With the election of President Obama, many in Europe thoughts that the ‘hawks’ or neoconservatives, conservative American politicians emphasizing on the ‘exceptional’ character and role of America, would have understood that their times ended with the final minutes of the Bush’s presidency in 2009. Unfortunately, they have just stayed underground waiting for the right moment to reappear. Their resurrection started with the mid-term elections of 2010 and is regaining full power with the latest events in Libya.
President Obama along with France, the United Kingdom and others countries launched a military operation in Libya, based on the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973, on March 19, 2011. The UNSCR only allows the implementation of a non-fly zone over Libya. Between the adoption of the UNSCR 1973, the first bombing over Libya’s military infrastructures and today, many political decisions and military strategies have been taken. The most obvious of all is NATO’s control of the operations.
In the meantime in Washington, conservative politicians have reacted keenly to Obama’s decision to ‘go to war,’ while criticizing him on his late address to the nation. Thus, they have also stressed two additional points: first, the objectives of the mission were unclear; and second, America leads. Their first point is that ‘regime change’ must occur in Libya. Qaddafi must go. The only problem is that they do not offer any solutions to these questions: who should be leading in the post-Qaddafi Libya? And what kind of regime should be instituted? Second, Senators McCain and Rubio have also claimed that America leads, and does not follow. Their rationale is simple: America is an exceptional nation, a force for good, a beacon of peace. The fact that France, and now NATO lead the operation is undermining US power and influence.
Marco Rubio’s letter to the Senate majority and minority is an interesting piece, and illustrates the argument developed previously:
Dear Senators Reid and McConnell:
I am writing to seek your support for bringing a bi-partisan resolution to the Senate floor authorizing the President’s decision to participate in allied military action in Libya.
Furthermore, this resolution should also state that removing Muammar Qaddafi from power is in our national interest and therefore should authorize the President to accomplish this goal. To that end, the resolution should urge the President to immediately recognize the Interim Transitional National Council as the legitimate government in Libya.
For more than four decades, Qaddafi has terrorized the Libyan people, sowed instability among its neighbors, plotted assassination attempts against heads of state and supported terrorist enterprises such as the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 innocent people – including 189 Americans.
Inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans have rebelled against Qaddafi’s brutal regime, demanding democratic reforms, transparent governance, and respect for basic human and civil rights. In response to these legitimate demands for a better future, Qaddafi has unleashed foreign mercenaries and used weapons of war against unarmed civilians.
As long as Qaddafi remains in power, he will be in a position to terrorize his own people and potentially the rest of the world. In fact he has vowed to turn rebel strongholds into “rivers of blood.” If he succeeds, it will provide a blueprint to repressive regimes across the Middle East in the use of force against unarmed civilians. And unlike the conflicts in other nations in the region, the rebels in Libya have requested and welcome our support.
At the end of the day, the fact remains that our nation is not like other countries. The United States is an exceptional country with exceptional powers. But that power comes with unique moral obligations and responsibilities.
The world is a better place when America is willing to lead. And American leadership is required now more than ever.
It is my hope that you will lead the Senate to take actions along these lines as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator
Cc: John Kerry, Richard Lugar, Carl Levin, John McCain
The reemergence of hawkian foreign policy is worrisome considering the fact that the US is still paying the costs of Bush’s presidencies: the war in Iraq, a damaged US soft power, and a considerable debt crisis. This argument that the US is an exceptional power is shocking. Only others, outside powers can argue on the exceptional character and nature of the US. In real life, if one person would come to you and claim that he/she is better than you, exceptional, what would your reaction be?
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