dagblog - Comments for "Intervening in Libya is a terrible idea"

...Of most concern to the

artappraiser — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:32:14 +0000

In reply to Intervening in Libya is a terrible idea

...Of most concern to the president himself, one high-level aide said, is the perception that the United States would once again be meddling in the Middle East, where it has overturned many a leader, including Saddam Hussein..Some critics of the United States in the region — as well as some leaders — have already claimed that a Western conspiracy is stoking the revolutions that have overtaken the Middle East.
“He keeps reminding us that the best revolutions are completely organic,” the senior official said, quoting the president.
At the same time, there are persistent voices — in Congress and even inside the administration — arguing that Mr. Obama is moving too slowly. They contend that there is too much concern about perceptions, and that the White House is too squeamish because of Iraq.
Furthermore, they say a military caught up in two difficult wars has exaggerated the risks of imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, the tactic discussed most often.

The American military is also privately skeptical of humanitarian gestures that put the lives of troops at risk for the cause of the moment, while being of only tenuous national interest.

Some of these critics seem motivated by political advantage. Others, including the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, who is among Mr. Obama’s closest allies, warn of repeating mistakes made in Iraqi Kurdistan, Rwanda, and Bosnia and Herzegovina by failing to step in and halt a slaughter.

The most vocal camp, led by Senators John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee for president, and Joseph I. Lieberman, the Connecticut independent and another hawk on Libyan intervention, say the central justification for establishing a no-fly zone over Libya is that the rebel leaders themselves are seeking military assistance to end decades of dictatorship.....

in full @

Discord Fills Washington on Possible Libya Intervention
By David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker, New York Times, March 7, 201

Thanks for this, Lulu.And

quinn esq — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:57:32 +0000

In reply to Ray McGovern gas something to

Thanks for this, Lulu.

And this was the guy we were all supposed to get on-board for, when he was named to Obama's cabinet.

Dear God, he selects a war criminal, and are supposed to applaud.

Ray McGovern gas something to

A Guy Called LULU — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:38:54 +0000

In reply to Meanwhile earlier this

Ray McGovern gas something to say about Gates' "candor" as well as his history.

http://www.truth-out.org/ray-mcgovern-how-read-gatess-shift-wars68198

Meanwhile earlier this

artappraiser — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:26:29 +0000

In reply to Kerry seemed to be floating

Meanwhile earlier this week:

This week, in warning about a no-flight zone over Libya, Mr. Gates seemed to take a position that was out of step with the rest of the administration. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said they wanted to leave all options on the table — including making it tough for Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya to use jets to kill his own people. Mr. Gates made it clear, however, that any use of the military invited battle.

“Let’s just call a spade a spade,” Mr. Gates told Congress. “A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses. That’s the way you do a no-fly zone. And then you can fly planes around the country and not worry about our guys being shot down. But that’s the way it starts.”

from
Gates Ratchets Up His Campaign of Candor, By Thom Shanker
New York Times, March 4, 2011

Kerry seemed to be floating

Donal — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:12:39 +0000

In reply to Intervening in Libya is a terrible idea

Kerry seemed to be floating the no-fly zone idea on Face the Nation this morning. He claimed it would only be temporary and a minor effort due to Libya's tiny air force. Fortunately Schieffer observed, "That's what they always say."

The U.S. still recognizes the

acanuck — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:51:39 +0000

In reply to Intervening in Libya is a terrible idea

The U.S. still recognizes the Gaddafi regime as the government of Libya. As even the White House concedes, establishing a no-fly zone would necessitate an attack on pro-Gaddafi anti-aircraft installations. Since the UN Security Council will never authorize this (I doubt NATO would, either), we're talking about a unilateral act of war. That would make -- let's see, carry the one -- three.

This little incident suggests the anti-Gaddafi forces themselves are cool to outside intervention in their struggle for freedom: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/06/libya.british.troops/