Lybia
 

US urges UN to approve Libya airstrikes, no-fly zone

The UN vote is scheduled for 6PM ET today, anyone think the B2 bombers are already in the air to disable Gadahfi's air defense systems?

I need spell check, too: Libya

Looks like the strategy is moving along well. I think Obama is playing this one perfectly...

-spence

I think Gadahfi has a better strategy: recapture the key strategic areas of the country BEFORE the rest of the world, including the US, gets it act together!

I think it's taken some time to 1) build the consensus so there's an Arab face on this action rather than being seen as pure US intervention and 2) let it play out a bit. This deal would also give the Saudi Royal Family some cover as they crack down internally and help in Bahrain...NOTE: Both strategic US allies.

As Iran tries to stir the pot there's the Sunni/Shiite dynamic as well here. Iran would really like the (mostly Shiite) protests in Bahrain to be successful.

And the simple fact of what happened in Egypt will put pressure on even the US allies to reform faster.

Ultimately it's probably in our best interest to let these events push reforms more slowly without destabilizing the region or strengthening Iran.

Considering the complexity and variability of the situation, its actually not looking all that terrible. Obama seems to have been pretty careful to not make statements or promises we can't keep, something very different from Bush.

And if the UN does impose a no fly zone in Lybia, who's going to stand behind the Lybian Govt? The Sudan??? I'm not sure the regime can survive...

-spence

why are we getting involved here?
I think we should stay away. All the neighboring countries have armies and air forces, why arent they sending them in?
US should stay out. We have nothing to gain there except get more blame from them for their problems
I know peoples memories are short but a year or so ago we were applauding Ghadafi for his support and now he is a brutal dictator? come on

I think we're trying to draw a line between the brutal regimes we want to support and the brutal regimes we think are ripe for accelerated reform.

While we don't want to get into a real battle, it does seem like Ghaddafi has crossed the line with his actions...they're going to squeeze him until he pops.

-spence

You're bleeping me? Give it more time. I am not a fan of intervention here (I think maybe Europe steps up on this one and we support that effort). But by the time the admin gets going, this will be all over. If you allow more time for Arab consensus it is long over. The only good new if the Arabs DO IT with an d ARAB face is that at least the Junior Varsity will be going against the Middle School squad. The action windows is nearly closed.

Yes, tough nut to decipher on this one.

Speaking of Iran, arming AQ/Taliban now. And reports are going around that a ship bound for Hamas has been intercepted with Anti Ship Missiles (not RPGs) and a Chinese ship was intercepted with WMD components bound for Iran.

Spencism Alert! Spencism Alert! Spencism Alert!

Well, you could have a repeat of the last two wars in the middle east. No Fly Zones do not occupy territory.

We'll see how close they really are. Clearly the Admin is not going to go it alone, nor should we. I think the bigger piece is that Khadaffi is now seen as damaged goods by even much of the Arab leadership.

Never seen a report of Iran arming al Qaeda. Sending arms to Palestine is nothing new...

No, it's just a remark. And one I think that's defend-able. Bush would have made some dramatic remarks about standing up for those who seek freedom, the neocons would have had a circle jerk, and then they'd do nothing.

I think the calculus in Libya might not be in Khadaffi's favor. The real end game may be to get regime ending concessions.

-spence

Window is closing. Center of gravity was Tripoli, now it is Benghazi. Window. Closing. No time for high end fencing around an issue. Not that I support it...

One of several reports but I'll use the NYTimes one: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/wo...st/10iran.html


China-Iran - take your pick (though it is earlier in this news story) Google

Obama when he doesn't do something or pick a side is good while displaying a certain elan and obvious high intelligence lost on the masses, Bush is bad - I get it. :love:

Time will cost lives. Best to either get it on early or not at all.

It's a go for bombing!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

labial rejuvenation :love:

they (daffy) will target the oil field i bet b4 the bombers arrive

so O is on TV threatening action against Libya. Not the UN, not the Arabs, us....can someone tell me WHY?

Well, there seems to be pretty strong support from EU and the other Arab nations.

Justification is because the Libyan government has turned to using the military against their own people without much regard. It looks like they've been bombing and shelling killing just about anyone. I've really some really gruesome stories.

Fear is that atrocities will increase and cause a humanitarian crisis which would destabilize the region, especially considering the events in Tunisia and Egypt right next door.

At least that's the reasoning he gave when he spoke today.

-spence

it's for the campaign of course !

looking like our fearless leader big and bold

he da man ....photo op city (and sound bite)

a President in control as leader of the world
makes him APPEAR to be more re-electable

in a NUTSHELL

Well thankfully he got off the golf course and said something. Now he can send Hillary out in the world to do his bidding.

Quite thoughtful analysis. And you didn't even have to bring up his Islamic heritage!

-spence

he's not golfing -he's in rio for carnivale! what a tool...

Carnivale in Rio was over a week ago...tool.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Wherever he is/was he gave the OK to launch 110 Tomahawk missiles at Libya!

project
O.D. well under way

I am starting to see a pattern here. I think Spence is really Obama.......

At the very least either his press secretary or the head groupie of his fan club


:hee:

Now that's a compliment :hihi:

-spence

my bad spencey...he's still a $%^%$ tool :). how many times has he been on the golf course- close to 50. who's he think he is- tiger woods?

How many hours a day do you think he's actively working on average?

12?

14?

-spence

since you know all obama, why don't you tell us...

My bad he was golfing while Japan was under water. I never said anything about Islamic heritage. I could really give a hoot what his religion is. Doesn't affect my world. I could care less. He was Picking out his brackets while Libya was burning.

