A "No Fly Zone" in Name Only

It has become clear a day after its imposition that what allied forces are doing is NOT imposing a "No-Fly Zone", so much as they are imposing absolute air supremacy in order to enable them to conduct operations against fielded Libyan forces on the ground.  These are two very, very different matters.  One deprives the the target of his ability to use the air to prosecute his own counterinsurgency operation (which after all, is what Qaddafi is doing), and the other (our operation) is designed to enable allied forces free reign from the air to support the insurgents.

A quick, positive outcome to this conflict in no way ennobles it; we are attacking a sovereign nation with whom we (until recently) enjoyed warming relations.  We have no national interest at stake here, and we look meek and feckless providing 90% of the power and 0% of the political leadership.  True political leadership would have included the President addressing the nation two/three weeks ago and reminding everyone--including those in his own administration pushing for action--that we are already involved in two wars in the Islamic world and that we have no interests at stake.  He could have been very presidential in making a bold decision NOT to get involved, and telling the Europeans that if you have a desire to act, then act.  Perhaps in the meantime you (the Euros) would realize that your aspirations exceed your capabilities, as for years you have neglected to spend sufficient money on your own defense. 

On an entirely different level, I find myself of a divided mind on this issue, as in the abstract, I look at the way this operation is proceeding and I know in my heart that it is EXACTLY the kind of operation I have been arguing for in my advocacy of American Seapower.  From a strictly MILITARY standpoint, what is enfolding is completely consistent with my vision of how Seapower can serve the ends of our Republic.  What is so out of whack here for me is that step one includes not still being engaged in two other wars.  A grand strategy featuring American Seapower is one of revitalization and sustainment of American power, and it is an ALTERNATIVE to indecisive, wasteful and depleting land war.  Simply layering it on top of the current strategic drift only serves to accelerate it, and ultimately, decline.

Real leadership in this case would have been to say no. 

Bryan McGrath