Canadian in command of NATO's mission in Libya

[CHIMO]

Source: The Canadian Press

A senior White House official says a Canadian will take over command of the NATO mission in Libya.

The official says Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard, stationed in Naples, has been designated by NATO as head of the alliance's military campaign in Libya.

Bouchard will work with “his naval and air component commands” to enforce the no-fly zone and the so-called civilian-protection mission in Libya.

Government sources in Ottawa have confirmed Bouchard's appointment.



Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/960483--canadian-in-command-of-nato-s-mission-in-libya?bn=1

[Baclava]

1. Allez Canada!

US Likely to Keep Combat Role After Libya Shift

Pentagon says US combat role likely to continue after allies take command of Libya mission

U.S. warplanes will keep flying strike missions over Libya even after the U.S. relinquishes the lead command role to NATO as early as this weekend in the fight against Moammar Gadhafi's forces, the Pentagon indicated Thursday.

At the Pentagon, Navy Vice Adm. William Gortney, staff director for the military Joint Chiefs, told reporters that the American role will mainly be in support missions such as refueling allied planes and providing aerial surveillance of Libya. But the U.S. will still fly combat missions as needed, Gortney said.

"And I would anticipate that we would continue to provide some of the interdiction strike packages as well, should that be needed by the coalition," he added, referring to combat missions such as attacks on Libyan mobile air defenses, ammunition depots, air fields and other assets that support Libyan ground forces.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13208807

-----------

Looks like we get the 'no-drive' zone end of the stick.

[neverforget]

2. The overall NATO commander or Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)

is US Navy Admiral James Stavridis. Just saying that the military part of NATO is led by an American general officer. Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard being in command will make for a convoluted command structure.

http://www.aco.nato.int/saceur.aspx

[iverglas]

3. it hasn't seemed to be a problem in Afghanistan

http://www.cefcom-comfec.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/nr-sp/doc-eng.asp?id=2565

CEFCOM / COMFEC NR-08.009 - February 2, 2008

OTTAWA - Maj.-Gen. Marc Lessard assumed command of Regional Command (South) today in Kandahar, from Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page of the United Kingdom. As the commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops in southern Afghanistan, Maj.-Gen. Lessard will be responsible for Canadian and coalition operations in that area until November 2008.

Maj.-Gen. Lessard leads a force of approximately 12,000 soldiers from Canada and 11 other nations. During the Transfer of Authority Ceremony at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) Maj.-Gen. Lessard said that his focus will be to maintain the initiative in the south through an intense series of operations and activities.

“I see two priorities; firstly, to increase security within the region in order to ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan exercises its legitimate authority,” explained Maj.-Gen. Lessard. “The second priority is to coordinate to the greatest extent, the aspects of governance and development within the overall security framework.”

RC(S) encompasses six provinces in the southern region of Afghanistan. These include: Day Kondi, Zabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Helmand and Nimruz. The role of RC(S) is to conduct military operations in the south to assist the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the establishment and maintenance of a safe and secure environment. To accomplish this, RC(S) forces work very closely with their Afghan National Security Force partners in order to extend the government’s authority and influence, thereby facilitating Afghanistan’s reconstruction and contributing to regional stability.

The U.S. is not in command of NATO. Really.

[LanternWaste]

4. I'm not too sure that theater command structures complicates matters at all

I'm not too sure that theater command structures complicates matters at all, indeed, I would think that it better facilitates command, control and communication.

Much like the ease of process afforded to Marshall by delegating theater commands to Eisenhower and MacArthur.