Obama Mistakes the Enemy in Libya

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: Sep 12, 2012

Obama Mistakes the Enemy in Libya

March 30, 2011

Following President Obama’s speech Monday night, some politicians and commentators compared it to John Kennedy’s inaugural address, the part where he said America would pay any price and bear any burden in the defense of liberty.

That analogy is flawed. Kennedy was talking about those wishing to throw off the yoke of communism and elect leaders who would preserve their freedom. In the Muslim world, Muslims think they are free within Islam and too many seek to spread the sharia law brand that further oppresses people. That’s a big difference.

Among the problems in Libya, as in Egypt and the rest of the region, is we don’t know who will replace the current dictators. Or maybe it is more accurate to say we do know, but prefer to be in denial about it.

The Muslim Brotherthood and al Qaeda are behind much of this. Their stated objective is to replace one set of oppressive leaders with their own set.

This isn’t John Kennedy in 1961. This is Osama bin Laden in 2011.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

Obama Mistakes the Enemy in Libya