In his speech on Libya Monday evening, President Barack
Obama demonstrated why self-congratulation is an awful basis for
foreign policy. The stated aim of the address was to tell the
American people “what we’ve done [in Libya], what we plan to do,
and why this matters to us.” That might have been a genuinely
interesting bit of oratory. It is not what we actually
heard.
Perhaps the wrong speech got loaded onto his teleprompter,
because the preachment Obama delivered fudged the past, gave us
weasel words in place of real goals, and substituted a vigorous
Nobel Peace Prize-winning pat on the back for any good reason to
make this our fight. The evasions of fact and friction were so
breathtaking that they need to be cataloged for posterity. What I
offer here is only a first and flawed attempt:
1. What national interest? Obama said
that when Americans’ “interests and values are at stake, we have a
responsibility to act.” These are two very different things. If
America got into it with other nations every time they offended our
values, we would need a much bigger military. (Maybe we could
borrow China’s?)
By putting interests and values together, Obama tried to
pull a switcheroo. He said that if he had “waited one more day” to
act, a massacre might have occurred in the city of Benghazi, which
might have “stained the conscience of the world.” He explained, “It
was not in our national interest to let that happen.” More to the
point, “I refused to let that happen.”
2. What Constitution? The “one more day”
line helped to set up Obama’s justification for not seeking a
congressional resolution for US actions in Libya. The
administration has maintained, impossibly, that maintaining a
no-fly zone is not an act of war, which only Congress has the power
to declare.
Whatever you think of George W. Bush’s wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq — I wholeheartedly approved of Afghanistan and was as
indecisive as Hamlet about Iraq — at least he went to Congress,
twice, and got them to formally authorize hostilities. Obama
assures us that he launched American war planes into Libya only
“after consulting the bipartisan leadership of Congress,” but why
not at least hold a quick vote, or promise to hold one at the first
possible opportunity?
3. What dithering? Obama last night
painted himself as a decisive leader, but that is far from the
truth. In fact, he dithered. He issued ultimata to Libyan strongman
Moammar Gaddafi. He waffled on whether the U.S. would support a
no-fly zone or help enforce one if the UN voted for it, and then he
suddenly decided to go all-in. Obama indecision was the main reason
a congressional vote wasn’t called. There was one really good
reason for this that he did his best to paper over in his
speech.
4. What civil war? The thing that started
the conflict, said Obama, was that “Libyans took to the streets to
claim their basic human rights.” They are, in his telling “innocent
people,” “men, women and children who sought their freedom from
fear.” For some Libyans, that is undoubtedly true, and Gaddafi is
nobody’s idea of a good guy, but the situation on the ground was
much more complicated than the one Obama tried to spoonfeed
us.
Libya is an unnatural political creation of three tribes
in one nation, overseen by a strongman. What is happening now looks
less like an uprising and more like a civil war. By enforcing a
no-fly zone, the U.S. is taking sides in that civil war, though
we’re doing so in a manner ill-befitting a superpower.
5. What regime change? Obama’s clear goal
is regime change, but he doesn’t want to call it that. Oh, don’t
misunderstand, he has “embraced the goal” of getting Gaddafi out of
power and will “actively pursue it through non-military means.” In
the meantime, the US and NATO will continue the bomb the crap out
of the ruler’s forces and thus give support to the rebels. But,
ahem, just who are these rebels?
6. What about al Qaeda? This is the point
where it would be very helpful to have a clear idea of what is and
is not in America’s clearly defined national interest, rather than
our vague ideals. How about this one: It is bad for U.S. interests
to enter a conflict on the same side as al Qaeda.
Well, that’s going to be a problem in Libya. Al Qaeda has
for years schemed against the Libyan strongman. Its agents are on
the ground working for his overthrow. Obama brought up al Qaeda
twice in his speech but never once mentioned this troublesome
fact.
