Did G.W. Bush put a spell on Obama? Stepping aside to watch this pathetic NATO muck up with Libya would be an ingenious way of sticking it to the self-righteous Europeans who needled Bush for being a cowboy. While there is a legitimate debate about the necessity of intervention in Libya, sometimes the “good” guys do have to use power in a nasty world. It finally dawns on Europe that it is difficult to wage war hygienically.
France defends NATO against rebel criticism
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé on Wednesday defended the NATO air strikes in Libya in the face of mounting criticism from rebel leaders who say the allied mission to help them is too little, too late.
The French foreign minister defended NATO airstrikes in Libya against mounting rebel complaints Wednesday, saying it has become hard to distinguish Moammar Gadhafi’s forces from civilians and friendly forces.
The rebels say the alliance has been slow to launch airstrikes against government troops on the eastern front lines and that allowed the opposition to be routed from the oil port of Brega.
“NATO is not doing their job, the aistrikes are late and never on time. NATO is not helping us.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the situation has become increasingly complicated because Gadhafi’s forces are positioning themselves in heavily populated civilian areas to make targeting difficult.
The Europeans are exhibiting a fatal naivete about the nature of modern war. It is the mindset that established ridiculous rules of engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
No, of course Obama’s reticence isn’t to teach Europe a reality lesson. He is every bit as sanctimonious and effete as his European counterparts.
