Libya and the United States

Photo cred: LA Times

For the past few weeks, we've all been watching the situation in Libya and surrounding countries. Moammar Gadhafi, the leader of Libya, has refused to step down despite widespread opposition among the Libyan people. But last week, the United States has become involved in the situation as well. On March 19th, President Obama ordered US troops to begin enforcing a "no-fly zone" in Libya. The United States was not acting alone, but was working with several allies, and was authorized under the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 1973.

Which led me to ask, how much do the American people support a US military intervention in the Middle East? The answer I got was not surprising. In this poll from CNN, it is clear that Americans are generally supportive of military action in Libya. However, support wavers when it comes to directly attacking Gadhafi's troops. Because direct attacks put soldiers' lives at risk, Americans are not willing to commit to aggressive military action.

But now that US troops have been ordered to interfere, another question arises: what will happen next? This is one of the most important questions that President Obama faces. If Gadhafi is not removed from power soon, Americans may grow impatient and support for military presence may dwindle. However, if Gadhafi is defeated, the international community must still decide how to move forward in Libya. Who will be the next leader? How much influence will the US and other countries have in creating a new government? All of these questions are difficult to answer, and President Obama must move forward cautiously in order to make sure the American people are behind US interference in Libya.

For an updated timeline on what's going on in Libya, check out this blog.