Quote Originally Posted by Ken White View Post
Did they go wrong because though that leader made the right decision, the committees below him or her made a total mess of the problem?
That's one possible scenario, but the one I'm thinking of illustrates the point that the right person can make decisions just as bad as any made by a committee.

The air campaign has a significantly lesser chance of achieving the goals set forth, but it also has a significantly lesser chance of turning into a decade-long bog--both of those in comparison to fully committing to Libya, boots on the ground and all. If the air campaign is more politically palatable, well, this entire adventure is an exercise in political palatability regardless of what strategy we pursue. This is about showing the flag and making sure we're involved, or at least a consideration, in the major changes sweeping the ME.