WASHINGTON — What to do about Libya and Moammar Gadhafi? It's not only a national security question for President Barack Obama. Twenty months before the next election, it's a difficult political question, too, for the Republicans who hope to take his place as commander in chief.
There are plenty of strong opinions coming from Capitol Hill. Lawmakers of both parties are sounding off, including some calling for immediate military action. But others are urging moderation.
The Obama administration said Thursday it was suspending ties with the Libyan embassy in Washington and that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton would travel to Egypt and Tunisia next week to press democratic reforms and meet with members of Libya's opposition.
The White House has emphasized that key decisions have yet to be made, although it has made it clear that any military actions would be taken in conjunction with allies. As of now, there have been no concrete signs of Western moves toward assistance such as a no-fly zone.
Republicans weighing a possible presidential run — who have commented on Libya — seem to favor a no-fly zone. That includes former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Palin has criticized Obama for not offering timely support for the Libyan people and has urged some kind of U.S. response, including a no-fly zone.
Others mentioned in the running, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and departing U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, have not specifically made an issue out of Libya.
But in a speech in New Hampshire last weekend, Romney broadly criticized Obama's overall handling of unrest in the Middle East.
"He and his administration were caught off guard. The president and his team looked like deer in the headlights," he said.
Politicians of various stripes "are wary of the very ambiguous situation in Libya," Ross K. Baker, a Rutgers University political science professor, said. "A week ago, almost anybody would have put their chips on the fall of Gadhafi. But clearly, there's been a reversal of fortune for him. This is causing bipartisan confusion."
Libya was not even mentioned during a candidates' forum Monday in Waukee, Iowa, that focused heavily on domestic issues and was attended by Pawlenty and Santorum.
Among the most outspoken in calling for a no-fly zone are three senators spanning the political spectrum: John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Arizona Republican John McCain and Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman.
"Every day that goes by, every hour that goes by, innocent Libyans are being attacked and massacred from the air," McCain said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the senior Republican on the Foreign Relations panel, has become the top GOP advocate for moderation. The U.S. should not "launch military intervention into yet another Muslim country, without thinking long and hard about the consequences and implications," Lugar said.
Until the last few days, Libya was hardly mentioned by prospective presidential contenders.
Palin was one of the first to speak out, suggesting in a Feb. 23 Facebook entry that the White House was voicing more sympathy for earthquake victims in New Zealand than for Libyans calling for an end to Gadhafi's 42-year-rule.
"We should not be afraid of freedom, especially when it comes to people suffering under a brutal enemy of America," she wrote, also suggesting NATO establish a no-fly zone "so Libyan air forces cannot continue slaughtering the Libyan people."
Gingrich, Huckabee, Pawlenty and Santorum all later came out for a no-fly zone in one form of another.
U.S. and Libya relations
The issue: U.S. leaders are debating how to respond to the actions of violent Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi
United States' response: Military action will be taken in conjunction with allies; no solid plans mentioned from the White House
Suggestions: Some Republicans favor a no-fly zone, which might allow Gadhafi to fly in mercenary forces
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