DB Grady (The Atlantic): …There are many ways to describe U.S. policy toward the Arab Spring. “Cowboy diplomacy” is not one of them. President Obama gambled that Tripoli would collapse under the weight of a tyrant 40 years overdue for retirement, as Tunis and Cairo did before it. The president avoided every appearance of hostility, imperialism, or American interest in the region…..
….however tarnished, the U.S. is the last superpower, and in times of crisis, the world still looks to it. The choice was to bear witness to an atrocity, or to end it. President Obama chose the latter.
….The argument follows that the United States is somehow hypocritical for bombing Libya but not the other oppressed Islamic nations using violence against its citizens. The implication of this position is that the choice is either war everywhere at once, or no war at all; the president appears to have answered it with a policy based on patience and opportunity, one country at a time…
….protesters elsewhere in the Arab world might be emboldened by the coalition’s willingness to prevent atrocity. There is some cleverness in striking Libya instead of Bahrain or Yemen….
…Why Libya? Because the struggling revolutions elsewhere need time, and Libya buys that time. The winds of change that swept through Tunisia and Egypt have slowed, and need invigoration. The departure of Moammar Qaddafi and the dawn of a new Libya will provide it. President Obama has taken a long view of the Arab Spring. Change will require patience, and patience is now policy.
Full article here
The Obama Diary 
I so agree — the President had no choice. I only hope the outcome is better than we could ever hope for because to the naysayers, nothing this President does is ever right or good enough.
I am against war!! And yes I wish the President didn’t have to make that decision. But if Gaddafi and his thugs were allow to murder thousands of his people,these same people who are talking about we should have stayed out of it, would be saying we should have done something.
I am with you anniebella. He didn’t have a choice.
Now, that is a great article. I am a little worried that Qaddafi is still going strong. If this drags out, people will start screaming, Obama is a failure.
I also see that PBO trip to South America is giving those nasty repugnunts something more to say about Obama not taking care of the war.
Did you guys read that Rick Snyder of Michigan has signed a bill outlawing laws that would require ergonomically-safe workplaces. The idiot thinks such enforcement will keep business from moving to Michigan. We are talking dark ages here. Unbelievable.
When we see so many rising up against this President, we must wonder what fuel all of the bitterness, the hate-centered comments, and the constant blocking of all that he is trying to do for our nation and the world in a good way. I have concluded from my experience that these men and women are so unhappy within. They constant awake each day trying to see how they can make this President look bad. Those of actions of people who are sad within, and mostly who have such hate in their lives. Jealously is terrible. But I am so happy to see that our President keeps his head held high, his eyes on his goals, his hand busy doing good for the world, and his heart just full of goodness, love, compassion, and thoughts of how can he help make this a better America and a better world. There is so much love and the ability to do what is good and right in this man’s actions and deeds. So let us pray for our enemies,(those who sow hate), live good lives to the best of our abilities, and support our President and each other. That is how we will win over this evilness. We have to hold on to that which is good in our hearts and think of how we can be good and loving examples of love to the younger ones who are watching our actions and hearing our words. Speak lovely words and perform lovely actions, and we will change this world for a better place. It hurts, but we know goodness will prevail.
Not sure I completely buy the argument, but does make a good case for “why Libya, and not Bahrain and Yemen?” (which was one of the questions on my mind).
Good article, I passed it on… thanks Ms Chips for all you do!