David Frum, a former assistant to President George W. Bush who has taken a decided turn toward the political center, has been producing some interesting commentary.
In his weekly CNN.com column, Frum makes the case that President Obama should engage in military intervention – a no-fly zone – in Libya or face the perception that U.S. influence in the Middle East has waned significantly.
Frum notes that showing weakness toward dictator Moammar Gadhafi will be compounded by the loss of two U.S. allies in the region – Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia – plus the worries that two other faithful friends — the king of Bahrain and the king of Jordan – are wobbly.
All of this while Hezbollah and Hamas are gaining in power and influence.
“Gadhafi’s departure from power, in other words, is not just a requirement of humanity and decency. It’s not only justice to the people of Libya. It is also essential to American credibility and the stability of the Middle East region,” Frum opines.
“Obama already has said that Gadhafi ‘must’ go. Gadhafi is not cooperating — and to date, the insurgents have lacked the strength to force him. Obama … has already committed himself. Now the only choice he faces is whether his words will be seen to have meaning — or to lack it.”
