Stan,

The question, at least for me, in the case of Lybia is different than removing a dictator US or France put in place and wants to change.
My point is that in this particular case, people have chosent to change the regime.

Mike,
I would have vote as France did. May be because of youth idealism. Also, because there are national interrest a stake in neigbouring countries.

Dayuhan
We could enter in an endless debate on where were the threats to US national security in Irak... I can see why US feels tired of being the sherif of the world. And France is not going to the replecement neither.
But there is a need to go deeper than just unwillingness because of possible bias, pitfall and what ever bad interpretation of such political line.
But still, it might be youth idealism.