Against A Halfway War

Douthat joins opponents of a US imposed no-fly zone in Libya:

The lesson of previous campaigns is that the no-fly gambit only really makes sense as a means to regime change if we’re willing to back it up with further shows of force. And unless public opinion shifts dramatically or our commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq are suddenly magically transformed into Germany and South Korea  it’s very difficult to see Western governments being willing to follow up with anything save words. (How many casualties would the American public accept to see Libya’s rebels take power in Tripoli? 10? 5? Whatever number you pick, the real one is probably lower.)

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