CIA in Libya and Obama plays follow the leader

Egypt is considered the most important country in the middle east to Western interests. If Egypt treats Israel with forebearance, keeps the Suez Canal open and secure, and acts as a counterpoint to Iran and its less than positive to Western intersets influence the relationship with the United States has great value to us.

Libya on the other hand is a no win situation. Obama seemed to know that originally as his lack of interest in getting involved showed. We really had no idea who the rebels were, what was their driving force and most importantly if they could succeed. While no one would mourn the loss of Quadaffi the fact remains that our interests in Libya are not strong and do not really improve with the rebels winning.

By waiting and then joining the efforts Obama leaves us open to criticism for not helping soon enough rather than appreciation for helping. Further a policy that does not endorse regime change but instead only for humanitarian reasons is foolish. A humanitiarian crisis occurs daily in the world and we rarely interecede. As we apparentky change horses in Yemen and watch many countries across Africa move toward revolt including Syria one wonders what is the guideline for when we intercede.

To me nothing good in terms of our interests can change here. If we are involved we will be to blame for its failure and also will be expected to intercede in other areas of the Middle East and be accused of racism and discriminaton if we do not. The cost can not be dismissed as we are already into the billions of dollars for the expense thus far and to what end.

Now the CIA is involved in Libya and soon one must wonder when the cries of colonialism are made against not just the United States but other western countries that are becoming more involved in these countries under fire. U N forces and especially France have interceded to drive out the President of The Ivory Coast. Again do we really have an interest to do this.

No one wants innocents to suffer. The question remains however why Obama chose to intercede in Libya other than to prove his mettle. Does he really think that Americans care about this issue enough to justify his caving into Republicans.

A bad choice. Obama's press conference last week was confounding as he spoke for well close to an hour and had a tone of whining defense of his actions. It was a speech that to me was vague and defensive like a child who had a good reason in his mind for what he did but now after the fact knows it was not well thought out and his parents want to know what he was thinking. The truth is Obama seems not to know what he was thinking.

Not good.