Considering Alternatives or the Lack Thereof in the Mid East...

polifrog



Considering alternatives or the lack thereof...

While running interference for those who did not support the Iraq War, the left refused to offer alternatives. Currently I am hearing the right grouse about our incursion into Libya yet they offer no alternative either. Libertarians, however, have been honest in offering the only alternative available ... "Stay out of their business." and this is the choice I would prefer if the US were not in the business of leading the world.

The US does lead the world, though. This leadership role is the unwelcome burden of our nation's unprecedented success. Right or wrong, the US has, as a result of being the world leader, become the donkey on which the fault of misery is pinned throughout much of the world. Some took their frustration out on the US.

For almost 2 decades we ignored them. Then on 9/11 we recognized the failure of this approach. We engaged. We had no choice as the alternative (leaving them to themselves) had been tried and had failed. Had we been an India or a Germany I doubt there would have been a 9/11 ... at least on our soil.

This is where things get interesting, though. What does the long game become? The US is not simply going to invade a nation and leave it to an uncertain future. Look at the twin successes of Germany and Japan. Additionally, consider the failure such an incursion would become if we were to leave a nation in worse shape than before we had arrived. This is the point where Obama finds himself now.

Obama clearly attempted to ignore Libya but he was mugged by the reality that as a hyper-power the US does not have this choice. Consider the accusations of dithering he was subjected to domestically. Consider the appeals of help from those attempting to overthrow Kadaffy. Consider the near waywardness of the rest of the world looking to the US for leadership that was not forthcoming. Obama had no choice but to engage Libya.

Going forward Obama will forced down another predetermined path. He will direct the US to help install a democracy in Libya. If he fails to do so his invasion of Libya will be seen as a failure.

Some presidents engineer events as Bush did through the Bush Doctrine, while others are lead by events. In this case Obama is being lead by the ongoing forces of the Bush Doctrine.

It leaves one to wonder, though, did Bush create the Bush Doctrine or was it simply his only choice?




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