Editor’s Note: Shadi Hamid is director of research at the Brookings Doha Center and fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. He can be followed on Twitter at @shadihamid.
By Shadi Hamid – Special to CNN’s Global Public Square
America’s intervention in Libya is not quite the success some are making out to be, as I point out here. Thus far, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that President Obama’s preference for “leading from behind” helped guarantee rebel victory (if anything, it prolonged the inevitable).
That said, the U.S. decision, however belated, to intervene in Libya – a country of tenuous importance to U.S. national security interests – was almost certainly the right thing to do. For this, credit is due. In a fit of isolationist pique, many on both the American left and right opposed the intervention. Iraq, understandably, loomed large. It is possible, however, to over-learn the lessons of the last war. It is true that America has a troubled, even tragic, history of interference in the Middle East. But just as there are bad interventions, there can also be good interventions.
Libya is perhaps the first of such “good” interventions. One hopes it will set a precedent for doing the right thing, even if – or perhaps particularly when – our “vital” national interests are not at stake.
It is odd to think that Arabs can like the United States or even entertain the thought that it is capable of being a force for good in the world. In much of the region, America’s popularity is at an all-time low (U.S. favorability ratings are lower under President Obama than they were under Bush, according to a recent Zogby poll). Yet, today, many Libyans are grateful to the United States for supporting their struggle for freedom against a brutal regime. Libya also happens to be one of the only places where people are willing to consider slaughtering a sheep in the honor of Mr. Sarkozy, the otherwise beleaguered French president.
This suggests that fostering goodwill toward America, far from a fool’s errand, is still possible. As the Libyan rebels are fond of saying, they will not forget who supported them in their struggle – or who betrayed them. Creating that goodwill, however, requires clear, strong support for the protesters and revolutionaries fighting, and dying, for their freedom all across the Arab world.
For a long time, many of us who study the Middle East called for the United States to align itself with Arab democratic aspirations. In Libya, the United States, with France and Britain, oversaw the closest thing to a “pure” humanitarian or pro-democracy intervention. In this way, Libya is a test to see whether doing the right thing can bring with it other strategic dividends. A democratic Libya is likely to have a closer relationship with the United States and to welcome the role of the international community in helping rebuild the country and assist its political transition. By contrast, Egyptians do not look at the United States fondly. This is likely to limit our influence and leverage there in the coming months and years. After all, we supported Egypt’s autocrats for decades, with rather remarkable consistency. Successive U.S. administrations used Egypt to further a set of strategic interests inimical to the values and preferences of the Egyptian people. It seemed to work.
But, in a roundabout, indirect way, aggressively pursuing our “vital” interests in the short run can undermine them in the longer term, as Egypt now demonstrates. In Libya, the opposite may very well be true. The Libya intervention may not have much to do with our “vital” interests. Not yet, at least.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Shadi Hamid.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Of course Libya will be of vital interest to America since it will be as much of it's colony as Algeria,Tunisia and Vietnam were to France during the first half of the 20th century! Only when the day comes that pigs start to fly will Libya regain it's independence!!!
Two prominent figures of the TNC had lived in America for a long time. They might seek a strong tie to the U.S. If the situation stabilises, Libya might see an influx of expats, who return and want to help build a nation. It will be interesting to see, whether they would feel at home in the new Libya.
Sofar the Western forces hadn't sought a probe into the murder of the rebels general Younis.It might cast a shadow over the capabilities of the rebels to maintain order.
A friendly Libya might let the U.S. set up military bases in the country again, like in the old days before Gaddafi toppled King Idris. American oil companies were given the first concessions to do business there!
The very prospect of the U.S. military reopening it's bases in Libya scares me most of all. It will however, show the fact that Libya's under foreign rule and will be until the cows come home!
But a pig did fly. She's a 300 pound potbellied pig by the name of Charlotte. She flew on October 17, 2010.
Guess that settles that.
This was not America's decision by choice. What happened in Tunisia was spontaneous and ignited a fire in the Arab world. The US didn't support Mubarak once the people rose up, what they did was not interfere in Egypt and they still aren't interfering. Iraq was a stupid mistake, and there was no unified resistance to support against Saddam. In Libya, an easier way presented itself, people were willing to take up arms to gain their freedom. The same thing could work in Syria, and may yet happen. These revolutions need to be internal, and each country has to develop itself. In any case nothing is clear in terms of what kinds of governments will emerge in Libya and Egypt and whether things will improve from the people's perspective in those countries. It also isn't clear if the changes will automatically be better for the West, Egypts unwillingness to allow in foreign observers speaks volumns about their paranoia and perhaps their desire to obscure an illegitmate vote.
