ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, March 22 (UPI) -- While the command-and-control structure for military operations in Libya is not finalized, NATO is expected to play a lead role, the White House said Tuesday.
Speaking aboard Air Force One en route from Chile to El Salvador, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters NATO is only part of a broader coalition supporting the no-fly zone over Libya, and the White House expects its allies and partners to take the lead in its enforcement.
"There's agreement that NATO has certain capabilities that are very important in terms of facilitating command and control … however there is a coalition, of course, that is broader than NATO, so this is not simply a NATO operation," Rhodes said.
"This is still being worked in Brussels. The command structure is not yet finalized, but I think what everybody does agree is that there is a key role that NATO can play."
Rhodes stressed allied involvement in the military operations has been strong.
"The vast majority of the flights associated with the enforcement of the beginnings of this no-fly zone are already allied flights, which is important," he said. "The United States, of course, continues to bring our capabilities to bear as well, but we're seeing very robust allied participation, which is good. …
"In terms of the enforcement of the no-fly zone, we expect our allies and partners to be in the lead."
