Inconsistency as a Virtue

Obama’s televised address
On aiding Libya’s revolt
Was apt to disappoint unless
One’s not an all-or-nothing dolt
And understands a need to act
Although a forecast‘s not exact.

Not just the fog of war beclouds
What happens next on battlefields.
A leader not quite sure enshrouds
The instruments to fight he wields.
The guided missiles, no surprise.
Now close-support planes seem more wise.

Tomahawks cleared a no-fly zone
The U.N. mandate specified.
The gunships, earlier not known,
Mean more Gaddafi troops have died.
So, not just decimated tanks,
But infantry within his ranks.

The U.N. edict further said
All necessary measures take.
Which, following the mandate’s thread,
The President could use to make
A nightmare of Gaddafi’s life
By drawing closer frontline strife

He won’t, besides, assassinate
By using force, As he explains
He’d preferably negotiate
If, undeterred by rebels’ gains,
The Colonel won’t pull up his roots.
To oust would warrant U.S. boots.

That’s where for now we've drawn the line
If loyalists regain some ground,
Our strategy he might refine.
To just the U.N. is he bound?
Unknown insurgents should we arm
Unsure we’d do more good than harm?

We run the risk of terrorists
Among the ragtag fighting force.
Perhaps al-Qaeda’s in their midst.
If so, a point to note, of course,
As long as we remain aware
Our doctrine isn’t doctrinaire.