Obama administration has sought to reduce American military presence abroad . Rare international agreement is in action in Libya . The president 's then-defense secretary , Robert Gates , expanded on the theme , saying that more needed to be spent on `` diplomacy , strategic communications , foreign assistance , civic action and economic reconstruction and development . '' But reality has set in after brief post - Gadhafi euphoria . The West has lost hope for robust nation - building .
Obama administration has sought to reduce American military presence abroad . Rare international agreement is in action in Libya . But reality has set in after brief post - Gadhafi euphoria . The West has lost hope for robust nation - building .