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Gaddafi Duck

By Joe Klein | @JoeKleinTIME | March 18, 2011 | +

There’s been some amazing diplomacy afoot over the past few days regarding multilateral actions to be taken, perhaps, against Libya. The notion that the Arab League came out in favor of a no-fly zone is extraordinary; that the UN Security Council, not an easy place to press military action, has agreed is almost mind-boggling. I remain extremely skeptical about military action, but the unanimity of world opinion–especially the opinion of Gaddafi’s neighbors–is certainly a welcome and bracing phenomenon. It will be interesting to see how, and whether, the U.S. participates in the actions to come. It would be a very welcome change if we let those closest to the situation–the Arabs, the Europeans–lead the charge. We don’t always have to be lead dog when it comes to kinetic/testosteronic matters, do we?

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  • http://shortplaysaboutrealpeople.wordpress.com Michael Maiello

    You mentioned the unanimity of world opinion. But so far as the US is concerned, maybe domestic public opinion should lead the way. Pew reported on March 14th that 65% of Americans oppose military action. So maybe we should sit this one out.

  • michaelfury

    “kinetic/testosteronic matters”

    http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/circle-ix/

  • hbelloc

    From your lips…

  • formerlyjames

    It is reassuring that world opinion favors possible war, because the US most often ignores world opinion.

  • nflfoghorn

    “…We don’t always have to be lead dog when it comes to kinetic/testosteronic matters, do we?”
    .
    THIS is a ‘testosteronic matter’? It’s more like a “we need to get rid of this nutball” matter.
    .
    More to the point – we can’t afford to be. Ordinarily this would shut critics like RustFreep but they seldom think logically.

  • jsfox
  • koabd

    THIS is a ‘testosteronic matter’? It’s more like a “we need to get rid of this nutball” matter.
    .
    World’s full of nutballs. What makes this one so special? The sudden need to help Libyan rebels (who we really don’t know anything about — as many foreign policy wonks have pointed out) leaves me a little cold considering how many other despots have run roughshod over their people on the African continent alone.
    .
    When it comes down to it, you’ve got two European actors thumping their chests (the UK and France). The French rushed to recognize the rebel council as the government of France and Britain is has been trying to make itself an important part of this story as well (I seem to recall Royal Marine Commandos being detained by the rebels early in this conflict). And this is all just a front for the real issue: Europe doesn’t want another wave of Muslim immigrants, which they would get if Libya continued to spiral into chaos. So, if they want this little war, they can have it.
    .
    And for the Republican bloviators — it’s just another thing to criticize the President for. They claim the nation’s broke, but never miss an opportunity to agitate for a war (and fight the Department of Defense on cutting weapons systems DOD deams unnecessary). So if they want to kick Libyan butt so bad, I hear the French are going in and the French Foreign Legion’s still taking recruits. Have at it.

  • nflfoghorn

    We may agree to disagree (slightly) on the importance of addressing this particular dictator, but I find it hilarious that the same GOP folks who got mad at France for not supporting us in Iraq (“freedom fries”???) are now saying the U.S. isn’t moving fast enough on this as France is.

  • koabd

    We may agree to disagree (slightly) on the importance of addressing this particular dictator
    .
    Fair enough, though I am curious why you’re so hot to oust Gaddafi. I mean, I understand the humanitarian argument, and I could even be pursued of a strategic alignment, but I don’t see what makes Gaddafi the immediate problem considering we have other kinetic situations (Bahrain, for example).
    .
    but I find it hilarious that the same GOP folks who got mad at France for not supporting us in Iraq (“freedom fries”???) are now saying the U.S. isn’t moving fast enough on this as France is.
    .
    Well, for the Newt Gingriches of the world, you can never move fast enough to blow sh!t up. Unless, of course, it’s firing cruise missles at a Sudanese factory alledged to be connected to the US embassy bombing Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network. Then it’s “Wage the Dog.”

  • stewartiii

    NewsBusters: Joe Klein Hails Obama’s Followership on Libya Crisis
    http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2011/03/18/joe-klein-hails-obamas-followership-libya-action

  • Ivy_B

    Oh good. We can look forward to another week-end of drive-bys.

  • apr2563

    Just what JK loves.

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