If I recall correctly, we went into Libya or, at any rate, over Libya to stop the brutal Qaddafi dictatorship killing the Libyan people. And thanks to our efforts a whole new mass movement of freedom-loving democrats now has the opportunity to kill the Libyan people. As the Los Angeles Times reported from Benghazi, these democrats are roaming the city rousting Libyan blacks and immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa from their homes and holding them for interrogation as suspected mercenaries or government spies. According to the New York Times, Members of the NATO alliance have sternly warned the rebels in Libya not to attack civilians as they push against the regime of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. We dropped bombs on Qaddafis crowd for attacking civilians, and were prepared to do the same to you The coalition has told the rebels that the fog of war will not shield them from possible bombardment by NATO planes and missiles, just as the regimes forces have been punished. So, having agreed to be the Libyan Liberation Movement Air Force, were also happy to serve as the Qaddafi Last-Stand Air Force. Say what you like about Barack Obama, but its rare to find a leader so impeccably multilateralist hes willing to participate in both sides of a war. It doesnt exactly do much for holding it under budget, but it does ensure that for once weve got a sporting chance of coming out on the winning side. If a coalition plane bombing Qaddafis forces runs into a coalition plane bombing the rebel forces, are they allowed to open fire on each other? Or would that exceed the U.N. resolution? Who are these rebels were simultaneously arming and bombing? Dont worry, the CIA is gathering intelligence on them. They should have a clear of who our allies are round about the time Mohammed bin Jihad is firing his Kalashnikov and shouting Death to the Great Satan from the balcony of the presidential palace. But Americas commander-in-chief thinks theyre pretty sound chaps. The people that weve met with have been fully vetted, says President Obama. So we have a clear sense of who they are. And so far theyre saying the right things. And most of them are professionals, lawyers, doctors people who appear to be credible. Credible people with credentials just like the president Lawyers, doctors, just like Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaedas No. 2. Maybe among their impeccably credentialed ranks is a credible professional eye doctor like Bashar Assad, the London ophthalmologist who made a successful mid-life career change to dictator of Syria. Hillary Rodham Clinton calls young Bashar a reformer, by which she means presumably that he hasnt (yet) slaughtered as many civilians as his late dad. According to the State Department, Colonel Qaddafis 27-year-old son, Khamis, is also a reformer. Or at least he was a few weeks ago, when U.S. officials welcomed him here for a month-long visit, including meetings at NASA and the Air Force Academy, and front-row seats for a lecture by Deepak Chopra entitled The Soul of Leadership. Ten minutes of which would have me buckling up the Semtex belt and yelling Allahu Akbar but each to his own. It would have been embarrassing had Khamis Qaddafi still been getting the red carpet treatment in the U.S. while his dad was getting the red carpet-bombing treatment over in Tripoli. But fortunately a scheduled trip to West Point on February 21st had to be cancelled when young Khamis was obliged to cut short his visit and return to Libya to start shooting large numbers of people in his capacity as the commander of a crack special-forces unit. Maybe hell be killed by a pilot who showed him round the Air Force Academy. Small world, isnt it? Meanwhile, the same CIA currently gathering intelligence on these jihadist lawyers, doctors, and other allies has apparently been in Libya for some time arming them, according to a top-secret memo on their eyes-only clandestine operation simultaneously leaked by no fewer than four administration officials to the press. A reader suggested to me that theyd misheard the Warren Zevon song Send Lawyers, Guns And Money, and were sending guns and money to lawyers. And, if some of the guns and money end up in the hands of al-Qaeda elements, Im sure Janet Napolitano can have it re-classified as an overseas stimulus bill. In the old days, simpletons like President Bush used to say, Youre either with us or youre with the terrorists. This time round, were with us and were with the terrorists, and you cant say fairer than that. So this isnt your fathers war. Its a war with a U.N. resolution and French jets and a Canadian general and the good wishes of the Arab League. Its a war with everything it needs, except a mission. And, if you dont have a mission, its hard to know when its accomplished. Secretary Gates insists that regime change is not a goal; President Sarkozy says it is; President Obamas position, insofar as one can pin it down, seems to be that hes not in favour of Qaddafi remaining in power but he isnt necessarily going to do anything to remove him therefrom. According to NBC, Qaddafi was said to be down in the dumps about his prospects until he saw Obamas speech, after which he concluded the guy wasnt serious about getting rid of him, and he perked up. Hes certainly not planning on going anywhere. National Review Online