“What we can do in Libya”
Here’s a shockingly good editorial from National Review on why enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya is a bad idea. Tucked away in the middle of the piece is what sounds like a belated refudiation of the Bush Doctrine: “Why would we taint what would be the indigenous glory of their ouster of Qaddafi with an almost entirely symbolic Western military action? The reason that the revolts of 2011 have had a dramatic catalyzing effect across the region, when the invasion of Iraq didn’t, is that they are the handiwork of Middle Eastern populations themselves, and thus a much more appealing model of change.”
I wonder if the anonymous NR editorialist realized he was making exactly the same point as Andrew Sullivan.Report
Hitchens excoriates Obama for his failure to act more directly.
Of course, this is also the Hitchens who urged America to overthrow Saddam Hussein. We see how well that worked out, (bitter laughter). Now we have yet another dismal, stillborn Islamic Republic on our hands.
More revolutions go from the frying pan into the fire than might be supposed. America’s political cred is in teeny little tatters between 5 West longitude and 50 East.
Wael Ghonim, the Google wonder boy whose Facebook page supposedly lit the match to Egypt’s revolution was pushed off the stage by Yusuf al-Qaradawi’s young toughs. There might not be attacks on the Copts in Egypt, but you may bet the farm on the Muslim Brotherhood attacking Shiites within Egypt, persecuting homosexuals and demanding attacks on Israel. Yusuf al-Qaradawi is the equivalent of Imam Khomeini upon his return from exile.
America is best-served by staying the hell out of these fights for now. I can’t praise Obama and Hillary Clinton enough: they’re playing their cards exactly right.Report
But for their weasely slap at Obama they’re pretty well spot on in the editorial.Report