We are, now, the lead MILITARY in the coalition... but the Brits and French put the coalition together, not Obama. We are the lead military because we're best at it. This is NOT Obama's coalition. It is Cameron's and Sarkozy's coalition. Get the **** over yourselves. This is not the US, it is the UN.
Much as I would like to slam Obama, I actually (grudgingly) respect him for it. It must seriously piss him off that he's had to launch a military action.
It isn't a UN coalition.
It is USA-UK-France.
French jets striked 1st, they were already in the air once Sarkozy made the final statement of Paris meeting.
Some NATO countries have committed aircraft to the operation like Denmark and Norway, and Italy is key in all of this as it contributes with Air-bases.
Italy is already threatening to review the status of its Airbases.
Norway says, that its aircraft won't take-off for now since some differences have been resolved.
@Avatar
Germany isn't participating, it has objections.
The coalition came together to support the UN Resolution, giving military action the 'go'. Germany never participate on offensive ops.... their military still operate under post-WWII rules that they have not changed. Those rules, effectively, stop Germany from any kind of action other than defense. They'll support the action behind the scenes, as they usually do. Same with all the rest. The hard work, as always, falls to the few, including:
UNITED STATES
· Submarines Providence, Scranton and Florida launching Tomahawks.
· Destroyers Barry and Stout launching Tomahawks.
· Amphibious assault ships Kearsarge and Ponce, carrying Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
· Command ship Mount Whitney.
· Support ships Lewis and Clark, Robert E. Peary and Kanawha.
· U.S. Navy aircraft include EA-18G Growler electronic air warfare aircraft, at least four P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and one EP-3E Aries electronic surveillance aircraft, all flying from land bases in the Mediterranean. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jets are operating from the Kearsarge.
· Air Force aircraft include B-2 stealth bombers flying from Missouri and F-15 and F-16 fighters from unspecified bases.
· The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group will deploy from Norfolk,Va., on March 23 ahead of schedule to support Odyssey Dawn operations. The group includes the amphibious ships Bataan, Mesa Verde and Whidbey Island carrying the 22nd MEU.
FRANCE
· Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle left its base at Toulon March 20 en route to waters off Libya. De Gaulle is carrying 20 aircraft, including Rafale and Super Etendard strike fighters, and is escorted by the destroyers Dupleix and Forbin, frigate Aconit, oiler La Meuse, and an unnamed nuclear attack submarine.
· Destroyer Jean Bart already on the scene.
· French land-based strike aircraft spearheaded the March 19 attacks on Libya.
ITALY
· Destroyer Andrea Doria Frigate Euro Support ship Etna As of early March 20, more ships were to be en route from Italy: Destroyer Francesco Mimbelli; frigate Fenice; patrol ships Libra and Sirio; amphibious ships San Giorgio and San Marco.
· At least 4 Tornado strike aircraft and 4 other combat aircraft are available.
CANADA
· Frigate Charlottetown Six CF-18 Hornet strike fighters Canada's forces are operating as part of Operation Mobile.
UNITED KINGDOM
· Unnamed Trafalgar-class nuclear attack submarine launching Tomahawks.
· Frigates Westminster and Cumberland.
· Typhoon and Tornado strike aircraft operating from Gioia del Colle air base in southern Italy. Tornado GR4s with Storm Shadow cruise missiles took place in the initial strikes on March 19, flying from the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Marham in Norfolk, eastern England. Agence France-Presse reported the aircraft conducted four mid-air refueling operations during the 3,000-mile, eight-hour mission, the longest Royal Air Force bombing mission since the 1982 Falklands war. The British effort against Libya is dubbed Operation Ellamy.
· Additionally, E3-D Sentry, Sentinel and Tristar surveillance aircraft and VC-10 aerial tankers are operating.
BELGIUM
· Six F-16 fighters to be ready for operations March 21.
DENMARK
· Six F-16 fighters and a transport are operating from Sigonella air base on Sicily.
QATAR
· Four combat aircraft reportedly are in operation by March 20.
SPAIN
· Four F-18 strike fighters are operating from Decimomannu air base on the Italian island of Sardinia.
· One aerial tanker and one CN-235 maritime surveillance plane.
· A submarine and frigate are to deploy this week pending parliamentary approval, according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
· Strike aircraft are reported en route to Decimomannu air base.
The U.S. aircraft carrier Enterprise, which recently passed through the Mediterranean, is now in the Arabian Sea conducting air operations over Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.
List came from here:
Coalition Against Gadhafi Growing - Defense News
