YOUR TURN

Allies Quarrel Over Libya Command

U.S. is pushing hard to hand over control.

As rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi battle for control of Libya, the coalition patrolling a no-fly zone over the country is involved in infighting of its own, with Brussels a tangled mess of ego, anger, and desperate self-preservation. The United States, facing a tepid popular reaction and anger from both the right and left over its involvement in the action, is pushing for a quick handover of the operation to NATO. But European leaders can’t come to terms on their reaction. France wants to lead the effort jointly with Britain, but the U.K., also gun-shy after the Iraq War, backs the NATO tack. German representatives stalked out of a meeting Tuesday, and everyone’s angry at French President Nicolas Sarkozy. With friends like these, who needs Gaddafi?