NYC Letter: The Obama Doctrine, Part IV -- Booting Mr. Qaddafi

Day 814 of CHOPE

Remind us why we're in Libya.

And so let me just be very unambiguous about this. Colonel Qaddafi needs to step down from power and leave. ... Throughout all this, we will continue to send the clear message that it’s time for Qaddafi to go.

Mr. Obama,
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
WASHINGTON March 3, 2011 (White House)

Going...

(A) And the day after that we’d imposed sanctions and we had mobilized the international community through the United Nations, so that across the board we are slowly tightening the noose on Qaddafi.

(B) Well, I think what we're seeing is that the circle around Gadhafi understands that the noose is tightening, that -- their days are probably numbered -- and they're going to have to think through what their next steps are.

Mr. Obama,
(A) NEWS CONFERENCE
WASHINGTON March 11, 2011 White House
(B) INTERVIEW
WASHINGTON March 29, 2011 (ABC News)

Going...

(A) And there are different developments each day, but the trend we think is clear and the pressure on Qaddafi will continue...to pressure those around him to realize that their days are numbered, the days of this regime are numbered, and that they may want to reconsider where they stand.

(B) I will tell you, simply, that what we and our international partners are doing every day is tightening the noose around Qaddafi through the sanctions that we’ve implemented and the other measures that we’ve taken. We have made it increasingly uncomfortable for those around him to continue to stay with him because of the sanctions.

Jay Carney,
press secretary, counting the days
(A) PRESS BRIEFING
WASHINGTON March 30, 2011 (White House)
(B) PRESS BRIEFING
WASHINGTON April 14, 2011 (White House)

Going...Stalemate! Uh-oh.

MULLEN SAYS STALEMATE
A POSSIBILITY IN LIBYA

WASHINGTON March 20, 2011 Reuters) - Admiral Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military commander, on Sunday said the end-game of military action in Libya was "very uncertain" and acknowledged it could end in a stalemate with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

LIBYA COULD DRAG INTO 'STALEMATE'
IF QADDAFI STAYS

March 31, 2011 (FNC) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged Thursday that the fighting in Libya could drag out into a "stalemate" if Muammar al-Qaddafi clings to power in spite of calls for his ouster.

US COMMANDER SEES LIBYA STALEMATE

PENTAGON April 7, 2011 (VOA) - [General Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Africa Command,] says the situation in Libya is moving toward a stalemate that would leave Moammar Gadhafi in power for an unknown period of time.

That's the three top men overseeing America's contribution to Mr. Obama's ouster fantasy. Thank goodness there's still NATO to do this messy work. Double uh-oh.

WHILE NATO TALKS, DEFIANT QADDAFI
TOURS TRIPOLI IN A SAFARI HAT
NATO Ministers Meeting In Berlin Fail To Agree On An
Intensified Air Campaign In Libya Even As The Country's Rebels
Say Qaddafi's Tanks And Artillery Must Be Curtailed.
WASHINGTON April 14, 2011 (CSM)

NATO DIVIDED ON LIBYA
AS GADDAFI CELEBRATES
April 14, 2011 (ABMN/Reuters)

NATO SAYS IT WON’T DRIVE
GADHAFI OUT OF LIBYA
BERLIN April 14, 2011 (SLT)

It is hard to believe that with the very best information afforded the President of the United States, that Mr. Obama committed America to Mr. Qaddafi's improbable ouster. The day after Odyssey Dawn commences, America's top U.S. military commander warns of a stalemate, followed by the Secretary of Defense, followed by the theater commander. Eleven days later the Secretary of Defense jumps the reservation and admits going in the situation in Libya posed no actual or imminent threat to the United States nor did it constitute a vital national interest.

It has since become clear that Mr. Obama going in hadn't a clue about the rebel's ability to wage war. It's equally clear he hadn't a clue about who America was abetting. [We rub our eyes.]

After kneecapping the aerial campaign, what was Mr. Obama's practical calculation to oust Mr. Qaddafi? Brilliant diplomacy? His personal magic? The wonderment of a Nobel Peace laureate waging war?

CHOPE.

The fruits of "not victory".

Posted by Damian at April 14, 2011 10:30 PM