Right Opposition

Libya blinked.
The regime of Muammar Qaddafi has ordered an immediate stop to military actions against protesters. For days and days the unstable ruler has used his military, including fighter jets, to assault rebels throughout his country. The north African nation has been awash in blood as he fought back those who sought to eject him from power.

What happened to bring this sudden cease to military actions?

It wasn’t the United States. We have been content to ride along in the backseat of the car while Britain and France led the way toward a military no-fly zone. We were happy to let the most ineffective organization on earth, the United Nations, declare that force could be used to enforce the no-fly zone.

It wasn’t President Obama’s leadership that stopped Qaddafi in his tracks for there has been no leadership. Aside from a late speech to two our President has not stepped up to the plate. He made no decision and waited for someone else to lead.

Now here is the burning question: What if our President was a leader and stepped up two weeks ago and ordered a unilateral no-fly zone? How many lives would have been saved? How quickly would this human disaster has ended if Barack Obama could make a decision?

Does this mean that Britain and France are in the ascendancy or that America is in the decendancy?

President Obama has many weaknesses and blind spots. Terrorism is probably the biggest. The President’s administration has already shown itself to be either impotent or too ignorant to keep our nation safe. But the stakes are far higher when it comes to nuclear proliferation.

Former UN Ambassador John Bolton, himself an arms control expert, argues forcefully that the Obama Administration is taking the wrong track in negotiations with Russia, Iran and North Korea. He is especailly wary of attempts to appease the Russians.

Reducing our nuclear arsenal will not somehow persuade Iran and North Korea to alter their behavior or encourage others to apply more pressure on them to do so. Obama’s remarks reflect a complete misreading of strategic realities.

The President’s naivete is on display as he tinkers with the economy but his dalliance with nuclear powers has profound implications for our future – - or the lack of it.