At 3 p.m. today, anyone with a working Facebook account can get exclusive access to an announcement that has already been announced, setting the stage for further announcements about Tim Pawlenty’s desire to be President of the United States. Such is the absurdity of modern presidential politics that candidates create news events out of incremental [...]
U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 defines the mission in Libya as one to “protect civilians.” But at a White House press briefing yesterday with national security advisor Tom Donilon, one questioner (apparently Chip Reid of CBS), got at the tricky question of just what that means: Q: …[I]s there a difference between a civilian and [...]
There is all sorts of premature and overripe commentary about Libya bouncing around the internet (and in print, and on tv). There is talk, but no evidence, of a long war. There is talk, but no evidence, of an ill-defined mission. For all we know, the bombardment of Libya could be over by Wednesday, with [...]
(Goran Tomasevic / Reuters) –There seems to be a growing consensus in American analysis of the Libya venture that while the targets are well-defined, ultimate goals or any clear endgame remain disturbingly opaque. Tony Karon writes the conflict could drag out. Speaker Boehner calls for clarity on the mission. Dick Lugar urges caution. Romesh Ratnesar [...]
President Barack Obama says he’s intervening to prevent atrocities in Libya. But details of behind-the-scenes debates at the White House show he’s going to war in part to rehabilitate an idea. Three weeks ago, I posted an article headlined, “Will Obama Order U.S. Intervention in Libya?” It began: “It seems preposterous to suggest in the [...]
The revolution taking place in the Middle East has a kaleidoscope of causes, occurring along at least four different fragmentary fault lines: –youthful social networkers v. elderly power-clingers (as in Tunisia and Egypt) –religious v. secular (also, possibly, Egypt–if the reports of yesterday’s elections are accurate; and potentially Yemen) –tribe v. tribe (as in Libya) [...]
Silly, sexist me. Yesterday, I associated military action against Libya with testosterone. As the New York Times reports today, the pressure for action came Hillary Clinton, UN Ambassador Susan Rice and the NSC human rights expert Samantha Power–with the macho boys over at the Pentagon opposed. This may be a first in American history, a [...]
Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher died Friday in Los Angeles of kidney and bladder cancer. He was 85. Christopher had a long and distinguished career in public service and epitomized the prudence and restraint of his generation of Cold War diplomats. Unfailingly polite and carefully prepared, he was tapped by Cyrus Vance to become [...]
Updated: 4:10 pm With air strikes apparently imminent against the forces of Muammar Gaddafi, America faces a simple question: why is the U.S. going to war in Libya? There may be good reasons, even compelling ones. But so far the answers from the Obama administration are shockingly opaque, contradictory and incomplete. Obama explained his decision [...]
It’s not surprising that Congress is split on how to handle the situation in Libya. But the divisions don’t break neatly along party lines. No-fly zone advocates include Democrats John Kerry and Bob Menendez, Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with Democrats but is hawkish on foreign policy. [...]
