Obama's Real Libya Goal: Regime Change
Obama’s Libya speech was intended to reassure voters that the U.S. was only intervening to save lives and not pushing for regime change. Unfortunately, it's just not true. It was a good speech, but it told us nothing that we don’t know. President Barack Obama’s intent was to reassure the …Libyan Dissidents: We Can Rebuild Post-Qaddafi
In a forum in Washington Monday night, Libyan dissidents claimed they could unite the country. But with few concrete plans, will the West need to play a greater role? On a night when the nation listened to President Obama make his case for the U.S. led coalition’s intervention in Libya, the …Obama's Libyan "Mission Accomplished" Moment
As written and delivered, President Obama's speech on Libya was preposterous. "I hope you are not merely pretending to be wicked, while being secretly good. That would be hypocrisy." As written and delivered, President Obama's speech on Libya was preposterous. We intervened in the midst of …What Obama Should Say About Libya
Sometimes it seems Obama has been so concerned to avoid offending Middle Eastern opinion on Libya that he has disregarded American opinion. President Obama's communications efforts on Libya have received generally bad reviews. Sometimes it has seemed the president has been so concerned to avoid …Does the White House Know Obama's Libya Plan?
It's never a good sign when the president's spokesman tells you that the president's strategy is clear, without being able to reiterate clearly what the strategy is. This is never good: Asked about concerns raised the day before in a letter by the House speaker, John A. Boehner, Mr. Obama’s …The U.S. Army Critiques the Libya Campaign
President Obama should have taken a look at the U.S. Army Field Manual before signing up for the Libyan no-fly zone mission. From the U.S. Army Field Manual: For every objective, ensure unity of command under one responsible commander. From Thursday's New York Times : Only on …Libya & Yemen: The Next Al Qaeda Strongholds?
By concentrating so much American force in a remote place like Afghanistan, are we missing larger and nearer dangers in places like Libya and Yemen? Question: Why are we in Afghanistan? Answer: To prevent al Qaeda from reestablishing its safe havens in that country. Q: Why did …Obama Takes Page from Wolfowitz's Playbook
Obama once dismissed Paul Wolfowitz as an "arm-chair weekend warrior." Now he's relying on his doctrine to make the case for intervening in Libya. In late February, as the Libyan crisis unfolded, former Undersecretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz made an impassioned plea for the United States to …The Beltway's Libya Flip-Out
Like many, I find myself frustrated by Obama’s handling of the crisis in Libya, but even more upset with the critics -- from both right and left. I just can’t seem to help myself. I may be stubborn, stupid, or congenitally contrarian--or some combination of all three. I find myself having been …Obama's Libya Plan: What's the Endgame?
Obama says it is US "policy" that Qaddafi must go. Yet, Defense Secretary Gates says US operations in Libya will dwindle over the next few days. Does any of this add up? So Defense Secretary Bob Gates says the US opposes the division of Libya into autonomous zones. Yet US war aims do not …Why Did Obama Bypass Congress on Libya?
It's very strange and odd that Obama didn't seek congressional authorization before launching strikes on Libya. Will Congress make him regret the decision? It's very strange and odd that President Obama did not seek congressional authorization before launching strikes on Libya. In his mind, he …France's Grudge Match with Qaddafi
Don't be surprised by Sarkozy’s leadership of the intervention in Libya. For years, France has been champing at the bit to send Qaddafi packing. Many commentators seem surprised by France’s enthusiastic leadership of the intervention in Libya. They should not be. It arguably makes perfect sense …The Arab League's No-Fly Flip-Flop
Has Obama’s failure to commit to regime change in Libya undermined Arab support for Operation Odyssey Dawn? Conservative commentators such as Contentions’ Abe Greenwald are understandably frustrated at the Arab League, which, apparently, was for the no-fly zone before it was against it. Or, …America Takes the Backseat
For one of the few times since WWII, the U.S. isn't taking the lead in a necessary military action. But having the U.S. play a supporting role may be good for the West. The essential significance of the 22-nation attack on Libya is not that it’ll get rid of Muammar Qaddafi, but that it marks a …War by Committee
The enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya is being described as America's "third war". But with no clear objective it's more like a glorified international police action. "War is diplomacy by other means." - Clausewitz "You are a professional, but the world is full of dangerous amateurs." …