Through the Libyan Looking Glass
Abstract
The emergence of the Arab Spring and the NATO military participation in Libya are testament to the volatility and unpredictability of the world. Who would have considered in January 2011 that NATO would be at war in a Muslim country by March of the same year? The Libyan operation (March 19-October 31, 2011) provides a unique opportunity to assess the effectiveness of NATO at a critical time for military decision makers in Europe and the United States. The assessment of NATO's performance during the Libyan operation provides an essential perspective on the effectiveness of the Alliance and, in particular, the ability of European nations to deal with future challenges in an unpredictable world. This paper will identify three key areas in which the United States should consider investing in NATO: intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; operational planning; and targeting. The thesis will argue that by investing in the intellectual capital of NATO in these three key areas, the United States will ensure that NATO is prepared to fight future wars with a more limited U.S. presence. How the United States chooses to invest in NATO's intellectual capital will determine the viability of NATO as a strategic partner in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 22, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA562391
Entities
People
- John S. Williamson
Organizations
- National Defense University