"Top US intelligence community officials have little confidence that the Libyan opposition is a good fit with US interests..."

"Before we turn to the dominating topics currently occupying attention, it is worth highlighting a vignette which demonstrates the changes in US priorities. Last week General Petraeus provided congressional testimony on the war in Afghanistan. He did so to nearly empty committee rooms and to minimal press coverage. A new poll shows rising public disapproval. The key point, however, is that, a few specialists aside, Americans have lost interest in Afghanistan. If it is to be an issue in the 2012 presidential election, it will because of costs and lack of clarity over the mission. President Obama will have to take this skepticism about foreign wars into account over Libya. It is no secret that Defense Secretary Gates and the White House National Security Advisor hold strong doubts about the wisdom of intervention in Libya. White House contacts tell us that Obama shares some of his doubts and is at best a cautious and reluctant warrior. The political coalition supporting intervention is narrow, consisting mainly of progressive internationalists like Secretary of State Clinton, Senator John Kerry and UN Ambassador Susan Rice on the Democratic side and traditional hawks like Senator McCain among Republicans. Conservative Republicans are, however, unenthusiastic. Top intelligence community officials have little confidence that the Libyan opposition is a good fit with US interests. Our expectation is that the Administration will seek a diplomatic compromise if and when one appears...."