Division

NATO Split On Pace of Libya War

France and U.K. want to intensify attacks.

NATO member countries are split over the scope and intensity of airstrikes against embattled Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, sources said Tuesday. With the U.S. cutting down their activity, France and Britain want to intensify airstrikes to protect citizens, while other countries such as Norway, Sweden, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are in favor of taking a less aggressive role to enforce the no-fly zone. In Washington, the White House tried to quell fears among military analysts that the Libyan mission is in disarray due to the potentially toxic combination of the U.S.’s back-seat role, NATO’s inexperience in waging complicated air campaigns against moving targets, and botched communications with the ragtag rebel army. Rebels on the ground, meanwhile, say things have not improved: The fight has claimed at least 10,000 lives so far, they say.