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Hillary: UN not US Must Take Lead on Libya No-Fly Zone

By Aaron Goldstein on 3.9.11 @ 10:39AM

In an interview with Britain's Sky News, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States must not lead an effort to establish a no-fly zone over Libya. (H/T to Mark Hemingway of The Weekly Standard).

Clinton said, "I think it's very important that this not be a US-led effort, because this comes from the people of Libya themselves." She went on to say, "We think it's important the United Nations makes this decision, not the United States and so far the United Nations has not done that."

And therein lies the problem. If the first Bush Administration had waited back in 1992 for the UN to make a decision then there would have been any no-fly zones in Iraq. The no-fly zones, of course, were organized and administered by the United States, Britain and France (until it withdrew in 1998).

John Yoo is right to argue that we don't need the UN's permission to save lives in Libya.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

Eric Cartman| 3.9.11 @ 11:13AM

Iron Bottom is right. We must wait for that bulwark of Democracy, The U.N. to lead us. Those brave U.N. leaders, those impeccable gentleman who stand firm in the face of danger and despotism, like the president of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Najat Al-Hajjaji, from Libya. And those troops! Those brave, blue helmeted supermen who have take the lead in places such as Iraq, Darfur and Rwanda! We are nop match for this wonderful organization! Hillary! Our savior . . well, next to Obama, who is a Christ-like figure spreading love across the globe with his apologies for America's meanness.

Wayne | 3.9.11 @ 11:44AM

Its just a delay tactic. This administration is waiting for Qaddhafi to beat the rebels, then it will come in with aid like it did in Haiti. Qaddhafi is Obama's friend and ally.

Stan Redmond| 3.9.11 @ 11:53AM

My associates don't believe me when I make this claim. Obama will NEVER launch a new military action during his term. Not now not ever regardless of what happens. DC could be a glass parking lot from an Iranian nuke and he would not act.

Ricco| 3.9.11 @ 12:24PM

How many dead civilians, including women and children, are an acceptable number before the US acts? What is our moral compass for this?

Occam's Tool| 3.9.11 @ 12:57PM

If we fuse to glass at very high temperatures all sand on military airbases in Libya and Iran, that would be useful---and it could reverse Global warming!