On Thursday, the State Department released a fact sheet outlining U.S. policy initiatives and goals in Libya in regards to both the military and humanitarian efforts. The press release reiterated U.S. support for the NATO operations within Libya, the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people, and the work and statements that have been made by the Transitional National Council (TNC). "We believe the TNC continues to serve as a credible ...

William S. Lind, writing for The American Conservative, argues that NATO's proper role in Libya should not be to protect civilians or democracy but to preserve the Libyan state.  Lind argues that because NATO's campaign relies solely on air power without "high quality ground forces," it is unlikely to ensure victory for rebel forces on the ground.  If the rebels cannot replace Muammar Gadhafi; Gadhafi may be the only answer ...

The NATO coalition in Libya will create a fund for the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) the Contact Group on Libya has said.  The TNC has appealed for up to $3 billion in loans, half of which would go toward basic supplies, food, and medicine.  Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that $250 million was already available.  Kuwait has pledged $180 million to the fund while Qatar has pledged $400-$500 ...

On Wednesday,  U.S. Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz held a special briefing on the political situation in Libya and noted the fact that it is unlikely that Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi will end the violence as regime forces have "continued to commit atrocities in Misrata and the western mountains" in violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973.  He stated that the international community has met several times over the past several ...

In an interview with The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his belief that the U.S. should resume its leadership of NATO operations in Libya, recognize the Transitional National Council as the "legitimate voice of the Libyan people," and arm the rebels lest the situation turns into a stalemate which empowers al-Qaeda or Muammar Gadhafi's regime.  He also called on President Barack Obama to formally declare ...

Speaking on Face The Nation, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) called for U.S. support of Syrian protesters: ""We should use the diplomatic weight and press authority of the United States to undermine the Syrian dictatorship...I think we are witnessing the slow end of the Assad dictatorship, and we should stand with the people of Syria." Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) echoed Kirk's sentiments stating, "America is safest and America ...

Speaking on Charlie Rose series, "Conversations on Diplomacy," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discussed U.S. diplomatic efforts.  Clinton highlighted the the new challenges facing U.S. foreign policy as the focus shifts away from state-to-state relationships to networks and multilateral relations  and organizations.  She also noted the implications of new technologies and new media.  Kissinger noted the "huge changes" in state structure taking place ...

The North American Libyan Conference released a statement supporting the Transitional National Council, thanking the United States and Canada for their "support of the Libyan people," calling for regime change and a democratic, united Libya with Tripoli as its capital. In a joint op-ed piece last Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron reaffirmed they and their NATO allies'  duty under U.N. Security Council ...

On Monday,  Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his fears that a stalemate has developed in Libya which could "open the door for radical Islamists to come in and hijack this revolution."  He called for the U.S. to revive air attacks to incapacitate Muammar Gadhafi's forces.  He also discussed the need for a strategy to oust Gadhafi from power: "Now we are faced with a situation where we hope Gadhafi will ...

Tuesday marked the opening of the U.S.-Islamic World Conference hosted by the Brookings Institution, the Qatari Government  and the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech that emphasized U.S. commitment to cooperating with Middle East countries to achieve shared interests in values.  Clinton said the region-wide uprisings have exposed the myth that “Arabs do not share universal human aspirations for freedom, ...

Micah Zenko, of the Center for Preventative Action at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), challenges the narrative of successful implementation of no-fly zones and their subsequent use as justification for intervention in Libya.  He calls the 'success' of NATO airpower in Kosovo in driving out Slobodan Milosevic a myth stating that ultimately, Russian withdrawal of support for Milosevic coupled with NATO targeting of civilian and military infrastructure in ...

James M. Dubik, writing at Foreign Policy, argues that the no-fly zone has not achieved its stated aims of protecting Libyan civilians and that the rebel forces have thus far proven themselves incapable of taking on Muammar Gadhafi's more advanced military capabilities.  In light of these realities, Dubik says that the coalition needs combat air controllers, advisors, and trainers on the ground to assist rebel forces if they are to ...

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at the International Conference on Libya in London. She stated that the United States has been proud to stand with its European, NATO, and Arab allies to respond to the "appeals of the Libyan people and to the Arab League’s call for urgent action." Sec. Clinton asserted that "NATO has taken command of enforcing the arms embargo and the no-fly zone" and ...

On Monday, President Barack Obama gave a speech outlining current and future U.S. policy in Libya and in the region.  He began by stating that the U.S. is always reluctant to use force to solve "the world's many challenges", however, he stated, "when our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act." Beginning with an arms embargo, sanctions, asset freezes, and work at the U.N. Security ...

Peter Feaver, writing at Foreign Policy, outlines four key questions by which to judge President Barack Obama's address on Libya on Monday night.  Feaver emphasizes  that first, Obama will have to address the strategic objectives and desired outcomes of U.S. military involvement in Libya.  Second, he will have to demonstrate that the administration has planned for a multitude of scenarios rather than the current rhetoric based solely on "best case ...

On Sunday, a senior administration official briefed members of the press on the North Atlantic Council's meeting on Libya during which the 28 NATO allies agreed to a transfer of the civilian protection operations to NATO in addition to no-fly zone and arms embargo operations.  According to the official, Turkey, as well as other countries, expressed a strong preference to have the entire operation conducted by NATO.  Responding to questions, he also ...

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen released a short statement on Sunday saying that NATO had agreed to assume control of military operations in Libya in accordance to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973: "NATO will implement all aspects of the UN Resolution.  Nothing more, nothing less."  Following a meeting in Brussels, Rasmussen also stated that NATO's assumption of command would take immediate effect.  The operation will be lead by Canadian General ...

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), speaking on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday, argued that the U.S. has no vital national security interest in Libya and that the cost of the military response would further deepen the national deficit.  Luger insinuated that the U.S. has no clear objectives or plan for the no-fly zone and that, "It makes no sense in the front room, where in Congress we are debating seemingly ...