It might have been a shrewd political gamble, but history is going to remember that France took the initiative in Libya while we stood by. It will remember that our President was visiting Brazil while civilian militias in Benghazi stood alone against the forces of a demented and vicious dictator.
We failed the Egyptians. Now we’re attempting to atone by taking half-measures on behalf of the Libyans. We’re sitting in the back seat of a coalition supported even by other Islamic states, and we’re talking about “limited” action as if this were a minor policing operation.
We have an obligation to support the growth of liberty around the world. We can’t fulfill that by sitting on the sidelines.