The Libyan Decision: Part II

(Posted on 20/03/11)

If it's difficult for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to understand President Obama's back and forth attitude on Libya, imagine how the confusion is with Americans and others around the world who went to bed Friday night believing nothing would really change, at least in the short term, only to awaken on Saturday to learn air strikes were ordered. Frankly, many saw the sudden emergence of Libya in all the breaking news headlines as bit of an emergence of an unknown dark horse. All eyes were on Japan and the tragedy of the earthquake and tsunamis and then suddenly, those images were replaced with Muammar Gaddafi and his eccentric mindset. So what is it in UN Resolution 1973 that defines the parameters for dealing with Libya? The lawmakers who wrote the guidelines that authorized other nations to protect the nation's people from its radical leader were quite clear in their intentions.

First, it should be noted the collective UN has had (for many years) an interest in what it refers to as the "deteriorating situation" in Libya. Even as far back as the mid-1980s, Gaddafi has been in the crosshairs of all the super nations. The violence has been relentless, there is no existence of a system that ensures basic human rights; and torture and other crimes against humanity are rampant. One would think Barack Obama would have strongly supported an air strike from the very beginning. This is where it gets a bit tricky for the American president and his secretary of state. Clinton, along with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, were quite vocal in their distaste for Obama's refusal to "make up his mind". With Libyan rebels supposedly on the verge of defeat, the hem-hawing around had many concerned, including UK leaders. This apparently was the final straw for Clinton who announced this week she would not be seeking another term, even as the UK government was also coming under pressure to raise the odds with Libya. A Clinton insider said, "Obviously, she's not happy with dealing with a president who can't decide if today is Tuesday or Wednesday, who can't make up his mind".

By the time Saturday rolled around, Clinton, speaking from Paris, announced the U.S. would be joining other countries, including the UK, in an air strike, but she didn't go as far as to say the U.S. would approve ground forces. While many Americans were left scratching their heads, first because in the U.S., there are many who are incredulous that its military is taking on a third country after the long and still on-going wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Further, several American military ships have been diverted to assist Japan in its nuclear crisis. Still, the decision was made.

Twelve hours later, Fox News is reporting the U.S. military is reporting Libyan military targets have been "severely disabled". While the only consistency in this latest unrest is its inconsistency, both the UK and the US are hoping for a quick resolution. In a time when nothing is the same from bedtime to wake up time, this is anyone's guess at this point.