How could it be that a war that we started, took command of about a week ago and are now turning over to NATO and a broad coalition – partially, because NATO didn’t assume full control – is really being turned over to ourselves?

Well the fact of the matter is, the US is NATO and NATO is the US. Just picture a commander’s military hat.  On one side of a peaked hat, it has a US insignia on the other side it has a NATO insignia. The hat is one, but the person wearing it is two, one side representing the United States of America the other representing and reporting to a committee of nations called NATO.

You got it, our military commanders are playing dual roles.  United States Admiral James G. Stavridis heads up NATO and is that man who’s wearing the two sided hat.  He is Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, United States European Command

It was Adm. Stavridis who revealed this week that the rebels in Libya have Al-Qaeda links.

NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and is located in Brussels. It consists of 28 member states, all of which have military operations.  Three of the NATO members are nuclear member states: France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The estimated annual budget is close to $2 Billion.  Each of the member nations pays into NATO based on its gross domestic product, making the US the biggest single contributor.   This means the US contributes more than 30 % of the operating budget or more than $500 million annually.  However, when an American plane drops a bomb under NATO auspices, such as we have in Libya, its cost is borne by American taxpayers out of the defense budget.

On Monday evening, President Obama addressing the nation, said:”Our most effective alliance, NATO has taken command of the enforcement of the arms embargo and the no-fly zone. Last night, NATO decided to take on the additional responsibility of protecting Libyan civilians.  This transfer from the United States to NATO will take  place on Wednesday.  Going forward, the lead in enforcing the no-fly zone and protecting civilians on the ground will transition to our allies and partners, and I am fully confident that our coalition will keep the pressure on Qaddafi’s remaining forces.”

Obama went on to say, “In that effort the United States will play a supporting role – including intelligence, logistical support, search and rescue assistance, and capabilities to jam regime communications.”

The President said because of this transition the cost to the US will be reduced significantly.

Does this mean the US really isn’t in a third war?  Does this mean we are not in command of Operation Odyssey , even though an Admiral from the United States Navy is in command of NATO?

Was it a deceptive slight of hand that Obama delivered on Monday evening when he announced the transfer of command, in effect, to ourselves?

Perhaps the new Obama Doctrine is that you can fool some of the people some of the time through deception . . . and that’s good enough for now?