Nile Gardiner:
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released today reveals a striking lack of public confidence in President Obama’s ability as Commander-in-Chief, with just 17 percent of Americans describing his leadership as “strong and decisive”, compared to 36 percent who believe it is “indecisive and dithering”. This should come as no surprise as the Obama administration floundered for several weeks before even committing to international efforts to rein in Colonel Gaddafi.
As NATO prepares to take over command of the no-fly zone in Libya, there remains a great deal of confusion in Washington as to exactly what the US role will be, and what kind of endgame is envisaged by the White House. While the US military has been extensively involved in missile strikes against Libyan targets, the lead role in the campaign on the world stage has been taken on by Great Britain and France, with President Obama playing a distinctly back seat role.
The president has come under heavy fire from both sides of the political aisle in Washington for failing to assert strong US leadership, and hesitating to outline a clear strategy moving forward on Libya. His administration seems almost paralysed in terms of decision-making, and has barely consulted the US Congress. In sharp contrast, British Prime Minister David Cameron has made a direct appeal to Parliament, outlining the reasons why Britain is intervening in Libya, and why he is putting the British armed forces in harms way.
In a stinging letter to President Obama on military action in Libya, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner wrote that “it is my hope that you will provide the American people and Congress a clear and robust assessment of the scope, objective, and purpose of our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved.”
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It is probably not the last word he will hear from Congress on his actions in Libya and the lack of leadership displayed. He seems detached from reality on his job and what he is trying to accomplish.
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