OBAMA, ET AL: WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE IN LIBYA?

The US government has been an embarrassing excuse for a  "superpower" in regards to the crisis in Libya. Some members of our brilliant government have said that the no-fly zone is not an attempt at regime change but instead a quick response to the danger posed against the civilians. Then others say that we (the Western powers) are liberating the Libyans of their forty-year-old dictatorship, kind of like the United States "liberated" Iraqis not too long ago. Indeed, Obama declared, "Gaddafi must go," although members of his military have stated otherwise. And of course, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul are on television arguing that the President has no right to impose a no-fly zone without congressional consent. The conversation is a mess. Who is right in this debate over the future of Libya?

Nobody. American politicians are doing what they do best: nothing. Instead of making a clear decision, members of the US government insist on babbling back and forth and contradicting one another. Does this mean that a no-fly zone is the best decision that the West should have made a long time ago? Absolutely not. The United States could have made an acceptable and respectable decision weeks ago, to either: 1) intervene in support of the revolutionary rebel groups [in other words, protect the oil market], or 2) let Libya fight its own battle. Both of these decisions come with their costs and benefits, but it makes sense to choose either one, provided the decision is made by a group of strong leaders who have carefully assessed the pros and cons.

Read my lips: the United States' intervention in Libya is a politicized decision-- one that will boost Obama's image (despite his ridiculously slow decision-making skills) and provide future presidential candidates with the soap box to critique the military strategies that are materializing at the moment. And because it's politics as usual here in the US, our government has not set a clear and rational objective in imposing a no-fly zone in Libya. The country's future is hence increasingly cloudy. Think about it, because our government isn't.

[Sourced image: Boston.com's Big Picture story on the UN air strikes in Libya.]

IS OBAMA SCREWED?

On the moderate-liberal end of the political spectrum, a lot has been said about Obama's next two years after the lame duck legislation. Some say he has proven that bipartisanship can lead to productive efforts, that he has done more than his progressive critics claim, and that they need to stop expecting perfection. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who has made it his mission to destroy Obama's "hope and change" efforts, recently told TIME that the tax-cut compromise was proof that Republicans and Democrats "can do business." Hope is alive, and the two enemies that were the Left and Right are becoming friends. Or, at least, frenemies.

Obama's liberal critics are annoyed that the President insists on appeasing men like McConnell. As Democrats and Republicans are doing business, critics see any hope for progress wiped out or watered down. They are waiting to see more action that mirrors the "Yes We Can" campaign. In short, progressives have practically thrown in the towel and today view Obama as a self-contradicting jellyfish. This growing negative discourse adds to the harsher conservative critiques of the President; as Obama said in a[n unrelated] press conference, "I can't win." Is this guy screwed?

Say what you want about Barack Obama's political record thus far. But the man has not been playing politics well. While a lot of the President's less politically active constituents have stood by him, he has managed to confuse the hell out of a large portion of his liberal base. Those who voted for hope and change are likely to get swayed by more experienced and impassioned presidential candidates come 2012. And let's not forget the new Republican House, who are getting ready to crush any and all hopes of progressive legislation.

Then again, this last point isn't very new. If you ask us, Barack Obama has been screwed ever since his inauguration. Actually, we're all screwed.