Let’s grant that it is possible that al Qaeda’s influence
is being overblown. But shouldn’t our president have spent some
time in his self-congratulatory address explaining to us mere
mortals why his recent actions do not make it more likely that an
al Qaeda-influenced government will rise to power?
Ret. Marine| 3.29.11 @ 6:50AM
I did not see or hear this fraud last night for the very reason, and many more in my opinion, that I knew before hand he would do as you explained in this article. Call me in the jaded camp if you will. No, We the People are just not that stoopid and it became quite clear he has no Congressional authority to do what he is currently doing with regards to Lybia, or anywhere else for that matter. How sad is it that We, those of us who believe in a strong Constitutional Authority, have to witness this utter fraud and liar, this usurper-n-thief of the American traditions and values, have to stand by without any redress of any sort while he is allowing our Rome to burn to the ground without consequences. Is it any wonder millions have, and some of us from the start, known this poser to be one of the most anti-American presidents this country has ever witnessed, dress all other in disagreement with his lies, deceits, fraudulent historical prospective, down to the point of "talk to the hand mentality" No sir, I think it is high time someone on the supposed Constitutional Authority side of this poser gets to the bottom of why he has side lined the Congress in favor of his political hacks, the idiot talking heads of the supposed news outlets while his contempt for and disregard for the rule of law is astounding, and the best anyone will do is remark about what we already know, he's a liar, fraud, deceiver of the public trust issues and at best a second rate wannabe dictator? Am I fed up with all of this nonsense, you bet, but there is nothing that I can do or say to help others think for themselves or do the right thing, say like encourage others to the point of impeachment proceedings. He clearly has gotten himself to the point of it being legitimately necessary for the good of this Nation.
Peppermint Tea| 3.29.11 @ 2:41PM
The Audacity of the Commander in Chief. Listening on the car radio, he sounded like his very person was "America" in some royal context, like "America could not let this happen--I could not let this happen."
No wonder he didn't get congressional approval. I say impeach the illegitimate (bastard) king.
ROSINA| 3.30.11 @ 1:09PM
You have it right RET. Marine
But, I do not understand your last sentence.
He clearly has gotten himself to the point of it being legitimately necessary for the good of this Nation"
The only good for this nation will be to throw out this jerk and the communist liberals that are supporting him in his bid to become a worde dictator than Gaddafi.
He has already taken over the three branches of US govt. he is there already.
What will it take to throw him out?
It is too scary for words.
DCD-in-Indiana| 3.29.11 @ 7:08AM
The only good thing about this speech was that it didn't pre-empt "House." I switch channels whenever this cipher's face appears on the screen.
Pat Touchton| 3.29.11 @ 8:58AM
Ditto. I just can't bear to watch or listen to him.
How sad for the U.S.
CT Yankee| 3.30.11 @ 11:29AM
Count me as one of many that cannot bear the sight or sound of this bloviating buffoon.
ROSINA| 3.30.11 @ 1:10PM
ME TOO.
A SWITCH OFF INDEED!
Star| 3.30.11 @ 11:31AM
Pat, I feel the same, exactly! The saddest part for America is that the more arrogant and biggest traitor on the planet sits in the WH!! Now THAT'S more than sad than words. Get out the rubber raft and shove him out to sea towards Kenya ("home")--they love him. Let's give him back!!
John Daniel| 3.29.11 @ 7:14AM
It's a cruel world out there and we've got an completely clueless narcissist as commander -in-chief. We are doomed.
Appleby| 3.29.11 @ 7:21AM
Somebody has to start showing *Air Force One* and *Independence Day* round the clock on some channel so the Americans can remember what Presidents are supposed to do.
JDLee| 3.29.11 @ 3:06PM
So you get your politcal philosophy - and I use that term loosely - from movies? Seriously?
Butch | 3.29.11 @ 5:50PM
Those were Hollywood Clint0n-worshiping movies. There was one with Michael Douglas, too. I think it was "The American President." He was a lover-boy and the other two were a**-kickers.
