Better Late Than Sooner. (Not.)

Timing Matters:

The House on Friday resoundingly rejected a measure that would have authorized the United States’ mission in Libya, with 70 Democrats deserting President Obama on an issue that has divided their party and became a major Constitutional flash point between Congress and the White House.
...
On Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with scores of House Democrats and urged them to vote against the defunding resolution, insisting the collective effort in Libya was close to ousting the nation’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. In emphatic language, Mrs. Clinton warned them that a resolution to bar money for Libya would be disastrous to American interests in that war-torn nation, said some of the 60 or so Democrats who attended.

“The secretary was there to make the case on behalf of the administration on why they want to continue the war,” said Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, one of the attendees. He added: “It would appear inside the caucus that there is a split on this, and I think the fact that the secretary came over tells you a couple things. One, that the White House is very concerned about the vote, and second, that there is a sudden awareness that the fact that the administration has ignored Congress may carry with it a price.”

Representative Lynn Woolsey, Democrat of California, said that while Mrs. Clinton “did a really good job of making the administration’s case,” Ms. Woolsey was ultimately not swayed to support the activities in Libya. “She did what the White House should have been doing all along, which is come to us, talk about the situation, tell us what their perspective is, and have a conversation,” Ms. Woolsey said.

What I'm wondering now?
How the heck would this administration "announce" the death or capture of the Libyan leader now? Do they expect American cheers -- or indifference? -- when they finally do have the man's head on stake, to be paraded through the streets of Tripoli?

Remember how some were surprised at the quiet relief in certain quarters, but no call for loud celebration, after bin Laden was brought to justice?

How the heck will this one be spun? "This man wasn't really our enemy, and we really weren't "at war" with him, but he's out nonetheless, so 3 cheers America!" ?

Somehow, when you don't define these fights, and don't have the backing of the American people, it's not the same as vanquishing an agreed-upon enemy whose very existence has the rest of us trembling in peril...