To the editor:

In his letter of March 25, Matthew O’Connell seems to have misjudged the reason that President Obama initiated our airstrikes against Moammar Gadhafi’s Libyan military forces. His past terrorisms were not an issue, but his recent murderous actions against his own people were the reason for our intervention.

The population of Libya was reacting to, and emulating, the many other North African countries in open rebellion against dictator rulers. This military action was approved by NATO and the Arab League with the United States only committed to airstrikes against Gadhafi’s military forces.

To many international observers, these populations of Arabs in open revolt against dictators are very welcome. This long-term political unrest in the Muslim world may be the forerunner to an eventual democracy-styled takeover.

Mr. O’Connell also is astounded about the incompetence of this Libyan action in only the first week of the airstrikes, which, by all reports, seem to be working just as anticipated. The United States is to be only a contributing force along with NATO and there shall be no member of our ground forces involved. It seems to me that this complaint is merely part of the right wing’s ongoing campaign against our president.