Europe, learn to live with the dithering

Clive Crook reports on his article about the new characteristics of the USA external politics with president Obama in the White House. Obama is letting Europe to take over the campaign against Col. Muammer Gaddafi, while he becomes rather a strategic support.

President Barack Obama was not in Washington when the first missiles struck targets in Libya. As the US went to war at the weekend – the third on his watch – he left for Brazil to discuss trade. The trip could have been cancelled but the White House made a virtue of it. The president’s absence affirmed the administration’s stance. The US is supporting the strikes against Col Muammer Gaddafi, but it did not take the lead in insisting on them and is not in command.

This is not the kind of leadership the world is used to. On the other hand it is the posture much of the world, the part enraptured by Mr Obama’s election, said it wanted. Now we have it, we shall see how long it lasts and how well it works.

ESO: Background information: UK and France to spearhead campaign http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-and-france-to-spearhead-campaign/

ESO: Background information: EU sees evacuating Libyans by sea as an option http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-sees-evacuating-libyans-by-sea-as-an-option/

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