US Military Prepares To Evacuate Americans From Libya

Obama is giving the commencement speech at West Point right now. The focus of the speech is foreign policy, anti-terrorism activities and the drawdown in Afghanistan (which I wrote about yesterday).

Meanwhile one of Obama's prior forays into shaping the world, Libya, is falling apart.

The amphibious ship Bataan with Ospreys and 1,000 Marines on board has moved into the eastern Mediterranean to be ready for a possible evacuation, CBS News correspondent David Martin reported. The ship had been taking part in an exercise with Jordan.

This is a significant increase over the 200 Marines who had been moved to Sigonella, Sicily, and a significant decrease in the distance Marines would have to travel to evacuate Americans.

The State Department on Tuesday night warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Libya and urged Americans currently in the North African nation to "department immediately."

"The security situation in Libya remains unpredictable and unstable. The Libyan government has not been able to adequately build its military and police forces and improve security following the 2011 revolution. Many military-grade weapons remain in the hands of private individuals, including antiaircraft weapons that may be used against civilian aviation. Crime levels remain high in many parts of the country," the State Department said in its advisory.

I know when it comes to Libya and Hillary Clinton people want to focus on Benghazi. As tragic as that night was, the real scandal and mark against her was the decision to join in the campaign to depose Qadaffi in the first place.

She was the public face of the administration and argued repeatedly that that action was in US interests. Clearly, it hasn't worked out the way she argued it would and that's the kind of thing a want to be President needs to answer for.

posted by DrewM. at 11:01 AM

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