the squabbling”. Three days after military action against key points in Muammar Gheddafi’s defences began, the coalition has started to come apart.
Governments are split over who should be guiding Operation Odyssey Dawn, led so far by the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Italy has called for a swift transfer of the chain of command to NATO control. Otherwise, the seven military bases put at the coalition’s disposal could be withdrawn and a “separate command” instituted, according to Italy’s foreign minister Franco Frattini.
FRENCH FOOT-DRAGGING – Throughout the day, Paris refused to budge from its position. The French foreign minister, Alain Juppé, said that “in the next few days, the alliance is prepared to come to the coalition’s support”, but avoided the word coordination and repeated that any operations under the NATO flag would not be welcomed by Arab countries. “We are in an operation promoted by the United Nations and undertaken by an ad hoc coalition, to which NATO could bring its support”, said French defence ministry spokesman General Philippe Ponthies.
He was backed up by the Spanish foreign minister, Trinidad Jiménez: “For the time being, bearing in mind that there already is an international coalition not just of European countries and NATO members but also of Arab countries, it appears that the prevailing sentiment is for the coalition to continue”. Ms Trinidad Jiménez did not rule out a support role for Nato.
NORWAY DROPS OUT – The row has already claimed its first victims. Norway has announced that it is suspending its participation in the military operations (six F16 fighters deployed in the Mediterranean) until the command issue has been cleared up, as the Norwegian defence minister, Grete Faremo, reported.
USA: READY TO STEP DOWN – Earlier, the United States announced that it was cutting back its role in the operations. President Obama said he was ready to “hand over” to the alliance: “NATO will be involved in coordinating the response to UN resolution 1973, which authorised intervention in Libya. And it will be a question of days, not weeks”.
In reality, the defence secretary, Robert Gates, also mentioned the possibility of a Franco-British command, adding that it would be a mistake for the coalition to set itself the objective of killing the Libyan leader. President Obama confirmed that the aim of the operations is to for Gheddafi to leave power.
ITALY CALLS FOR SEPARATE COMMAND – Meanwhile, Italy made clear its position: unless operations in Libya pass under the NATO umbrella, the Italian government will be considering setting up a separate command of its own to manage control activities. The move was announced in a note from foreign minister, Franco Frattini. Luxembourg,
Belgium, Denmark and Romania backed the Italian request. Mr Frattini said “there is a growing consensus” among EU partners. “I am expecting a decision on Tuesday or Wednesday“, he went on. On Sunday, Turkey put plans for a possible mission on hold. The Turkish premier Tayyap Erdogan also expressed irritation at France’s stance.
BERLUSCONI, GHEDDAFI AND ITALIAN AIRCRAFT – During the afternoon, Silvio Berlusconi pointed out: “Command of operations in Libya must return to NATO”, adding: “Italian planes are not opening fire and will not open fire”. Finally, he made a polemical remark about the humanitarian emergency: “Other countries should be doing their part. We are the first to supply tents for 12,000 refugees”.
Later in the evening, the PM returned to the Libya issue at the dinner held in Turin for the People of Freedom’s (PDL) mayoral candidate: “I am saddened for Gheddafi and I am sorry. What is going on in Libya affects me personally”. Mr Berlusconi is reported to have been surprised that France should decide to take a “heavy-handed” approach unilaterally over Libya.
LA RUSSA – “We will continue apply pressure in international fora so that the leadership of the operation passes to NATO”, said Italy’s defence minister, Ignazio La Russa, at the end of an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers to discuss the Libyan emergency. Mr La Russa explained that “other coalition countries share our views, but consensus is not total on this point. For us, the NATO line of command is well tried and established structures are in place”.
The defence minister then said that Italy had made four Tornado aircraft available to neutralise radar, with four F16 fighters to escort the Tornados. Italy’s Tornados have not carried out any bombings and from now on, every effort will be made to ensure maximum confidentiality about operations to avoid any leaks of information. Regarding the vote in Parliament requested by the Northern League and the opposition, Mr La Russa said that “it has not yet been fixed but we do not intend to sidestep the scrutiny of Parliament, even though from the judicial point of view, a vote in committee is sufficient”.
NORTHERN LEAGUE AT ARM’S LENGTH – The military intervention in Libya continues to provoke division within the government coalition, with the Northern League in particular distancing itself. After Umberto Bossi’s remark on Saturday about an Italy that is very “good at taking it up the you know where”, another Northern League minister, Roberto Calderoli, picked a political fight with Mr La Russa: “He’s the minister of defence, not the minister of war”. However, Mr La Russa himself played the incident down with the press on his arrival at Palazzo Chigi: “I can’t see any huge splits in the majority”. He went on: “I have travelled with Bossi, Calderoli and Maroni. There are varying sensibilities but I should point out that the League has raised no obstacles”.
OPPOSITION – A parliamentary debate was loudly demanded by the Democratic Party’s (PD) group leaders in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Dario Franceschini and Anna Finocchiaro: “The development of the Libyan crisis and the scope of intervention promoted by the United Nations. Parliament in full session should confirm support for Italy’s stance with a full assumption of responsibility”. For Italy of Values (IDV) leader, Antonio Di Pietro: “Italy’s confusion reigns in the skies. We are open to Italian participation within the limits of the UN mandate, not with the so-called ‘willing’ whose only aim is to implement a quick fix that offers only further reason for concern”. More doubts came from La Destra (The Right), now part of the government’s political area: Leader Francesco Storace writes in his blog: “This Sarkowar is less and less convincing. What is the reason that triggered the Libyan conflict? Why was it decided to go on the offensive? Human rights? When are we going to have a worldwide conflict with Chinese and the like? I think the game is dirtier”. Roberto Formigoni also distanced himself from the military operation.
do I really have to say it???
Hand off attempt by Obama, Fumble!
Our tourist president will no doubt address this mess right after he checks his NCAA brackets now that he’s back from checking on his boss’s Brazilian oil investments ....oops look like pappa george might be pissed off about something ....he locked Barry out of the whitehouse.
What’s the most common remark in the Italian Army ?
I give up...
In this film, was Claude Raines wearing a French regular army uniform or is that a Legion uniform?
good question... don't know
WOW!
-Barack Hussein Obama
I don’t oppose all presidents. What I am opposed to is a dumb president. What I am opposed to is a rash president.
My understanding of French internal politics (at that time) is not clear.
Was the Legion just out there somewhere in a state of suspended animation or what?
During my 8 years (76-86) at Project Checkmate we briefed many very senior decisionmakers from all parts of the government. The core briefing was Warsaw Pact attacks and NATO defends. What we see today was exactly what we told those leaders to expect with respect to the lack of national consenus on the details of fighting a war.
At first I thought that had to be a joke, but sadly it's not.
The 1986 Red Sox couldn’t have screwed this up any worse.
I believe that that is his police uniform.
We’ll blame this on Bush. Yes, that’t the ticket, blame Bush. (Overheard at obummer strategy meeting)
I think it would be nice for awhile to have a President with extreme wisdom and able to think on his own. I am so sick of troops getting used and abused for all the wrong reasons.
It is not weak to strongly weigh the use of military action against other means to an end.
One of the reasons I liked Reagan. He used it only when needed. Any use of force should only be sanctioned by the Congress. Americans.
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