Michael Tomlinson| 3.29.11 @ 7:53AM
Are the "innocent people," "men, women and children who sought their freedom from fear" allied to al Qaeda or the equally dangerous Muslim Brotherhood? What influence did CAIR, the pro Muslim Brotherhood US Islamic Imperalist lobbying group, have on the Obama policy of going to war? Why did he and his administration lie to members of Congress? When will we attack Burma or whatever they call it, because they've been slaughtering innocents for decades (often Christians)? How about Ivory Coast? Why not attack Syria they're even worse enemies than Lybia?
Unlike President George W. Bush, who had clear goals, why don't we have clear goals and as Democrats always demand an exit strategy?
Why aren't liberals shouting Obama lied and people died? Where are the "NO BLOOD FOR OIL" signs?
Anthony| 3.29.11 @ 9:20AM
Michael, The left will never abandon Obozo. Even the real hard left, like Bill Ayers, who will take a few swipes at Obozo and hint to finally revealing that he wrote "Dreams", if Obozo doesn't get his mind right, will still be with him in the end.
The left are delusional and hypocritical. Their hatred for America will withstand any trip ups by Obozo.
The standard they insisted Bush apply, does not apply to Obozo. Nothing Bush did was right, anything Obozo does will be spun and twisted.
This is the pardigm world we live in. Something will have to give; what, how and when are the only questions left.
Richard Baker| 3.29.11 @ 7:55AM
His droning voice caused me to nod off. That was the best part of the speech.
Dee See| 3.29.11 @ 8:20AM
STILL expecting one day to learn Obama
is related to the likes of Averell Harriman
via his mother Ann Dunham.
DON'T fall for this latest set-up in our false
'Left/Right' paradigm op..
Get moving on HUAC meets NUREMBERG
part II.
Expose the staged century we've just come out of.
Apprehend the swiftly approaching EUGENICS
endgame.
Discern what is, IN FACT, the mystical body
of AntiChrist.
REALLY
TRULY
Mattled| 3.29.11 @ 9:06AM
The hardest thing for me is to take this waif seriously. I can understand the Libtard media like Mark Halperin gushing over his speech. They are delusional to say the least. But when Conservatives take him seriously it makes me ill. I'm not a huge fan of Hannity's, but he treats him like he should be treated:
A joke.
Teaghan| 3.29.11 @ 11:06AM
MSNBC was wet for him this morning. Watch them more and more as I'm beginnig to hate FOX morning news and Imus is on vacation.
The left is swooning for him, his "slow and measured" way in which he handles things. He's heads more superior than the rest of us, don't you know? Will the right put up someone that can beat him next year? Will God save us?
JT | 3.29.11 @ 9:07AM
Its only a matter of time and everybody will see if Obama is shellacking the truth and if Al Q steps up to the Lybian podium.
Anthony| 3.29.11 @ 9:56AM
Did anybody seriously expect anything different from our affirmative action president?
Obozo applauds himself for simply showing up; it's been his M.O. all his adult life, with the fawning left in tow.
Feet up on the desk, hands behind his head, others doing the heavy lifting, ghost writing; Hillary and Gates at loggerheads, a big yawn from the LSM, and in walks Obozo to spin his tale of success. Mission accomplished all say the crease watchers at MSLSD.
Obozo is truly the one he's been waiting for. Sickening, truly sickening.
Maddox| 3.29.11 @ 10:38AM
Exactly, the right speech was loaded. It is the same way he flaunts his lying and destruction of America every time. And we take it.
bobmontgomery| 3.29.11 @ 11:15AM
in re "showing up" : See also today's AP story about the O on education, where he wants to give schools points for having high attendance rates. Considering school attendance is *mandatory*, now tough would that be? It's all the same old "equal this, equal that" collectivist, from each-to each mentality Obama learned from his communist mentors. Barack Obama is a communist.
jo anne white | 3.30.11 @ 9:41PM
Yes!
