NATO Steps In

The 28-member alliance is taking control of the no-fly zone. Ackerman calls it a "victory for President Obama," though he explains how reorganizing the new command structure is "going to be complicated." Scott Lucas is more circumspect:

Some advocates of intervention, such as Juan Cole, declare this morning, "Nato Comes to the Rescue". It could be argued, however, that this is a fig leaf of international bureaucracy and politics. The US will stay lead and carry out the bulk of the military intervention, but Washington needs the cloak --- given the Obama Administration's declaration that it is at the front for "days, not weeks" --- that it is handing over command to alliance partners.

More reason for Cole's optimism:

The United Arab Emirates has now committed 12 fighter-jets to doing patrols, joining Qatar, which has pledged to begin flying missions this weekend.

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