Hillary Clinton and “The Benghazi Triangle”—where careers and reputations vanish without a trace
The Bermuda Triangle is a well-known area where ships have been known to vanish without a trace, and without any cogent explanation. It seems that…
Libye
Possible motives for forcing Petraeus resignation
Among the most significant articles to be published in recent days regarding Benghazi and the Petraeus resignation is a Wall Street Journal article posted late…
Obama’s Achilles’ Heel: Hubris and the Arrogance of Power
For the next three weeks it will be very hard to say anything critical about President Obama without it being interpreted as providing fuel for…
New details on Benghazi attack on consulate, American response
New details about the attack on the American consulate and annex in Benghazi and the American response on the ground on the evening of September…
REPRISE: Responding to Atrocities in Syria: It’s Not Just About Al-Assad, It’s About Us—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #86 (September 18)
Responding to Atrocities in Syria: It’s Not Just About Al-Assad, It’s About Us Originally published March 6, 2012 I heard a boy in Syria on…
Lack of Moral Courage at the Highest Levels—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #7 (March 8)
For earlier articles on Syria by The Trenchant Observer, see the Articles on Syria page. President Obama’s response to the terror and crimes against humanity…
REPRISE: Syria and the Shame of the World
Originally published August 20, 2011 Bashar Al-Assad is pursuing the Libyan solution to civilian demonstrations–turn your tanks and your weapons on the demonstrators, and kill…
Ratko Mladic to join Radovan Karadic in The Hague; Moammar Qaddafi and Bashar al-Assad await similar fates
The capture and imminent extradition of Ratko Mladic, the butcher of Srebrenice, to The Hague where he will join his partner in genocide, crimes against…
Repression in Syria, and the spread of universal ideals throughout the world
NATO and Libya Fortunately, NATO has begun to act more like a powerful military alliance willing to use its power in Libya, and the insurgents…
Negotiating with War Criminals? Obama’s Debacle in Libya — Update #7 (May 4)
Moammar Qaddafi continues to commit war crimes, attacking a ship in Misurata delivering humanitarian supplies and evacuating wounded, while members of the Libya contact group…
If Misurata Falls…: Obama’s Debacle in Libya– Update #6 (May 2)
For the latest developments in the fighting in Libya, see Lin Noueihed (Reuters), “Fighting rages in Libya’s Western Mountains,” Reuters.com, May 2, 2011. ABC News…
Fierce Artillery Attacks on Misurata: Obama’s Debacle in Libya — Update #5 (May 1)
EYES ON THE BALL While overshadowed by the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death–for which President Obama deserves great credit–the war on the ground in…
The Human Cost: Obama’s Debacle in Libya — Update #3 (April 26)
While the international coaltion hesitates to take decisive action to remove Qaddafi from power, the human cost rises. Qaddafi’s forces unleased artillery attacks on Misrata’s…
Obama’s Debacle in Libya — Update #2 (April 23)
Qaddafi’s troops are reported to have withdrawn from the siege of Misurata. See Charles Levinson (Misrata), “Libyan Rebels Drive Army Out of Misrata,” Wall Street…
Obama’s Debacle in Libya — Update #1 (April 22)
For vivid accounts of what is happening right now in Misurata, see Andrew Malone, “The moment a Libyan sniper targeted two Mailmen, firing a bullet…
Obama’s Debacle in Libya
The great tragdy that is unfolding in Libya is a tragedy foretold by many keen and dispassionate observers. See also The Trenchant Observer, “Libya —…
“Analyst-in-Chief” muddies waters; “Commander-in-Chief” cannot be found
Urgent Messasge to President Obama: “Stop Talking!” As a lawyer and former law professor, The Observer finds it painful to criticize one from his own…
Shooting Straight About Military Operations in Libya
President Obama and his National Security team dragged their feet until the very last moment, before they gave support to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973…
While Carthage Burns, Obama Dithers
If we think of Carthage not as Tripoli, but as Libya, our title makes sense. Supremely calculating, President Obama doesn’t seem motivated to do anything…
Zawiyah–Qaddafi’s victory, but stories will be told
Zawiyah has fallen, at a human and material cost that may never be fully known. Bill Neely reports to The Guardian his on-the-scene account. How…