Red Bubba| 3.29.11 @ 10:30AM
Our collective conscience? And here I thought it was about (1) oil for France, and (2) setting a precedent for when the UN and arab league say it's time to help the palestinian democracy, rebels, good guys.
Dixie Pixie| 3.29.11 @ 11:16AM
Listening to an Obama speech can make one a believer in the Theory of Alternative Realities.
Specifically his speeches describe an alternative reality other-than what everyone else experiences.
For example he described his administration response to the Libyan Civil War as quick, bold, forceful, intelligent leadership.
Obama did not realize he went on vacation during the crises and his most heroic act was to prove he could "Multitask" by listening to a briefing about Libya during a meal!
Every part of his speech implied an Alternative Reality only Obama can see.
At no part did he address the real issues but did his best to portray the imaginary as reality.
Did anyone else get the point that the ??reason?? Obama junked the Constitution was to prevent a massacre that only Obama and O'Reilly can see.
The self-deceptions went on and on throughout the speech.
The conclusions is, either Obama comes from an Alternative Reality or he can not perceive this Reality.
Of course there is the possibility Obama believes himself such a skillful liar that anything he pronounces will be taken as the Truth.
If true, he is only deceiving himself.
All alternatives indicate Obama and his administration are quite insane.
Or does anyone in the TAS Readership have a better explanation?
A.M. Mallett| 3.29.11 @ 11:24AM
The truly hideous thing to watch is this speech with the sound muted. He is one disgusting, arrogant turd of a man.
DCD-in-Indiana| 3.29.11 @ 12:16PM
Couldn't agree more. The man is a cipher in a suit.
Goatlocker| 3.29.11 @ 1:03PM
I concur. Watching this vile and contemptible narcissist is both painful and disturbing. If he is reelected, our country is toast.
Ned| 3.29.11 @ 1:43PM
"Gonna get me som'a that Obama money now...!"
howard lohmuller| 3.29.11 @ 11:30AM
Trying to find logic in President Obama's Libya decision is as difficult as predicting the future by reading a birds entrails. But politics does supply a possible answer.
Consider the child's toy bench that has geometric forms cut into it with corresponding wood pieces cut to fit into the forms by hitting them with a wood mallet. Obama found himself besieged by interests wanting U.S. intervention. The U.N. and Arab League were organizations Obama had been trying to curry favor with. England, France and Italy wanted U.S. control of the situation to prevent a migration into Europe and to prevent oil flow stoppage. And the rebels wanted help. All the pieces fell into place. Obama only had to say yes.
But domestic politics in the U.S. had to be considered. The D's he knew would not like the decision, however they would still vote for him. The R's he knew would not like it either and would not vote for him anyway. The I's however, whom are a third of the electorate, had been polling against him by 5 to ten points. He needs to get their support in 2012. I's don't in general pay as much attention to political details as D's and R's. They tend to be against governance that generally leans too far left or too far right. A recent poll shows I's about split on the intervention maybe because they saw so many groups for it and so many against that they felt the government was on an even keel.
Mr. Obama's strategy for 2012 will be to find issues that give him better standing with I's if he is to win the election. That is probably the main reason the anti-war Obama went to war in Libya.
Al Adab| 3.29.11 @ 11:36AM
Haven't we all come to realize that to this President it is all about him? This is a serious pyschosis and the voters need to understand it. Whether they personally like him or even his policies is beside the point. To have a certifiably mentally ill executive is a clear and present danger.
Dixie Pixie| 3.29.11 @ 1:54PM
Al Adab...It is far worse that the madness of one man.
The entire Ruling Class and its MSM functionaries have been quite insane for some time.
Obama is not a recent and single phenomena.
He has plenty of enablers.
Al Adab| 3.29.11 @ 5:54PM
All too true Dixie, still it's good to hear from you.
Wayne | 3.29.11 @ 12:17PM
I see that on FoxNews, less than 10 percent of the people voted to arm the Libyan rebels. That tells me that grass roots conservatives want no part of this war. Only the DC elites and GOP RINOS and Neo-cons support Obama.
