Wall Street Journal (March 24)
Nato’s efforts in Libya are in disarray. There is no consensus about how operations should be conducted or who should lead them. Already tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. really does not want to lead the Libyan coalition. It may have to. “In the absence of U.S. leadership, everyone else quarrels, frets and cavils, and we get a concoction like a “political steering committee” to run orders of battle.”
Tags: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Nato
The Economist (August 26)
Is America turning inward? Next week, America is pulling combat troops out of Iraq. Some Americans would like to escape other overseas commitments, such as Afghanistan, to focus solely on solving America’s economic difficulties. The Economist applauds President Obama for maintaining international commitments, pointing out this also protects America’s self-interest. “If America does not take on the task of containing such threats, who else will, or can? For all the difficulties at home, the fact remains that the biggest gainer from a strong America abroad is America itself. “
Tags: Afghanistan, Economy, Iraq, U.S.