Obama’s War

The conflict in Libya presents the president with a chance to put into practice his doctrine about the use of force in foreign policy.

This is Obama’s war. This is not a hereditary war, like those in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the strategy of the president of the United States consists of pulling out as fast as he can in the most graceful way possible. This is a war that Obama enters voluntarily and presents a great opportunity to display his doctrine about U.S. intervention and the use of force abroad.

Just like every single one of his predecessors for decades, Obama has not been freed from his role as the commander-in-chief of his country’s armed forces. He is fulfilling this role, in order to help a country that demands freedom while being crushed by a ruthless dictator.

North America has hardly any interests in Libya. The U.S. does not import oil from this country, nor does it have deals with Gadhafi as European countries do, regarding the control of African emigration. Gadhafi has not been promoting terrorism against the U.S. in recent times. There are, therefore, no vital interests to protect.

This could make the war unpopular among American citizens and the object of criticism from some sectors of the political class that consider the U.S. already to have too many global obligations to embark on a new military conflict of uncertain outcome.

Obama has set a limit of engagement that stops at the use of ground troops; yet, at present, even the president cannot guarantee that this, in the end, will not be necessary, if bombardments continue and Gadhafi stays put.

The reasons that drove Obama to make this difficult decision, however, seem to justify the risks. As he said at the beginning of the hostilities, the war is about saving an oppressed people, bringing a tyrant to justice, and enforcing the voice of the international community. This is what they call a just war.

But how long will it last? What will happen if the bombings lead to civilian sufferings and the will shown until now by the coalition countries begins to waver? Right from the beginning of the crisis in Libya, Obama has not wanted to take on the leading role, but he undoubtedly will have to, once the attacks have started and increased in intensity.

The U.S. cannot rid itself of its role as a global leader. Even against his will, the circumstances have forced Obama to declare war. This is his moment, his most difficult moment as president — his chance, as he has said so many times, to be on the right side of history.