DEPRESSING LIBYA – AT 8:24 A.M. ET:  The situation for rebels in Libya gets worse by the hour.  From The New York Times:

AJDABIYA, Libya — Military forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi cranked up military and psychological pressure against rebels on two fronts on Monday, offering an amnesty to those who surrendered their weapons while bombing a strategic linchpin in the east and surrounding a rebel-held town in the west.

Loyalist warplanes launched fresh strikes against this anxious town on the doorstep of the opposition capital Benghazi within grasp of a highway crucial to recapturing the eastern border and encircling the rebellion with heavy armor and artillery.

COMMENT:  At the same time, our much-reduced secretary of state will be traveling to Paris for "consultations" about Libya.  We're consulting the rebels right out of existence.  The consultations will undoubtedly be followed by more consultations.

Hillary Clinton's role here is intriguing, and depressing.  I really can't believe she goes along with Obama's knuckleheaded foreign policy.  She's a stronger man than he is.  And she's been reduced to being head of the administration's messenger and postage department.

We've wondered here before whether Hillary will resign.  If the Libyan rebellion fails, and we are humiliated, having demanded that Qadaffi leave, that would be a perfect time for her to say goodbye.  If she doesn't, she might go down with a sinking ship.

On the other hand, maybe she likes the perks and the free travel.  You never know.

If Obama's poll numbers collapse, Hillary can be waiting in the wings.  But she'd better be in the wings, and not onstage.

March 14, 2011