Thursday, October 20, 2011
President Obama to Libyan people: "You have won your revolution."
No matter how you spin it, this is DEFINITELY a big win for the President. And I have to imagine that it is causing a great deal of heartburn among the contestants on that GOP presidential reality show whose immature antics have been so entertaining as of late.
The President played this EXACTLY right, and the fact that he suffered such backlash from members of the GOP (Including some currently vying for the nomination), as well as members of his own party, will only make him appear that much more like the Commander-in-Chief, and make the current field of challengers appear impotent and unqualified for the job by comparison.
Yeah the Republicans better HOPE the job situation doesn't improve, because if it does they are SCREWED!
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Well played, Mr. President.
ReplyDeleteWell played indeed!
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Already, Mitt Romney (or rather, one of his "aides") is doing mental gymnastics trying to avoid giving props to President Obama for his Libya policy/plan or how it panned out.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1011/Romney_aide_on_Libya_Credit_to_the_Libyans_not_Obama.html
I have been increasingly disgusted by the criticism of our President about him being an "academic" which is another way to putting down someone smart, very, very smart.
ReplyDeleteI have a healthy self-respect for my own intellect, but I want someone smarter and more calm than myself to run our country. That's why I voted for candidate Obama, and it's why I will vote for President Obama's re-election in 2012.
He is the kind of leader we've needed. Unfortunately, he's had to put up with the middle-school pissing-contest mentality of the GOP and the grade school bully mentality of the Tea Party.
I am so very proud of President Obama and grateful for the solid leadership he has shown both internationally and domestically.
Anyone who thinks he is incompetent is simply simple-minded. I still have things I want him to accomplish and, by golly, I think he will if given a reasonable Congress of grown-ups, not self-serving, simplistic nitwits as those who now dominate the GOP and TP (and even some Blue Dog Dems).
Let us honor him by voting him to a second term and backing him up with sincere grown-ups (even the GOP has a few - the Tea Party, well, not a one).
"GOP presidential reality show" is the perfect description for the debacle we are seeing. It makes one wonder if cable teevee with its need for content and the internet with its promoting outrageous behavior are responsible for the cast of loons and sociopaths. It is entertaining but what does it tell us about the future of our country?
ReplyDeletePresident Obama governs with a cool head. He kept his word and the rebels waged an incredibly painful, costly on all fronts, war and our signature is not on it.
ReplyDeleteNot all of our leaders have to be the "hero" or "big cheese" all over the world. How refreshing!
Go Obama! Those immature Rethuglicans are helping you by providing their childish stage shows, and so are we progressives, but with our votes and $ support!
Don't forget Elizabeth Warren and Maxine Waters who are working for us every day.
Eric Cantor will find a way to contort this into a foreign policy weakness.
ReplyDeleteTho I tend towards isolationism in times of domestic economic crisis, I have to admit that Obama is twisting the GOP into knots on foreign policy and the war on terror. They don't know if they're coming or going.
I love President Obama! Thank God McCain and Palin are not/were not in power.
ReplyDeleteThe Repubs are going to have a very, very difficult time defeating him in the upcoming election. President Obama gets my vote AGAIN!
That's MY President!! Love this man. Thanks for the post, Gryphen!
ReplyDeleteObama 2012!!!
@Anonymous at 12:12 - well said. I couldn't agree with you more. Too bad our country doesn't show President Obama the respect the rest of the world does.
ReplyDelete12:12 pm. My thoughts exactly! I wish the msm would give President Obama the credit that is due him. He has been the only "adult in the room" since his inauguration.
ReplyDelete‘leading from behind is looking pretty good right about now’
ReplyDeleteDavid Ignatius (Washington Post): …. What was good about President Obama’s cautious, back-seat approach to Libya was that it denied Gaddafi the final apocalyptic confrontation that he craved with the United States. Sorry, Moammar, but America was just part of a NATO coalition this time…..