A No-Fly zone is most definitely an act of war. Japan could say Pearl Harbor was just about implementing a no-fly zone in the Pacific. We certainly knew it was war. I am tired with the parsing of the language to justify whatever one wants to justify. I don't watch Obama. He is a compulsive liar and not worth listening too.
The Bruce| 3.29.11 @ 12:34PM
As difficult as it was to listen to this speech, one thing raised an eyebrow. He could help himself in taking a swipe at Bush with the "we've down that road before" regarding regime change. He stated that it took 8 years to instute it in Iraq.
That's pretty funny, because I seem to remember that we went into Iraq in March of 2003, and pulling Hussein out of a spider-hole in December of that same year. Perhaps he meant 8 months?
The Bruce| 3.29.11 @ 12:36PM
Sorry, I meant couldn't, not could.
Cuffs| 3.29.11 @ 12:37PM
All this analysis--enough!
Obama doesn't care because he
doesn't have to.
Whatever he says or does will immediately
be protected by MSM. So why should he worry? OBAMA DOESN'T CARE!
DCD-in-Indiana| 3.29.11 @ 12:54PM
Direct from the hypocrite-in-chief:
http://books.google.com/books?.....dq=bosnia+"audacity+of+hope"&source=bl&ots=klStj_bG_F&sig=j34S-WYY-Np3hnuzL3tkOV7rxxg&hl=en&ei=sAeSTY0F0J-3B4_G9WY&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f;=false
Joe D.| 3.29.11 @ 1:26PM
I agree with Ret. Marine. Where are all the congressman and senators requesting investigations like they did to Bush about Iraq?
Conserdude| 3.29.11 @ 4:21PM
Great point - where the heck is Congress? The Republicans should be opposing this flat-out, and calling for an up-or-down vote to authorize hostilities, while quoting Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden in the process. At the very least they need to invoke the War Powers Act. And shame on the warmongers at the Weekly Standard for supporting this reckless action. There are no Minutemen in Libya.
Susan Grant| 3.29.11 @ 2:50PM
Mr. Obama did NOT request permission from Congress because he knows that would not have been granted, as NO ONE in the present Congress wants to arm 'The Muslim Brotherhood', which is what the Big Zero has accomplished by his latest reckless move. The so-called rebels fighting Qaddafi ARE the 'Muslim Brotherhood' and by arming them, Mr. Obama could be charged with 'aiding and abetting' our enemies. The problem I have with this is HE KNOWS what he has done and he thinks he has fooled the voters once again. What he has really done is prove to the world that he IS a muslim and now he has provided them arms and ammunition. Just proves Obamacare can't cure stupid, because stupid IS as stupid DOES.
Conserdude| 3.29.11 @ 4:16PM
This Libya war -- and that's what it is, a war -- is a colossal blunder on Obama's part. This nation is no threat to us or its neighbors. Why he thought the U.S. should get involved is dumbfounding, given his position from the beginning about Iraq, which is a greater national interest to us, albeit a debatable one. He comes off hypocritical and inconsistent and there is no end in site that would be a victorious one. Will he fire the advisors (e.g., Hillary) that coaxed him into this massive blunder? I doubt it, since that opens another political problem. And shame on all those Bush-haters on MSNBC (e.g., Maddow) and elsewhere (Bob Beckel) who now back this kind of action for no national interest at all. Have they no integrity?
Nite| 3.29.11 @ 9:59PM
Obama is an embrassment to this country.
jstwndring| 3.30.11 @ 2:18AM
Our Muslim President is acting on behalf of..........Muslims, not, Americans. Of course, that's the problem I have with DemocRats in general. They are always so "concerned" with everyone else's objectives--not America's. In fact, it is the Democrat Party's objective to strengthen our enemy's position while weakening ours. You don't believe me? Let me name a few instances: Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Nicaragua (the Sandanistas), First Gulf War, Second Gulf War. Actually, their friends in the press tried to undermine us during WWII as well, but, that will never got fully exposed. The Democrat party is the party of traitors.
