NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced Tuesday the alliance will send an expert mission to Libya at short notice. The mission "will go as soon as possible and, together with the Libyans, identify the areas in which the Libyans think they need advice and areas where we do believe we can add value," Rasmussen said ahead of the opening session of a meeting of NATO defense ministers. He insisted it will not mean putting boots on the ground in the North African nation. "This is not about deploying troops to Libya. If we are to engage in training activities, such activities could take place outside Libya," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Libyan leaders have requested help from NATO, the U.S. and other nations. U.S. President Obama broadly indicated that he would support efforts by NATO to aid the Libyans.