We American's think too small- Lybia is the gate way to the cradle of civilization and Gaddafi let the Chinese in the front door. Interesting that Barack Obama by his show of support prodded the door open for the US to gain access to all that oil, gold, diamomds, manganese etc. The Chinese are already in every country in Africa!! Africa – has always been the big prize! Pay attention folks!
You mean 'Ally'. Allies choose each other willingly, and reap the rewards of co-operation. Its actually a good thing.
Smart move in Libya proves that we can protect interests and effect changes without taking the lead and spending billions the 1 billion price tag here was a bargin compared to the trillion plus being spent in Afghanistan and Irag I hope this is a new forgeign policy model. Of course with blood in the water the vulchers are already circling to split up the pie the corporate oligarchys can't wait to count the profits, Yet i feel no remorse a little Lockerbie payback was due
Thought it was about democracy and shame on those who thought it was about oil
.
Its about oil.
It's about democracy in a country with a lot of oil. Sorry guys, the world isn't black and white.
Before the intervention, the oil flowed freely. Gadhafi was happy to let everyone buy a slice.
Since, almost none has gotten out of Libya. It will take a long, long time for production to 100% of its former capacity.
War for oil just doesn't make sense.
How about remorse for budget cuts in American schools and speding 1 bilion dollars on sensless war...
Senseless? Sure not so to the Libyans. Widen your horizon.
The USA is going to be sending them millions while our children go without back home! I f Libya needs money then where is Kuwait- Saudi Arabia-Russia-China? They are all rich let them pay for it all>.
ahhhhhh CTYank
don't you mean widen your wallet?
This is just a poor sappy, terribly written article by someone who just sits behind their desk all day and writes about nothing.
don't feel bad. we are all doing that. what you think the blog is FOR?
A partial answer is the oil, but it is not a complete answer. For the US to grow, it needs a stable supply of oil and markets for its high tech goods. Libya under Ghaddafi was neither. The Bush-Obama doctrine equates energy security with national security. Though tactically, the two presidents have executed the doctrine differently, the doctrine itself is consistent. The current US approach to the middle east is boost the average man in the middle east, they will produce oil that you need and buy the stuff you produce as their lives improve. If democracy is at its cornerstone, then the average guy becomes a stabilizer instead of the de-stablizer. For it to work, the lives of the average person in the middle east has to get better.
Thats a great example of how capitalism, properly regulated, can benefit everyone.
CONSIDER the horrible probability that it all is the cia at work including 9.11. hating to sound like a paranoid nutcase. they make reality so unbelievable that nobody can believe it.
Ok, I considered the probability. It's less than 0.00001%.
I'd suggest looking up the definition of Occam's Razor.
And yeah, "paranoid nut-case" is kind of what that sounded like...
The American experience in Libya can hardly be characterized as "the first good intervention," or have we forgotten Kosovo, Croatia, etc?
Yep, just more examples of what a bully-boy country we are. I can't think of a country in the past 100 years that has attacked more countries than the U.S..
Oh, I don't know. How about Nazi Germany and the post-war Soviet Union?
You can stop thinking Lee, there aren't any! Since WW2, this country has gone on a rampage of conquering other countries where it has absolutely no right to do! Does anybody here remember Vietnam?
Sweet, we did all this 'conquering' and now we have a bunch of colonies under our direct control!
Say what? We don't? They're all independent and self-governing?
Never mind, I guess we haven't actually conquered anyone!
americans want no part of libya
@wackso ... speak for yourself. You certainly don't speak for all Americans.
@ Tony he has a point pro rebel idiot
You don't speak for me as an American. I want America to participate with the Libyan democracy both as a customer for its Oil and as a vendor of equipment and services for them. Having an emerging democracy in North Africa is very positive for America, my country. This is worth every penny we have spent which is, after all, the cost of 3 days in the Iraq war. You don't speak for me as an American and most of us are not as narrow minded as you.
it looks like!
Don't fall off you high horse...its a long way down....You actually think we intervene for the "good" of a country?????
