Crossposted at the PeoplesView
It was only about six months ago when the Qadaffi's regime threatened the many innocent people of Libya not to mention the killing of many peaceful demonstrators indiscriminately in a bloodbath that cost many lives until the international community came together to protect the Libyan people.
This is what President Obama said on March 28, 2011:
To brush aside America's responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different. And as President, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.
(full transcript here):
The United States push and adopting of resolution 1973, a measures to protect civilians under threat of attack by the Libyan Government, was one of the major highlights of the United States effort in what is today a success story in ending a 42 years of Qadaffi's regime. The United States under the leadership of President Obama was able to bring the world community together as a united coalition of International bodies to stop the inhumane treatment of one of the most brutal regime in North Africa.
Six months ago many had doubted and criticized President Obama's strategy in leading NATO and other International coalitions to act in the way it had. Today, because of the Obama Administration strategy, America has showed yet again its strategy has bear fruit by working with NATO, the European Union, the Arab League, Turkey and Other in the International community but acknowledging success is hard to swallow depending on who you ask.
According to two hawkish Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, the victory in Libya that will pave the way to democracy in the country does not matter. What matters to them is to blame America first and thank America last while bemoaning how long it took to ending the Qadaffi's regime in Libya:
Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) issued a joint statement last night on the developments in Libya. It’s worth taking a look at the lede.
“The end of the Qadaffi regime in Libya is a victory for the Libyan people and for the broader cause of freedom in the Middle East and throughout the world. This achievement was made possible first and foremost by the struggle and sacrifice of countless Libyans, whose courage and perseverance we applaud.
“We also commend our British, French, and other allies, as well as our Arab partners, especially Qatar and the UAE, for their leadership in this conflict. Americans can be proud of the role our country has played in helping to defeat Qaddafi, but we regret that this success was so long in coming due to the failure of the United States to employ the full weight of our airpower.”
Remember hearing about the “blame America first” crowd? Well, say hello to the “thank America last” crowd.
Well, while there is much to say about how small and irrelevant these so called "Republican Hawks" sound when it comes to foreign policy issues, all I would like to say today is I am proud that America along the world community acted quickly and swiftly to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe saving the lives of many innocent men, women and children. While liberating a nation is a difficult task to achieve, governing a new nation in Democracy will be even harder and it is my hope that the International community will continue the effort to rebuild Libya so that their movement will translate to true Democracy.
In an article by David Cortright, A major win for Obama's Libya policy, he notes:
Many questions and uncertainties remain, especially regarding the character of the new regime and whether Gadhafi loyalists go quietly or continue to resist, but one point is clear: The apparent collapse of the Gadhafi government is a major success for NATO and a vindication of President Barack Obama's policy of multilateral humanitarian interventionism.
In making the case for a limited military intervention in Libya, Obama emphasized the moral and political obligation of states to protect those who are victimized by genocide or mass killing, especially when such crimes are perpetrated by their own governments. The principle of the "responsibility to protect" entered the international policy lexicon over the past decade as a response to genocidal killings in Rwanda, Serbia and Sudan.
Mr. President, thank you for working with our allies to protect the Libyan people from Qaddafi’s forces. You have indeed contributed to saving many lives that would have been lost today by the actions you have taken. You actions and leadership is commendable and for that many of us and especially the People of Libya who are in the trenches give we all give you our gratitude and respect.
Congratulations To The People of Libya!
6:53 PM PT: Hat Tip to majcmb1 for pointing me to this close up picture where the Libya rebels thank Obama, Susan Rice, Cameron and Sarkozy with a huge FANTASTIC 4 Poster In Benghazi Square:
Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 7:28 AM PT: Can't help but add this picture to expand on telling the story of Libya today: