For the entire first term, Obama and his people blamed Bush for everything - which is another way of saying they felt Bush and the Bush years were the inescapable reference point for everything they were themselves doing.

The question was never whether the United States, E.U., NATO, Arab League, U.N. Security Council, and African Union could together using economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and military attacks to bring Qaddafi down. The question was always how much time, how much blood, and what damage to NATO.

Libya as a country is a relatively new concept. The period of Libya as a modern nation really starts after World War II.

The Obama administration rarely demonstrated the ability to shift gears and change policy in its first year. Even in the face of historic events such as the continuing demonstrations against Iran's regime, it stuck devotedly to prior plans.

Elections matter, but how much they matter depends entirely on how free, open and fair they are.

At the United Nations, a lynch mob for Israel is always just a moment away.

The intersection of religion and world politics has often been a bloody crossroads.