Hate to burst your bubble dude but we do it for our own good and if it accidently benefits the other country then we take credit for that too. About 3 years ago I thought I would try to answer the "WHY DO THEY HATE US SO MUCH" question so I started reading history. Our first conquest was Hawaii and then we moved into latin america and ended up in the middle east. All for corporate interest......NOT DEMOCRACY. As a mattert of fact we DESTROYED a fedglling
democracy in IRAN and put in a dictator. Face the facts.....we are not angels........
That Lybian looks hot !!
haha. Crazy mofo
This would be a good time for the African Union, Russia, and China to step up.and lead rhe rebiuilding of Africa and South West Asia. This would give the NATO countries an oppourtunity to recover from their economic disasters at home, and give their militaey a rest. The United Nations should thank NATO for their use of miltary strength, and should choose non NATO countries for the rebuilding of Africa and South West Asia. The UN could reduce a lot of stress and hostilties against the countries responsible for so much collateral damage that caused\ so many civilian deaths, and destruction of the infrasttucture of nations by the NATO military;
How ludcirously short sighted of you. The US and Europe will pull out of this pit. And, as we do we are going to have a Democratic trading partner. It will take Libya a long time to forgive Russia and China and that's good for us.
Yes, gaining the good will of Libyans was worth the considerable wealth we spent because we need for someone to like us. May as well be them. Maybe we can have a few more friendship invasions and everything will be just great.
We didn't spend "Considerable wealth". We spent the cost of 3 days of the Iraq war. Or, if you like, 4 thouandth of our GDP. That's like getting a friend for life with a pack of chewing gum. Do the arithmetic, you have no idea what "Considerable wealth" is.
When you have been brainwashed to the point that you think of billions of dollars as a pittance, I'd say it is you that has no concept of considerable wealth. I'd be perfectly happy to have just one of those insignificant billions.
all i can say another american idiot. will you ever lern? keep out of other peoples front yards and clean up your own
You and I are in agreement and that makes me an idiot? Wow, what low self-esteem you have.
She looks like 28 not 19.
Let the Arabs and Muslims fight their own wars. We need to spend our tax payers money to school, bridges, roads and more jobs creation. It is sad our leaders are not listening to us.
We spent a 4 thousandth of our GDP, or the cost of 3 days of the Iraq war. We have helped topple a maniac with more blood on his hands than Osama Bin Laden. We are going to bring Democracy to North Africa. And you whine and whine about what is actually a trifle for our country. America is greater than you are able to comprehend.
then I suggest that YOU catch the next flight over and take YOUR OWN MONEY and YOU fight the cause 'cuz I'm sick of it.....
To late realist, its all but over now.
More than likely, they are listening. Or were.
Just stopped when you were not making sense. Your perspective is sooooooooo narrow.
NO MORe WARS!!!! let each country live their life mind your own business and help the us economy instead!! millions of homeless in america!! and people who starve!! we are beggining to become a third world country ourselves because we are playing war.
BINGO.
Name one American this year who starved to death due to an inability to find or afford food.
Come on, just one!
You can't. Because one does not exist.
You are all about human life... Unless it is not within the borders of this country. Then, I guess its ok if they are murdered in the streets.
We need to solve our own problems before we pay too much attention to outside world. It is Libya on every newspaper and TV channel everyday for the last couple month. We are even more concerned about Libya than the Libyans themselves.
What is your problem? Make yourself smart and make Money, get busy.
Stop yawing here.
Yah, ask for political asylum and reap in the benefits like any good 100 percent Ethiopian
ever heard of globalization? that 13 letter word is why it matters for us as a nation to look at the world to find solutions to our problems... ever heard of the great wall of china... i'm sure you have... it was built for protection against invaders.. however because of the fact they weren't trading or leaving and hiding behind their walls for centuries... a once powerful nation became weak because the rest of the world did the opposite: traded and fought off invaders... thus others became more advanced... sure... NOW china has big pants on... because they trade and fight opposition... the same goes to us... as Americans... if we become isolationist for even a moment because of us needing to fix a problem... we will fall faster than you believe is possible... even worse than you Obama haters believe...
We have it pretty darned good compared to Libya.
Besides, we will never 'solve all our problems'. That is just an effect of the human condition.
