Alan Moore
“We Americans are slow to anger. We always seek peaceful avenues before resorting to the use of force — and we did. We tried quiet diplomacy, public condemnation, economic sanctions and demonstrations of military force. None succeeded. Despite our repeated warnings, Gaddafi continued his reckless policy of intimidation, his relentless pursuit of terror. He counted on America to be passive. He counted wrong.”
Those are the words of a great president explaining to the American people why military action in Libya was necessary for the security of our country.
But those words did not come from Barack Obama. They came from former President Ronald Reagan in 1986 as a response to the West Berlin La Belle discotheque bombing, perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime.
On March 19, the United States launched an attack on Libya with the goal of protecting Libyan civilians.
Any stated policy on regime change? No, but no one is really completely sure. Exit strategy? None. Congressional approval? Non-existent.
This is very strange behavior from a president who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize just a few years ago.
Despite the competent tradition of past presidents during wartime, Obama has forged a new path.
Sadly, that path has gotten off to a rocky start. War-weary Americans need to be behind a president before he launches an attack on another country.
Bill Clinton ran into this problem trying to sell military action in Bosnia and the American people responded with indifference.
Obama bypassed the process and the American people altogether and has launched the U.S. into its third current war.
Not only did he fail to sell the war to Congress or the American people, but he clumsily instigated it.
He waited weeks to act while Libyan civilians were being massacred, and he failed to clearly define the mission or the rules of engagement, leaving our military scratching their heads as to how exactly they’re supposed to protect civilians.
Does that mean engaging Gaddafi forces when spotted, or do they have to begin killing people before our military can attack?
With all the uncertainty and bumbling, Obama still doesn’t feel he needs to cut short his vacation in South America.
George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and even Jimmy Carter spoke to the American people directly before military engagements which defined their presidencies.
With the exception of Carter, to whom Obama is often compared, all spoke from the Oval Office — indicating the seriousness and solemn obligation the president has to the American people.
Obama didn’t have time for that but he did find the time to fill out his NCAA brackets on national television.
This laissez-faire approach to governing in wartime is a dangerous game.
Of course, that’s what we get for electing a state senator from Illinois with zero foreign policy experience.
Is this the hope and change you voted for?
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