On Monday night President Barack Obama addressed the nation about his correct, yet hesitant, commitment of American naval and air forces to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. While he answered many of the questions surrounding the decision, it was a speech that he should have made sooner.

So far Obama has made correct choices about American involvement in this major conflict.

Given the obvious intent of Moammar Gadhafi to viciously crush the antigovernment uprising, failing to intervene would have resulted in the slaughter of thousands of Libyans. Additionally, it would have been a major setback for nonviolent transitions of power in Egypt and other countries across the Middle East if Gadhafi had been allowed to attack the rebels unopposed.

While deploring the reluctance with which the no-fly zone was established, we applaud the way it was done with broad international support and limited objectives as well as the speed with which the mission is being handed over to NATO leadership.

The planning and execution of the no-fly zone and ObamaâÄôs refusal to promise a quick end to the conflict contrast favorably with the way in which the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003.

So far, the coalition operating has acted well together. However, Obama needs to keep Congress and the American people better informed in case operations in Libya do not go as planned or the situation changes.

ObamaâÄôs Monday address is encouraging. In the future, greater communication with the public is needed about military action in Libya and the rest of the world.