The President’s Credibility Gap
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on April 1st, 2011 4:31 am by HL
The President’s Credibility Gap
Ross Douthat, New York Times
Addressing the nation Monday evening, President Obama suggested that the United States was in the process of reducing its military footprint in Libya, even as he explicitly rejected the idea of pursuing regime change in Tripoli by force of arms. Both statements seemed calculated to make our intervention seem tightly limited rather than open-ended. (“I want to be clear,” Obama said. “The United States of America has done what we said we would do.”) But two days later, both look dubious in the extreme.
What Is the Mission in Libya?
Jed Babbin, RealClearPolitics
In his Monday night speech, President Obama said, “Our most effective alliance, NATO, has taken command of the enforcement of the [Libyan] arms embargo and No Fly Zone. Last night, NATO decided to take on the additional responsibility of protecting Libyan civilians.” He added that the transfer of command from US forces to NATO would take place on Wednesday.But Obama described his commitment to the Libyan rebels in far broader terms, sketching a plan to keep America – and impliedly its forces – involved to and through the formation of a new Libyan government. Now, his…
Rwanda Was Genocide. Libya Is a Civil War
Paul Miller, Foreign Policy
The president made it clear in his speech that the U.S.-led war against Libya is primarily motivated to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. “We were faced with the prospect of violence on a horrific scale,” he said. “To brush aside America's responsibility as a leader and – more profoundly – our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are.
Gaddafi Must Go — But Where?
Carl Cannon, RealClearPolitics
One day after speaking to the American people about the U.S. military intervention in Libya, President Obama said in a television interview that Muammar Gaddafi and those in his inner circle “know their days are numbered.”Maybe they do, maybe they don't. But one question raised by Obama's remarks is whether they will help Gaddafi step away from the world stage — or whether such bravado will rouse the Libyan leader and his loyalists to fight until the bitter end, thereby increasing the carnage in that beleaguered North African nation. Receive news alertsThe past is…