John Carnal| 3.31.11 @ 12:13AM
So true. What are we to do? We need someone to call a spade a spade relentlessly. We need offense, offense, offense. General Patton please return from the dead.
C Smith| 3.30.11 @ 3:16AM
When Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's supreme allied commander reported "flickers" of al Qaeda and Hezbollah involvement within ranks of the Libyan rebels, he was soundly reproved. National security officials quickly denied the affiliation, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton immediately mitigated the allegation. However, as the Western coalition continues to facilitate rebellion within the Arab League, a vacuum is undeniably being created. The obvious question: what is going to fill the vacuum? There is an obvious answer, but is won't be forthcoming from Obama or Clinton, or Cameron or Sarkozy:
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation" (Mathew 12:43-45).
http://the-day-of-the-lord.blo.....irits.html
Cincinnatius| 3.30.11 @ 10:40AM
Though I had to continually suppress my gag reflex, I did listen to Obozo's speech, in order to gage the MSM's response to it. I was right, he is, according to them, a genius of diplomacy, strategy, with a good dose of clairvoyance thrown in for good measure. It is almost beyond comprehension that they pedal this tripe to the American people AND, the majority buy it! I get it now, the reason we are failing is because Americans (in large) are too stupid to keep America! They don't have the mental competence to insure its continued existence, hence the election of Obozo, et al.
Santos| 3.31.11 @ 1:38AM
May God bless Obama with long life... at least long enough to exit as a one-term president. I am Puerto Rican, and in my naive youth while attending UCLA during the late 60's and early 70's- I was gungho for the communist butcher Che Guevara (until I found out what a demon he was).
The older I got the more conservative principles made sense, and showed the bankruptcy of progressive socialist agenda(s) that have taken over many facets of American society. Our naive and ill-informed electorate has given the most powerful elected office in human history to an incompetent, lying poser- who is so woefully out of his league, due to absence of leadership that he has derailed the American dream. The tea party movement is but a small part of a greater design: God in Christ has a heart for America's destiny yet unfulfilled! We need a president like Reagan with a spine to stand against our sworn enemies- and bring this great country back to the foundations that have made America great for over 235 years. Time is short- sound the alarm!!! (II Chron.7:14).
Sick and Tired| 3.31.11 @ 2:09AM
Sounds like I have plenty of company today in my outrage for the disrespect and disdain this egoistic charlatain has for the high position he has stolen.
Where are the powers that be? Shouldn't someone be calling for the resignation or impeachment of this flunky for high crimes and misdemeanors? I certainly think Obamas actions thus far, exceed and surpass those of R. Nixon. Watergate was a joke compared to this guys misdeeds and lies. His Oath of Office is a travesty as is his entire Presidency, he cares nothing for this country or its' citizenry.
How he got past revealing the simplest of required personal information, ie, The Infamous 'BIRTH CERTIFICATE', totally baffles me. The watchmen on the wall have clearly been sleeping. How the hell has this nation managed to survive this long if it's this easy to overthrow. Where is the constant vigilance that freedom requires? Where are the precious checks and balances? Where are the Mr. Smiths in Washington? Is everyone on the take?
I fear everyday that we will reap the bitterest harvest for our tolerance of this Traitor who likes to be called "President". If we begin to see Barry for who he truly is, it won't be hard to understand his actions; I truly believe he is the enemy of us all. Hence his inability to name Islam as Americas enemy. His cavalier attitude in wrecking the ecomomy, ignoring our laws, nepharious relationships, restrictions against free market enterprise, etc. etc. He has lied to us every step of the way and continues to do so.
I personally believe that Obama needs to be in prison not in the Oval Office. God help us all!
Rick| 3.31.11 @ 10:14PM
Your a rasist!
Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 11:15PM
is good