Forget Libya, the war has been won by the US already!!!!!!!! Let's concentrate on Nigeria where the war is just beginning!!!!!!!
hey this litle libyan war cost US taxpayer $1 billion dollars, I haven"t heard any republican calling the President to cut expenses.
it wasn't our war... it was the Libyan people's... we were merely allies... lol... but hey... at least it isn't another Afghanistan war as far as money goes... besides... it means a fresh new beginning for them
@levend It was about the Oil. says it wasnt?
No question about it. Under God<America is in charge of this World.
But, America must follow God's RULES (defeating anti-Christians) and we the People of this Planet will follow American Rules.
Have a great weekend, all!
Just as vital as these great discussions and excellent journalism...
It's vital to someone's P&L and that I can promise you...
Forget about the Flag Poet, Wrap tin foil around it cause this nasty nation will believe absolutely anything and fear everything with the slightest pressure...
Something ironic when Muslims write about how terrible we are but they forget that only by coming here are they able to voice out opinions.
al-Qaeda: Proud new owners of the largest proven oil reserves on the African continent. And as a bonus: 144 tons of gold. Ten years from now when the matter of al-Q's resilience is pondered, their ability to finance all manner of new projects will be pinned to their sudden unexpected monetary fortunes in 2011. Some investigative journalist will probably get a Pulitzer for making this 'shocking discovery'...
And what if you are wrong, and LIbya turns out to be grateful to the west and a ready market for its goods? The last thing any new government in Tripoliu will promote is enmity towards the west.
Oh, yeah. Zawahiri's just going to crawl out of whatever cave he's been hiding in and demand the heavily armed militias hand over their money so that Al Qaeda can continue it's glorious jihad of cowering uselessly. They aren't going to get any favors when they didn't even show up to the party.
@'Hugh Allen': Libya WAS already marketing its goods (oil) to the West before they were bombed... there was no need to kill Mo Gaddaffi's grandchildren, wreck the infrastructure and install al-Qaeda to make that happen...
...and al-Qaeda won't have to ask to be invited to the party; they're already there - count on it...
If she's so happy about what has happened in Libya, I suppose she has no business in Britain.
You can go home now.
Love the trailer trash that is screaming about 800 million for Libya but heartily endorses 5000 dead and trillions spent in Iraq. God , we have a lot of mindless filth in this country.
"Libya is perhaps the first of such “good” interventions. One hopes it will set a precedent for doing the right thing, even if – or perhaps particularly when – our “vital” national interests are not at stake. And has being leading from behind, then it is a cowardy!.
Having a large Muslim population, dust, and oil doesn't automatically make a country part of the Middle East. Libya is African, Arab, and Mediterranean. Those terms are enough.
What is this "U.S. national security interests" everyone keeps speaking of?
Can we save the euphemisms?
What is it?
A rare earth metal apple needs for the iphone 6?
A new type of silicone for implants?
A rare fabric for a new line of clothing?
A site for a new hotel?
Another base to launch terror on innocent civilians in the middle east?
It surely isn't oil. Gaddafi was more than happy to sell the oil...
Please, tell me what this "vital interest" is.
We have needed Libya and we never will.
The zionists will plan and Allah will plan. maybe you guys need to orrow some more money after Irene?
Almost There
Soon enough,From London to Jerusalem, That hot girl will be walking over your dead bodies and the bodies of all the zionists that you support.
PATIENCE
Get a life El Moustafa. When people start talking about piles of bodies I think they need to grow up and recognise that there are more important things than always spouting hatred. Maybe you should get a nice girlfriend and plan a family.
That hot girl will be walking over your dead bodies and the bodies of all the zionists ....
im looking forward to the day the sunnis wipe out the shia , very soon now
Glad we are supporting and arming a decentralized Rebel Militia. After all we know that chaos is much better than a dictatorship... The vultures are circling.
This article is silly and only makes sense to someone who is either an Obama apologist or from the small, left-leaning minority in the middle east. What will the Libyans call their version of Hezbollah that will end up running the country?
A democraticalply elected government, I should think. Do you have a problem with that?
Total BS. No one has any idea what kind of nation the rebels in Libya will create. It may be another Iran. It may be another Iraq. It may be another Syria. It may be another Afghanistan. It may be another mess. You cannot say getting rid of Gadhaffi is going to be a good thing when you don't have guarantees of the type of people replacing him via a revolution.
History is being made. A prosperous new small nation will emerge with liberty and justice for all, unless tribal, international, and Islamist politics intervene.
