Leading the free world is highly overrated and so last century.
Just ask Time's Joe Klein, who is giddy that our European allies and the Arab League took a leading role in setting up a no-fly zone over Libya, some 31 days after Muammar al-Qadhafi started opening fire upon ragtag rebels.
From a March 18 entry entitled "Gaddafi Duck" at the magazine's Swampland blog:
There's been some amazing diplomacy afoot over the past few days regarding multilateral actions to be taken, perhaps, against Libya. The notion that the Arab League came out in favor of a no-fly zone is extraordinary; that the UN Security Council, not an easy place to press military action, has agreed is almost mind-boggling. I remain extremely skeptical about military action, but the unanimity of world opinion--especially the opinion of Gaddafi's neighbors--is certainly a welcome and bracing phenomenon. It will be interesting to see how, and whether, the U.S. participates in the actions to come. It would be a very welcome change if we let those closest to the situation--the Arabs, the Europeans--lead the charge. We don't always have to be lead dog when it comes to kinetic/testosteronic matters, do we?
