Bad Day for Intervention Critics

Whatever the future might hold for Libya, today is obviously a very good day for the people of that long tortured North African country. With the Qaddafi government apparently defeated, Libyans have a chance to create a sane government and to end decades of oppression. They will have that chance in no small measure because France, Britain and the United States decided to act to help those fighting against the regime. While I have been among those who criticized the Obama administration’s belated decision to intervene and its “lead from behind” posture throughout the fighting, it must today be acknowledged that despite these mistakes, the goal of ousting the dictator was achieved. The president will get, and he will deserve, some of the credit for this accomplishment.