Marc A. Thiessen: Apply the Reagan Doctrine in Libya
[Marc A. Thiessen, a visiting fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, is the author of the book "Courting Disaster" and writes a weekly column for The Post.]
After weeks of dithering, Barack Obama finally spoke forcefully on Libya, declaring at a White House press conference last week: "Muammar Qaddafi has lost the legitimacy to lead and he must leave. . . . And the aspirations of the Libyan people for freedom, democracy and dignity must be met." Moments later, Obama repeated this call: "Let me just be very unambiguous about this. Colonel Qaddafi needs to step down from power and leave." The president of the United States has spoken. The downfall of Gaddafi is now official U.S. policy. America's prestige has been engaged, and our credibility is on the line....
From his days as deputy CIA director during the Reagan administration, Gates knows there are options for removing a dictator short of sending in "a big American land army." In the 1980s, U.S. policymakers figured out a way to roll back Soviet expansionism without committing American ground forces to every flashpoint around the world. There were motivated people willing to fight their own wars of liberation. They did not want American soldiers to fight for them. They wanted America to provide weapons, training, intelligence and other support so they could fight and win those wars themselves. By providing such assistance, America helped resistance fighters in places such as Nicaragua and Afghanistan liberate their countries. It was called the "Reagan Doctrine," and the time has come to apply it in Libya.
Anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya need the same things the resistance forces in Nicaragua and Afghanistan needed:
l Intelligence. America can provide Libyan rebels with satellite imagery of government troop movements and intelligence on the government's military strength, capabilities and intent - as well as tactical advice on how to capitalize on this intelligence....
Read entire article at WaPo
After weeks of dithering, Barack Obama finally spoke forcefully on Libya, declaring at a White House press conference last week: "Muammar Qaddafi has lost the legitimacy to lead and he must leave. . . . And the aspirations of the Libyan people for freedom, democracy and dignity must be met." Moments later, Obama repeated this call: "Let me just be very unambiguous about this. Colonel Qaddafi needs to step down from power and leave." The president of the United States has spoken. The downfall of Gaddafi is now official U.S. policy. America's prestige has been engaged, and our credibility is on the line....
From his days as deputy CIA director during the Reagan administration, Gates knows there are options for removing a dictator short of sending in "a big American land army." In the 1980s, U.S. policymakers figured out a way to roll back Soviet expansionism without committing American ground forces to every flashpoint around the world. There were motivated people willing to fight their own wars of liberation. They did not want American soldiers to fight for them. They wanted America to provide weapons, training, intelligence and other support so they could fight and win those wars themselves. By providing such assistance, America helped resistance fighters in places such as Nicaragua and Afghanistan liberate their countries. It was called the "Reagan Doctrine," and the time has come to apply it in Libya.
Anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya need the same things the resistance forces in Nicaragua and Afghanistan needed:
l Intelligence. America can provide Libyan rebels with satellite imagery of government troop movements and intelligence on the government's military strength, capabilities and intent - as well as tactical advice on how to capitalize on this intelligence....