At the crossroads of this question stands NATO, an organization perceived as American by Europeans and international (i.e., not American) by the average US citizen. But if NATO is – for better or worse – in command on the ground in Libya, it is the UN that has given the necessary green light to French action there.
北约实际处在问题的核心，该组织被欧洲人视为归属美国而被普通美国人视为归属国际（即非美）。但无论怎样如果北约在利比亚战场处于领导地位，为法国行动打开必要绿灯的却是联合国。