President Obama has revealed his biggest mistake of his presidency.
In an interview with Fox News‘ Chris Wallace that aired last night, President Obama said that his worst mistake (and presumably greatest regret) as president was failing to prepare for the aftermath of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi’s ousting.
“Probably failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya,” Obama said in the interview, acknowledging that, despite the ramifications, he still thinks that getting involved with Libya was the proper choice.
The US military carried out strikes designed to protect civilians during the 2011 uprising, but Libya spiraled into chaos after the former Libyan leader was killed. The country saw a takeover by militias and the formation of two rival governments and parliaments. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, Obama called Libya “a mess,” blaming both the European Union for not offering enough support to re-stabilize the country in the aftermath, and his own analysts for failing to comprehend Lybia’s deep-rooted pre-existing tribal divisions.
For this reason, Obama cites the failure of the US to adequately plan for the aid and governing of Libya as a major error in his coming-to-a-close years in the White House. Looking to the future, however, his “biggest mistake,” could mean negative things for Hillary Clinton, who cited the intervention in Libya as one of her greatest accomplishments during her time as secretary of state.
Obama cites another low point in his presidency as the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings that killed 20 children and six adult staff members. He told Fox News that his worst day in office was “the day we traveled up to Newtown.” In brighter news, Obama said that his best day in office was the day that his signature healthcare plan was passed. In the Fox interview, Obama was also asked his greatest accomplishment, to which he replied, “saving the economy from a great depression.”
You can watch the full video interview here:
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