LIBYA: A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH EDITORIALTHE GUARDIAN[W]ho will be able to influence the Libyan situation for the better? The short answer is Libyans themselves. There is plenty of evidence of common sense, democratic instinct, idealism and decency, as well as professional competence, waiting to be tapped in Libya. Experience, however, shows how such elements can also be outflanked and wasted as more extreme forces scramble for advantage. Libyans will need help... But it is Egypt and Tunisia, the two states whose revolutions inspired Libya's own effort, and which would have most to lose if Libya lost its way – that will have a special, and perhaps a weighty, responsibility.
LIBYA: WE MUST LEARN THE LESSONS FROM IRAQ BY LORD DANNATTTHE TELEGRAPHWhile some Muslim and Arab neighbouring states may have been hesitant to get involved during the military phases of the conflict they must realise that now is the moment for full engagement. It is vital... that the future of Libya is fully determined by Libyans, Arabs and Muslims. We have legitimate interests in seeing a stable Libya and North Africa, but first and foremost we must discipline ourselves to remember that the establishment of that better future is a matter for the Libyans themselves. We can support and encourage but we should not go where we are not invited – surely our memories of Iraq are not that short?
A POST-KHADDAFY LIBYA EDITORIALTHE TELEGRAPHThe role of the outside world will be to help, through advice and equipment, to integrate the various security forces and to restore the oil sector, which accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Libyan revenue. Frozen assets should be swiftly unblocked and financial help, particularly from the Arab world, which will be glad to see the back of Gaddafi, extended. At stake is whether Libya becomes a prosperous democracy or slides into internecine chaos.
MESSING WITH TEXAS BY ROSS DOUTHATNEW YORK TIMES
[U]nlike many of his fellow Republican governors, from Mitch Daniels to Chris Christie to Scott Walker — or a Democratic governor like Andrew Cuomo, for that matter — Perry can’t claim to have battled entrenched interest groups, or stemmed a flood tide of red ink. But of course none of those reforming governors are currently in the race against him. Instead Perry faces an unloved Republican front-runner, with a weakened incumbent president waiting in the wings. Which bring us back to that 10-election winning streak. Maybe God really is on Rick Perry’s side. Or maybe Perry just knows how to pick his opponents.
OF DYSTOPIAS AND ALPHAS BY MAUREEN DOWDNEW YORK TIMESPresident Obama bashed Congress on his bus tour. But after delegating to Congress time and again with disastrous results, he continues to play the satellite to Congress. He shouldn’t be driven by the Washington schedule. He should be setting it. At long last, he promised a clear economic plan. Unfortunately, he had the fierce urgency of next month, when Congress gets back to town. Americans are rattled and want action. They don’t know or care what Congress’s schedule is. They just see the president not doing anything.
AFGHANISTAN IN TROUBLE BY JOHN PODESTA, BRIAN KATULIS & CAROLINE WADHAMSWASHINGTON POSTPresident Obama took the right step in announcing the start of the transition in Afghanistan. After nearly 10 years, our troops need to begin coming home, and Afghan security forces need to take the lead. But as this security transition occurs we need to accelerate our efforts to help Afghanistan strengthen its political institutions, power-sharing arrangements and economic foundations to make sure the country will be able stand on its own.
GO BIG, MR. OBAMA BY E.J. DIONNEWASHINGTON POSTObama has only one option as he ponders a world economy teetering on the edge: He needs to go big, go long and go global... Neither history nor the voters will be kind to him if he lets caution and political calculation get in the way... Ah, but won’t congressional Republicans block as much of this program as they can? That’s the wrong question. The point is to insist on a rational plan and to challenge the political system to act rationally. Most economists and business people not blinded by ideology believe we need short-term stimulus and long-term fiscal balance. Obama should explain what needs to be done and then fight for it. That’s the only way it will have any chance of happening.
THE FALL OF TRIPOLI EDITORIALWALL STREET JOURNALHaving helped to midwife the rebel advances with air power, intelligence and weapons, NATO will have some influence with the rebels in the days ahead. The shame is how much faster Khaddafy might have been defeated, how many fewer people might have been killed, and how much more influence the U.S. might now have, if America had led more forcefully from the beginning... Libyans will determine their own future, but the U.S. has a stake in showing the world that NATO's intervention, however belated and ill-executed, succeeded in its goals of removing a dictator, saving lives, and promoting a new Libyan government that respects its people and doesn't sponsor global terrorism.