This was an instance when Mr. Cool had it pretty much right. Obama saw that a no-fly zone wouldn’t be enough and lobbied for tougher U.N. language authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect the Libyan people. But he opted for limited U.S. involvement, front-loaded in the first week, and under the protective cover of NATO and the Arab League.
Obama deliberately kept the U.S. in the background even when critics began howling for a show of American “leadership.” And most important, he was patient through last summer, rejecting the counsel of those who argued that he must escalate U.S. military intervention to break the stalemate or, alternatively, bail out.
…. Obama took a lot of shots along the way to Thursday’s symbolic end of the Libya campaign. But it seems fair to say that his vision of opposing Gaddafi through a broad, international coalition – in which other nations share the burden, for a change – worked out pretty well.
more...
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/10/20/leading-from-behind-is-looking-pretty-good-right-about-now/
Another Victory for a New Approach to War
ReplyDeleteThe final end to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s rule is the latest victory for a new American approach to war: few if any troops on the ground, the heavy use of air power, including drones, and, at least in the case of Libya, a reliance on allies.
Only a few months ago, the approach had few fans: not the hawks in Congress who called for boots on the ground, not the doves who demanded a pullout and not the many experts who warned of a quagmire. Most pointedly, critics mocked President Obama for “leading from behind,” a much-repeated phrase that came from an unnamed administration official in an article in The New Yorker.
But the last six months have brought a string of successes. In May, American commandos killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. In August, Tripoli fell, and Colonel Qaddafi fled. In September, an American drone strike killed Anwar al-Awlaki, a top Qaeda operative and propagandist, in Yemen. And on Thursday, people were digesting images of the bloodied body of Colonel Qaddafi, an oppressive strongman who spent decades flaunting his pariah status.
“This comes at a time when we steer the strength of American leadership across the world,” Mr. Obama said from the White House Rose Garden, noting that Colonel Qaddafi’s death came after the killing of Bin Laden and other leaders of Al Qaeda. “Along with our friends and allies, we’ve demonstrated what collective action can achieve in the 21st century.” Earlier Thursday, Republican lawmakers congratulated the administration.
“It’s a great day,” Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said on CNN. “I think the administration deserves great credit. Obviously, I had different ideas on the tactical side, but the world is a better place.”
Senator Mark Steven Kirk, Republican of Illinois, added, in a statement, referring to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, “The administration, especially Secretary Clinton, deserve our congratulations.”
continued...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/world/africa/qaddafis-death-is-latest-victory-for-new-us-approach-to-war.html?_r=2&hp
Another "thumbs up" for Barack Obama. Anon@12.12p - well stated.
ReplyDeleteNow, let's get the Dems back into power in the House and Obama in the WH!
President Obama took an enormous risk by agreeing to intervene militarily in Libya. Military resources were stretched in Afghanistan and Iraq; U.S. military commanders were deeply skeptical; Pentagon chief Robert Gates urged the president not to act in Libya; and there was no great appetite among Americans for a third conflict in the Middle East. What’s more, there were all kinds of credible questions about whether this mission had a meaningful chance of success.
ReplyDeleteBut it did succeed and the gamble paid off. Gadhafi and his regime are no more. There’s ample room for a fair debate about whether the mission was wise, but predictions of failure proved to be incorrect.
When it comes to American politics, the next question is what in the world Republicans are going to say about it.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/the_gop_line_on_libya032945.php
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) talked to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this morning about Gadhafi’s death in Libya, and at the end of the interview, Blitzer said, “All right, senator, thanks very much. I know you’re happy on this very special day, an historic day.”
ReplyDeleteMcCain may be pleased, but perhaps now would also be a good time to remember what the senator was up to two years ago.
In August 2009, the Republican lawmaker traveled to Tripoli for a personal visit with Gadhafi, and the two discussed delivery of American military equipment to the Libyan dictator. There’s even a video of the introductions.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/the_question_blitzer_forgot_to032946.php
What was good about President Obama's cautious, back-seat approach to Libya was that it denied Gaddafi the final apocalyptic confrontation that he craved with the United States. Sorry, Moammar, but America was just part of a NATO coalition this time. Indeed, the denouement in Libya has been a good argument for halfway measures (or at least, half-visible ones).
