Pentagon pressing NATO members to do more in Libya operation

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and NATO leaders are pressing alliance members including Spain and Poland to step up or join an extended operation in Libya, Bloomberg reported.

The two countries are among those with assets such as jet fighters that may help ease the burden on nations that have been attacking Muammar Qaddafi’s forces as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission for 10 weeks, a Western official said on condition of anonymity in order to discuss closed-door proceedings at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels today.

The U.S. defense chief urged Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands during the meeting to consider joining strike operations, the most intensive element of the military campaign, officials familiar with the discussion said.

He also called for Germany and Poland, which aren’t participating in the Libya mission, to get involved, the officials told reporters.