Editor's Note: This is the first installment in a five-part series publishing in the next few days that will examine the motives and mindset behind current European intervention in Libya. We begin with an overview and will follow with an examination of the positions put forth by the United Kingdom, France , Italy , Germany, Russia and Spain . Distinct interests sparked the European involvement in Libya. The United Kingdom and France have issued vociferous calls for intervention in Libya for the past month, ultimately managing to convince the rest of Europe — with some notable exceptions — to join in military action, the Arab League to offer its initial support, and global powers China and Russia to abstain from voting at the U.N. Security Council. U.S. President Barack Obama said March 21 that the leadership of the U.S.