A little known fact: The United States could do without the entire Mideast if need be. It is only about oil. We no longer need to have our surrogate (Israel) test our weapons systems against those of the Soviet Union, left to its own the Mideast will continue to writhe in internecine warfare until a super-dictator emerges and subjugates the entire region.
We can survive without the Mideast oil. It will be brutally hard on our poor amd lower class, but we can survive. Coal gasification, oil shale, nuclear power, LNG, fuel cell, reduction in average vehicle size and power (read special taxes on behemoths) and the like will see us through.
Withdraw totally and immediately from that misbegotten, cesspool region, bring our troops home, defend our southern border against the failing Mexican nation and live free.
You reap what you sow and God will judge the American people for your support of the U.S./NATO bombing of Libya. "As it was in the Days of Noah, so shall it be on the Coming of the Son of Man." said Jesus. As we witness the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene causing many to evacuate for safety, while we go to our coffee houses and shop, maybe we should all think of the fear and horror the innocent civilians of Libya are under with our tax dollars financing the U.S./NATO bombing of government buildings, infrastructure and the murder of policeman and government workers of Libya. Go to http://www.shockofthehour.com understand the wider war being planned and see the http://www.finalcall.com website to learn the truth about Libya. God will punish America with rain, hail, snow and earthquakes teaches the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and Min. Louis Farrakhan.
Abbu Husien For new president of Libya!!!
@Freedoms Guardian: I Like!
Just wait till the muslum radicals take over power.. then we'll wish gaddafi was in power.
Well, since the radicals have taken over Congress, there's a lot more to fear from America.
K.-
Gadaffi FINANCED terrorism around the world (apparently also included "AL QAEDA"). The bombing attack two days ago against UN HQ in Nigeria.. appears to have been directed by Gadaffi. Obama may be too young to understand; however, YES.. Libya and freedom for its people is in the National Interest of the U.S. - http://www.npr.org/2011/08/26/139965163/new-republic-liberation-not-just-a-libyan-victory
Most Americans will ever feel the effects from Libya except for the gas prices. We are there protecting our interests for these oil giants.
Libya has always been a key location of interest since the discovery of a massive water supply while looking for oil.Like enough to create a massive farming community that can supply water for up to 1000 years.Clean water has great commercial value-and in a desert area-you can grow tons of foods with the right supply of water..exportable foods.Its not just oil-a democratic country is more stable, and friendly to those who helped them become free
The Great Man-Made River (GMR, النهر الصناعي العظيم) is a network of pipes that supplies water to the Sahara Desert in Libya, from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System fossil aquifer. It is the world's largest irrigation project.[1]
Top of the morning Cameron,
A little known "man" once said "worry about the means and you will get the end you deserve"...
Only one page previous in your nation's rich history...
But now it is being ghost written in the most elegant and splendid way the world over with Poet restoring our principle and dignity to make the world a truly blessed and beautiful place for all to celebrate their inner worth...
"Thugs" come from all corners of the world Cameron but the most dangerous and sadistic ones are the ones cloaked with the thinnest veil of courage and conviction...
listening to what the obama admin and its flunkies put out for public consumption and political pts in advance of the 2012 election is just what they WANT you to hear....read below...from an excellent site from former intel officials...about what is REALLY happening in libya.
http://www.debka.com/article/21249/
I just wonder what country the military-industrial complex of the United States will choose to invade next. It seems any leader who isn't totally obeying our government's orders is one of our next targets. I'll bet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran is next in line to be hit. People need to listen to Eisenhower's farewell speech. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY
Anyone care to explain why articles at cnn are sounds off as soon as they are posted
And while some peoples with converging mindset are allowed to post, other peoples are being censored
Any attempt at criticizing overexhaustion of world ressources, misbehavior of China or powerfull corporations is instantly crushed.
All for the glory of ruining the worldwide environment ! Amen !
Aha ah ah ! so there is a _fllter_ looking for specific words !
talking negatively about _ch_ina isn't tolerated. neither is defending eco_logical views or criticising _big_corp_orations_ like the _oil_ind_ustry
my second post never showed up !
Talk about hypocracy! The mostly Muslim populace of the Middle East wants the U.S. to stay out of their internal affairs. But when we do, then people like the writer of this piece, Shadi Hamid, proclaim: "In a fit of isolationist pique, many on both the American left and right opposed the intervention."
