This week in In 1949, representatives of 12 nations gathered in Washington to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, creating the NATO alliance. (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) It now has 28 members.
NATO, headed by Admiral James Stavridis, US Navy, with operations led by Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, officially took over aerial and naval operations in Libya. The North Atlantic Council, has approved the alliance's operations for up to three months.