ReplyDeleteThis was an instance when Mr. Cool had it pretty much right. Obama saw that a no-fly zone wouldn't be enough and lobbied for tougher U.N. language authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect the Libyan people. But he opted for limited U.S. involvement, front-loaded in the first week, and under the protective cover of NATO and the Arab League.
Obama deliberately kept the U.S. in the background even when critics began howling for a show of American “leadership.” And most important, he was patient through last summer, rejecting the counsel of those who argued that he must escalate U.S. military intervention to break the stalemate or, alternatively, bail out.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obama-chose-the-right-course-on-libya/2011/10/20/gIQAnsp90L_story.html?hpid=z2
12:12 Thank you for expressing your perceptive insights.
ReplyDeleteVote Obama 2012
The new GOP talking points regarding the Libyan intervention is to say that they're happy Gaddafi is gone, but PBO was too slow to act, or he "led from behind." Sen. Graham revealed to McClatchy today that the GOP opposition to PBO's policy in Libya is because he is the current president. Note the "he led from behind" dig at the end of the excerpt. What an embarrassing way to cover for the failed foreign policies of the GWB administration--slam a president whose policy decisions worked out well, revere one whose foreign policy decisions left the world worse after leaving office.
ReplyDelete“I’m very disappointed in Congress,” said Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Congress took an irrational view of the War Powers Act. I guarantee you that a lot Republicans who wanted the War Power Act invoked would not have asked for it to be invoked if President Obama were not president. To me, national security should be as bipartisan as possible.”
“The world is changing around us,” Graham continued. “There’s a revolutionary changing around us. There’s a revolutionary change in the Middle East where women are driving in Saudi Arabia, Gadhafi is dead, Syria is on the ropes. We need to get involved, they're about to have their first free and fair, I hope, election in 6,000 years in Egypt.”
Still, Graham said he thought Obama made a mistake by “leading from behind.”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/20/127842/lindsey-graham-says-gop-opposed.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=news#ixzz1bMEcfORB
You all have said it so well! Our president is a man to be proud of. His detractors are beyond pathetic.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the absolute HEIGHT of irony, if Rick Perry tries to play the "innocent until proven guilty" card, as his way of diminishing the President's status on this outcome.
ReplyDeleteEven the most adamant, the most robotically sycophantic Tea Partier, would have to burst out laughing at that.
The GOP just finally saw the final nail pounded in the "Obama is weak on defense" plank. Now what? Hahahaha
ReplyDeleteThis has been a major coup for how other countries can help genuine need for change in another country.
ReplyDeleteActually, although the USA had a major role in the NATO support for the rebels in Libya, it was Prime Minister David Cameron(UK)and President Sarkosy (France) who were the first to push for NATO backing and support for the rebels.
President Obama did well to ignore the critics (like Cameron did) and come on board with this NATO initiative.
This has been one very classy,well thought out initiative, that led to success for the rebels, and relatively few civilian deaths by NATO forces.
WELL DONE ALL! And good luck to the future of Libya.
Josephiine (UK)
What 12:12 said is perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhen Our Presient speaks, It's like music to my ears. So restrained, eloquent, poised, and confidant. He's smart, humble, and has found a very effective and economical way to fight and win the war on terror. Brilliant Leader.
ReplyDeleteQualities I find extremely attractive in a man. Our First Lady has excellent taste!
The funniest quip I heard today was "If he were a Republican, his face would already be on Mt Rushmore".
One more accomplishment, and we're respected by the Lybian People.
From a reader at The Dish By Andrew Sullivan:
ReplyDeleteBush and Saddam - One Trillion dollars and thousands of US lives.
Obama and Qaddafi - One Billion dollars and zero US lives.
Meep Meep indeed.
Interesting that in less than 3 years, Obama was able to do what Reagan and the two Bushes could not do in 20 years:
ReplyDeleteget rid of Gaddafi and Osama.