Sadly, below is another example of premature exuberance regarding the so-called Libyan "conflict." “Sadly” because it’s by the Wall Street Journal and the WSJ is one of the better papers out there today (first and foremost, because it’s not the NY Times).  

“A dictator with American blood on his hands is about to be overthrown by a popular revolt invoking democratic principles,” writes the WSJ. Except that this dictator happens to be a two-bit cowardly thug, living in a country with flat terrain and lengthy coastline (i.e., easily accessible), and it’s taking an alliance of world powers nearly 6 months and counting, to ____ [fill in the blank]. Whatever the blank is, it ain't expeditiously.

The WSJ refers to the Libyan crisis as a “popular revolt invoking democratic principles.” Except that according to the Draft Constitutional Charter prepared by the Libyan National Transitional Council (aka the rebels), “Islam is the religion of the state, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia).” [See "A Lovely Little NATO Intervention."]  Well, fyi, there ain’t nothin’ democratic about Sharia law or its principles.

The WSJ continues: “U.S. support for the rebels won't be lost on a Middle East still undergoing its own upheavals, not least on the people and governments of Syria and Iran. NATO showed it will finish a military task it started...”

Really? And yet U.S. financial support for Arab/Muslim nations (e.g., Pakistan) over all these years has gotten us... bubkes. And btw, since when has finishing a military task become a goal unto itself? NATO removed the Taliban, and yet today they’re baaack. As for replacing despots, didn’t we do that in Iran?

So while it’s great whenever a murderous thug dictator is deposed (personally, we'd have preferred to see him eliminated), any exuberance on our part is extremely premature. Chances are the Arab world, not to mention the rest of the world, will continue to view us as a reluctant (super)power, guided by political leaders who lead from behind.

Remember, in the Arab world it’s not only WHAT you do, but also HOW long it takes you to do it.