Libya also revealed some political gaps in the NATO alliance. While all 28 member nations endorsed the operation, only eight participated.
And for Nick Witney, former head of the European Union's defense agency, that is disturbing.
"Few of the allies were actually prepared to participate in what, at least in opening phases, the saving of Benghazi, was surely one of the simplest geostrategic, moral, political decisions that one would have to take about whether to join an intervention or not," said Witney.
Witney's colleague at the European Council on Foreign Relations, former British defense official Daniel Korski, says that poses a very fundamental question about the future of the NATO alliance.
"What is NATO? Is it an alliance where we all fight together against common threats? Or is it an alliance where smaller mini-coalitions within the alliance are able to do whatever they want while people stand back," Korski asked.
But while Admiral Stavridis is eager for the alliance to close its capability gaps, he is not worried about its political unity.
"I don't think there was an existential threat posed by Libya, but in fact, the alliance stepped up, undertook this. I think that's a good example of the alliance being willing to take on missions that are beyond existential," Stavridis noted. "I think NATO has a role to play in the world, kind of a role for good, and I think we'll continue to do that."
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2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27