Then, the U.S. is made to feel like it should do penance for being concerned about its own internal problems including a tanking economy. America should now send money to Libya, an oil rich country with a higher standard of living than many of its neighbors. According to Wikipedia: "Since 2000, Libya has recorded favourable growth rates with an estimated 10.6% growth of GDP in 2010." That's about 10 times what U.S. GDP was in recently announced statistics.
Yet,
But Hamid is looking for a handout to rebuild a country disrupted by it's own people. "Welcome the role of the international community in helping rebuild the country and assist its political transition." Americans are hated by those in the Middle East, but they do so love our money. With the current state of GDP perhaps Obama should be seeking foreign aid from the new government in Libya.
I am astonished how some people can change their view completely just to make the US look bad. America received lot of criticism because they wanted to 'force democracy' on some countries. But this was clearly not the case in Egypt. Washington found a reliable allie in Mubarak, a man who was a saint compared to most dictators in the region, and did everything in his power to prevent new international conflicts from happening. But now Washington is being blamed for 'blokking democracy' in Egypt, so for doing exactly the opposite compared to Afghanistan and Iraq. Apparently,America's only acceptabel policy, from the point of view pf Western US-critics, is to treat all dictators like Cuba and N-Korea. But how many pro-democracy rebellions have there been in Cuba and N-Korea in the last 50-60 years?
dude....almost nobody is in Libya. Giant empty country. 7 million people along the coast. its a show for what already happened....military bases (like we care) in Libya. Me? why would i care?
OIL OIL OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That yes but mostly.....strategic position. Mid east could get too hot soon.
we have owned Libya since wwII. Nobody (almost) lives there. The bases are ALREADY going in the desert. Look it up:
Tripoli airport=Wheelus. This is the most obvious cia job since iran 79
Dil ki bat sune har kue par parkhe kue kue.
Wow! Obama knew things that no expert on the Middle East for the last 500 years knew about the "vital" importance of Libya and luckily, CNN is here to share that new-found wisdom with us. BS!
I think it's quite possible that our involvement in Libya actually hurt foreign relations in the long run, and probably made the world more dangerous to boot. First our relations with Libya were actually improving some, with Gadhafi turning over his WMDs to the US for disposal, working with the CIA in-country to fight terrorist groups, even agreeing to detain prisoners from Iraq and Afghanistan to help close Gitmo, paying retributions for past crimes, etc. Then after helping to disarm him, we turn around and bomb the crap out of them; all for guaranteed access to high quality oil for Europe. Under the ruse of a no-fly zone, the US and NATO were after regime change and nation building by another name from day one; we chose sides in a rebellion. Even countries glad to see Gadhafi go, and helping it happen, must be thinking that maybe having some WMDs for protection isn't bad idea after all for personal protection? They might be next and the US/NATO won't be neutral, that the US can't be trusted is the message. Anybody think that Iran isn't dead set on producing nuclear weapons now if by chance they weren't; heck, after watching what just happened there is no way they won't, and I wouldn't blame them. No doubt others are thinking the same. Any credibility we or NATO had is shot... especially with all the propaganda of just protecting civilians that anybody with a brain knows is false. Secondly a big opportunity to increase our relationships with the countries of Africa was blown. We completely blew them off in favor of Arab League winks and nods to proceed, not giving the African Union a chance to be involved, and ignoring the fact Libya is in Africa after all, just happens to be predominately Muslim. The AU was desperately trying to play a roll in ending the fighting, but the power brokers of Europe and the US weren't to be denied their due. Sure, NATO knows whats best for Africa, not Africans... makes no sense at all, and only further isolates us from the continent making us seem like colonialists indeed. The African Union now clearly knows where they stand in the pecking order of world politics, great move Obama, NATO, et all. Lastly here at home, we seem to have relinquished power to the Presidency to make war whenever he chooses with no Congressional approval, and no time limit to do it. Obama even redefined what war is, that robot drones, cruise missiles, aircraft, and the use of mercenaries for nation building is fine, as long as there are no "boots on the ground" it isn't a conflict. What a great precedent set for future Presidents to use when wanting to overthrow another country... think about it.
This war is about Gadhafi, they told him not to play with the Russians or the Chinese but he did anyway. The European and American corporations demanded this little war and they got what they paid for.