As the situation in Libya continues to escalate, remaining a front-page story around the world, the United States and the Obama administration are trying to figure out their next move.

After President Obama’s speech the other night on the matter, I was impressed.

He didn’t sound like the president I have been listening to for the past two years. And he has certainly stepped up his position on the matter from a few weeks ago.

In early March, the Libyan issue appeared to have taken a backseat to some of the more serious issues in the Obama administration, including the unveiling of the Presidential March Madness bracket.

For days, Obama said the U.S. and its allies were studying a “wide range of potential options.”

The clock was ticking and rebels were beginning to lose the fight.

In scattered interviews with rebels, a number of them seemed to be losing faith and alluded that the West had missed their opportunity days ago.

The fight was solely in their hands. The fight was being lost.

It was becoming sad and embarrassing.

Finally, in a role I had not seen her play up to this point, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton tackled the issue head on.

It was Clinton who became the key figure, fielding questions from the press and embracing initiatives like the no-fly zone.

Perhaps she is still haunted by her husband’s failure to act on the Rwandan genocide in 1995, and predicted a similar outcome to the current Libyan crisis if nothing was done.

According to the New York Times, it was Clinton who finally convinced Obama to take military action against Libya once other Middle Eastern nations came onboard in support of the offensives.

Now that Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi’s forces are in disarray, the question is, “What’s next?”

“As the bulk of our military effort ratchets down, what we can do, and will do, is support the aspirations of the Libyan people,” Obama said in his March 28 speech.

To me, this shows that the president has finally made up his mind on the matter and will be doing what he can to ensure that the Libyan rebels are victorious in their fight against oppression.

The president also took a tone I had not heard in a long while from him, if ever.

“For generations, the United States of America has played a unique role as an anchor of global security and advocate for human freedom,” he said.

It is clear that the president has listened to the calls of Libyan rebels and some people in the U.S. to remain committed to a change in Libya.

Gadhafi must go. His record of being an opponent of freedom, safety and basic rights in the world has been proven.

His connections to events such as the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie and the German disco bombing are unacceptable.

According to the New York Times, there are even some reports that the president has authorized secret armaments, currently being sent to rebels.

I am excited to see that the president is finally taking a stand on Libya and hope he continues to be a champion of freedom around the world.