SÓLO SEIS DE LOS VEINTIOCHO MIEMBROS DE LA OTAN PARTICIPAN EN PRESIÓN AÉREA CONTRA GADAFI

Top of the Agenda: Qaddafi 'Must Go' Says Coalition Leaders from the United States, France, and Britain issued a joint statement (NYT) on Thursday claiming that a future where Muammar al-Qaddafi remains in power is "impossible to imagine" and would amount to an "unconscionable betrayal." The three coalition chiefs vowed to continue NATO operations until Qaddafi relinquishes authority, stating "Qaddafi must go, and go for good." Analysts suggest the missive is an unusual gesture, coming at a time of relative dissension among NATO members (BBC) over the mission and conduct of operations in Libya. Only six of NATO's twenty-eight member nations are engaging in air strikes, but NATO leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he remains hopeful of increased support. For a second straight day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called attention to the ruthless siege of Misurata (WSJ). On Thursday, regime forces continued to shell the port city, preventing the escape of refugees or the influx of humanitarian aid. NATO launched new rounds of airstrikes on the capital of Tripoli, targeting missile batteries and other military assets. France and Britain said they would like to expand the air assault to include strikes on the command and control nodes (al-Jazeera) of Qaddafi's army, rather than arming the rebels. Analysis: In the New Republic, Steven Metz presents a brief history and discussion of NATO operations, and questions whether the challenges in Libya will be an end to the organization. Concern about Arab world pro-democracy movements has caused Iran's government to get tougher with opponents and is affecting political jockeying for parliamentary elections in 2012 and the presidential election in 2013, says Iran expert Farideh Farhi. In the National Interest, Uri Dadush and Marwan Muasher examine the four major economic risks created by political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa and what the international community can do to avert them. Any outcome of the Libyan war will require boots on the ground, say analysts, urging the international community to focus on helping the country rebuild civil, political, and social institutions that serve Libyan national interests. Background: This article from the BBC provides background and details on central members of the Libyan rebel council.