A number of U.S. politicians and defense specialists, John McCain included, have criticized the President for not taking an active public role in leading NATO action in Libya – for leading from behind. Such criticism, however, is based on cynical domestic politics, and not on well thought through international policies.
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The United States is already fighting two open wars in the Islamic World, and waging a number of other battles from Pakistan to Yemen. As a result, we are seen as an intrusive, hostile force by Arab and Muslim people, no matter what our intentions. Loudly leading another front would only add to this rage, and undermine our interests. Furthermore, the American people themselves have no appetite for another land war in a Muslim country, especially a war that will be seen as one of choice. Rallying the American people for war – leading from the front – the way George W Bush did in Iraq would have been hugely unpopular.
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In the Arab world, change is coming, whether we lead from the front, back, or not at all. The populations in the region’s autocracies and monarchies are getting younger, better informed and angrier. An explosion, driven by domestic unrest, was inevitable. The ouster of Ben Ali in Tunisia had nothing to do with us whatsoever. Similarly, Egypt’s revolution was led by the students in Tahrir Square, though the removal of U.S. support was the critical turning point in Mubarak’s decision in stepping down. The uprising in Libya also started as a purely domestic affair. It was only Gadhafi’s threat of massacring the people of Masrata that moved us to seek UN authorization for Western intervention.
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It is clear now that NATO’s intentions went far beyond the humanitarian action authorized by the UN. London and Paris, it seems, decided that it was in their interests to see the end of the Gadhafi’s government, and so sought an old fashioned regime change. Whether this was a smart move or not, time will tell, but openly announcing this intention to remove another Arab government would have outraged the Arab World and denied the Libyan rebels the legitimacy they needed with their own people. From an American perspective, rallying the American people to take the lead in an attack on a country not threatening us, would have been counterproductive, particularly as this was clearly something being sought by Europe, and not us. As it was Congress was unhappy with the way the U.S. got involved. Ultimately, this was a British and French decision, and it was therefore there’s to lead. The continued relevance of NATO, in fact, demanded that the U.S. not be seen to be carrying the entire burden of Western defense. No doubt, US military support was indispensable, and it was provided – just without fanfare or primetime noise.
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In the end analysis, we can only judge the effectiveness of a policy by reviewing its results. As NATO operations wind down, these are now plain to see. Massacres were avoided in Masrata. Regime change was effected in Tripoli. The Arab Street did not erupt in rage against the United States. The Europeans took the lead in their own defense, a U.S. foreign policy goal. NATO unity was maintained. And the U.S. public has largely stood behind NATO actions.
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I therefore see no other conclusion that President Obama’s approach of leading from behind has been hugely successful.
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