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“The Alliance Is Becoming Unstuck”: Italy Wants To Pull Out Of NATO Action In Libya, Demands End To War, Says Obama’s “Humanitarian” Action Actually Causing Humanitarian Crisis



Jun 22, 2011 4 Comments ›› Pat Dollard

ROME (AFP) – Italy called for a suspension of hostilities in Libya on Wednesday in the latest sign of dissent within NATO as the civilian death toll mounts and Moamer Kadhafi shows no signs of quitting power.

“We have seen the effects of the crisis and therefore also of NATO action not only in eastern and southwestern regions but also in Tripoli,” Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told a parliamentary committee meeting.

“I believe an immediate humanitarian suspension of hostilities is required in order to create effective humanitarian corridors,” while negotiations should also continue on a more formal ceasefire and peace talks, he said.

“I think this is the most urgent and dramatic point,” Frattini continued.

“I think it is legitimate to request ever more detailed information on the results” of the NATO mission, he added, condemning “the dramatic errors that hit civilians, which is clearly not an objective of the NATO mission.”

France, which has taken the lead in military operations against Kadhafi, immediately ruled out any pause in the Libya campaign.

“The coalition and the countries that met as the Abu Dhabi contact group two weeks ago were unanimous on the strategy: we must intensify the pressure on Kadhafi,” French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters.

“Any pause in operations would risk allowing him to play for time and to reorganise. In the end, it would be the civilian population that would suffer from the smallest sign of weakness on our behalf,” he said.

Despite repeated calls for unity within NATO on its air strikes, the strain has begun to show in the alliance and Norway’s recent decision to withdraw from operations sparked fears others may follow.

“The alliance is coming unstuck,” Natalino Ronzitti from the Rome-based International Affairs Institute, told AFP.


  • Intrepid

    Have to agree,there is no endgame. :roll:

  • Axel

    Ya think :?:

  • franchie

    Berlusconi and his FM Frattini were put in balance by the northern league, that threatened to let down Berlusconi (within his many sexual trials) if he didn’t stop the libyan campain, cuze these northeners had lot of businesses in Libya with Kadhafi regime, and they are losing money.

    Now Italy can say one thing and its contrary at the same time, I don’t think what this article is saying will happen, just that Italy is trying to get more frome Nato, whereas, Nato bases in Europe are on balance, some are going to be closed down !

  • displaced chedhead

    NATO bases in Euro are funded totally by us the taxpayers of the U.S. They (Euro’s) do not deserve this protection. Ten dollar a gallon gas, retirement at the age of 55, 12% unemployment, this “vision” is BHO’s vision for us. Italy is a filth pile surrounded by a sea they have polluted beyond recognition. If you have never been there please visit. I was there last month. People living on top of one another, constant haze over the cities, laziness as virtue (as witnessed first hand) and crime taken to a level never before seen in a civilized society. What western europe deserves? No more taxpayer money. Eastern Europe deserves our attention, and dollars, that history is “more” diverse and deserving of our dollars. With a rejuvenated Putin led Russia flexing it’s muscles (using oil money)we must protect our true allies and not forsake them like we did prior to WWII.