None of it matters. Until people decide this country is more important than red or blue we are all going to spin our wheels. As long as people like you Spence sit back on your throne and justify and rationalize moves by politicians based on red or blue we are all screwed.

There is zero accountability in government anymore. There hasn't been for quite a while. Our officials are the new Celebrity and people believe what is put in front of them by Couric, Williams and others.

So enjoy sitting back writing your quippy remarks and feel good about how intelligent your responses are. After all you are debating politics with the people that are affected by them. Not the people that practice them. We are all the real world and we live and die in the confines of what has been laid forth for us and make the best of it.

Come on Spence, Obama missed the boat. He should have bombed Libya 2 weeks ago before K(G)hadafi attack his people. This week is too late. Now wait, acually he never should do it. let the arab countries deal with it? I mean, where is his leadership on this? Why does he spend so much time fishing and cutting brush on his range in Texas? Oh yeah, wrong guy. Why is he playing so much golf? There are only 24 hours in the day. The constitution mandates a 30 hour workday. Shouldn't he be working on that cold fusion problem. He has done nothing since he became president. Except all those things that I disagree with, like raise my taxes, but other than that he hasn't done anything. :rotf2:

he most certainly did
 

he brought us change

he says the word every time he's on TV
several times

Clearly he hates Japanese people.

Sooooo, what's the exit statagy for Lybia? I think he set a date for the troops to withdraw though:biglaugh:

I heard Michelle is so upset over this and has implemented a no fly zone over her Lybia until this situation is resolved.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

That's the Big question.
IF it's like Obama said "we are there to protect the people",
we would have to pull out after a truce or cease fire with Qaddafi still in the drivers seat.
Then what?

IF it's like Obama said a few weeks ago, that " Qaddafi must go",
he's a day late and a dollar short and could have sent a Tomahawk down his chimney like Regan did. Fewer lives lost.
That would have ended Qaddafi and the support money he pays the mercenaries. But then there would be his sons to contend with.

I remember seeing Gaddafi after the Tomahawk strike and he was a broken man
and prolly in a rubber room for quite some time.
Kept him in his place for many years in addition to him volunteering
to give up is WMD"s after 9/11.
The only thing that keeps these people in check is fear of power.

Sounds like a fly by the seat of your pants operation to me.

A common theme stated by me is that the US is *not* the world's police force.

We waited for a UN resolution before taking part in this. Quite frankly, I'm glad the US waited for a multi-national resolution as opposed to making the same mistake twice and jumping into a fight on it's own.

It was declared early that US activity would be supportive with all major roles completed over a few days. We aren't holding the reins in this mess and I'm glad for that.

Now, if the US went into this fight alone, the same people complaining that he waited too long to attack would be bitching that we're paying for yet another war. Bitching just to bitch.

Quite frankly, I don't give a damn about what happens in N. Africa and the Middle East. The entire region is a train wreck and our money would be much better spent towards domestic issues than drone strikes in Pakistan, a futile war in Afghanistan and keeping troops in that ungrateful toilet that is Iraq.

[QUOTE=JohnnyD;845762]A common theme stated by me is that the US is *not* the world's police force.

We waited for a UN resolution before taking part in this. Quite frankly, I'm glad the US waited for a multi-national resolution as opposed to making the same mistake twice and jumping into a fight on it's own.

It was declared early that US activity would be supportive with all major roles completed over a few days. [QUOTE]

__________________________________________________ __________

I agree we shouldn't be the world's police force.

__________________________________________________ ___________

Multi-national resolution or not WE will end up taking the blame as we are taking
91% of the up front action anyway.

__________________________________________________ ___________
Who ever declared early that the US activity would be supportive with all major
rolls completed over a few days must have been :smokin: the funnie weed.

Which of Obama's statements is true. Gaddafi must go or we are there just to
help the people?

Clearly there's an agreement that France and the UK would pretty much take over once we secured the airspace. While the US has a strategic interest here, France especially has a long history with northern Africa and lasting interests.

As for Obama's statements, I thought they have been pretty clear on this. While the position of the Administration is that Ghaddafi should go, the legal resolution is only to protect the civilians and as such that is the direct mission.

They appear to be very mindful of the slippery slope and also the strategic situation.

Put yourself in Obama's shoes here and I think many would come to the same conclusion.

Qaddafi will detonate a nuclear device in is country, before he gives it up.

An ancient oracle, actually, many have foreseen the next 12 months as the end of days.

Limits don't count this year.

So what you're saying is that it has nothing to do with Obama???

-spence

spence called me a tool- i consider that a compliment :rotf2: coming from our resident quasi elite intellectual.

that's ....resident quasi elite "pseudo" intellectual:uhuh:

and they've apparently heard of Spence across the pond

"But the history of this ignominious chapter in American foreign policy is already being re-written in Washington with an enthusiastic chorus of support from Obama fans here: on Friday, Labour backbenchers and the BBC were already suggesting that all this apparent floundering was actually part of a superbly clever strategy. America had deliberately refrained from taking the lead on Libya, thus allowing “space” for the Arab nations and the UN to “take their proper place” as the authors of any intervention policy. Contrary to appearances then, Mr Obama is not out of his depth. Neither is he a cynic who secretly wants to keep Gaddafi in power for the sake of a quiet life (sometimes known as “stability in the region”) while he struggles with Congress over his tricky domestic programme. In other words, they were only pretending to be useless: it may have looked like a collapse of moral leadership to you but it really went completely according to plan. "

If the Founding Fathers could see Obama now - Telegraph

not all weed is "funny"
there is a certain variety that is and it's referred to as "giggle grass"
OR, you might as well have polished off a large bottle of WINE
because you'll be so silly after wards...

Most weed is: read fast, introspective ,sound enhancement, semi chuckle.