Changes

NATO's ostensibly defensive nature, founded on the premise that an attack on one is an attack against all, was transformed into an offensive mercenary force in the service of private French, British, and American commercial interests.<ref>National Security [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hillarys-war-how-conviction-replaced-skepticism-in-libya-intervention/2011/10/28/gIQAhGS7WM_story.html Hillary’s war: How conviction replaced skepticism in Libya intervention], By Joby Warrick, ''[[Washington Post]]'', October 30, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.europeaninstitute.org/index.php/130-european-affairs/ea-august-2011/1417-lessons-of-libya-for-future-western-military-forays LESSONS OF LIBYA FOR FUTURE WESTERN MILITARY FORAYS], By John Barry, Newsweek National Security Correspondent. europeaninstitute.org</ref>

NATO's ostensibly defensive nature, founded on the premise that an attack on one is an attack against all, was transformed into an offensive mercenary force in the service of private French, British, and American commercial interests.<ref>National Security [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hillarys-war-how-conviction-replaced-skepticism-in-libya-intervention/2011/10/28/gIQAhGS7WM_story.html Hillary’s war: How conviction replaced skepticism in Libya intervention], By Joby Warrick, ''[[Washington Post]]'', October 30, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.europeaninstitute.org/index.php/130-european-affairs/ea-august-2011/1417-lessons-of-libya-for-future-western-military-forays LESSONS OF LIBYA FOR FUTURE WESTERN MILITARY FORAYS], By John Barry, Newsweek National Security Correspondent. europeaninstitute.org</ref>

On March 19 Sarkozy convened a meeting in the Westin Hotel to solicit agreement for the immediate deployment of military aircraft to stop Gaddafi's efforts to put down the rebellion in Benghazi, and the establishment of a US no-fly zone in the country. Before the meeting was over, French fighter planes had attacked Gaddafi forces outside Benghazi. Italian and Russian participants protested the French government's insistence on convening the meeting '''''before agreeing to air strikes''''', and then launching strikes '''before the meeting was over.'''  

On March 19 Sarkozy convened a meeting in the Westin Hotel to solicit agreement for the immediate deployment of military aircraft to stop Gaddafi's efforts to put down the jihadi uprising in Benghazi, and the establishment of a US no-fly zone in the country. Before the meeting was over, French fighter planes had attacked Gaddafi forces outside Benghazi. Italian and Russian participants protested the French government's insistence on convening the meeting '''''before agreeing to air strikes''''', and then launching strikes '''before the meeting was over.'''  

The early attack so upset Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who recently signed a Friendship Pact with Libya, he warned of cutting access to Italian air bases vital to French, British, and American  warplanes.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hillarys-war-how-conviction-replaced-skepticism-in-libya-intervention/2011/10/28/gIQAhGS7WM_story.html?utm_term=.eae1c96f2b72</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeed.com/tamerragriffin/clinton-apparently-did-a-berlusconi-impression-while-discuss?utm_term=.yomzmw2VeL#.xdPA0pxW89</ref> ''Washington Post'' later reported Berlusconi "eventually provided air bases as staging grounds for attacks."

The early attack so upset Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who recently signed a Friendship Pact with Libya, he warned of cutting access to Italian air bases vital to French, British, and American  warplanes.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hillarys-war-how-conviction-replaced-skepticism-in-libya-intervention/2011/10/28/gIQAhGS7WM_story.html?utm_term=.eae1c96f2b72</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeed.com/tamerragriffin/clinton-apparently-did-a-berlusconi-impression-while-discuss?utm_term=.yomzmw2VeL#.xdPA0pxW89</ref> ''Washington Post'' later reported Berlusconi "eventually provided air bases as staging grounds for attacks."