Lybia

[scottw]

Originally Posted by Chesapeake Bill

There is a pretty interesting book entitled "The Next 100 Years" by George Friedman, president/CEO of STRATFOR, a leading private intelligence organization. In his book, Friedman suggests that the goal is not to win the war (or even the hearts of the people) in the middle east. Rather, he profers an idea that the goal is to ensure instability to prevent the growth of an islamic power. IN general terms the lives lost is a small price (his words not mine) for this instability if it means we will not have to deal with the economic problems or wars that would be attributed to such a formation. Interesting thought given the lack of a realistic exit strategy to date.

"the goal" appears to be paving the way for an islamic power


I guess when you are F-ing things things up you could explain your results by claiming that your intention was to cause chaos and instability all along....could be Obama's re-election theme "WINNING!"..."TIGER BLOOD!"

Libyan Rebels: 'Nato Is Now Our Problem'

Share Comments (108)6:53am UK, Wednesday April 06, 2011

Libyan rebels have accused Nato of being too slow to act - and asked them to suspend operations unless they "do the job properly".

Rebel leader Abdel Fattah Younes has complained the alliance takes hours to respond to events on the battlefield because of an overly bureaucratic process.

He claimed the alliance's inaction was allowing Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces to advance and was letting them kill people in the rebel-held city of Misrata "everyday".

He said: "Nato is moving very slowly, allowing Gaddafi forces to advance. Nato has become our problem."

Mr Younes also said if Nato wanted to lift Col Gaddafi's weeks-long siege in Misrata, it could have done it weeks ago.

Nato took over from a coalition led by the United States, Britain and France on March 31.

It puts the alliance in charge of air strikes targeting Col Gaddafi's military infrastructure as well as policing a no-fly zone and an arms embargo.Nato lacking strike aircraft for Libya campaign | World news | guardian.co.uk

good grief

Mr Younes said: "One official calls another and then from the official to the head of Nato and from the head of Nato to the field commander. This takes eight hours."

[spence]

Looks like Ghadafi won't last long now...

Libyan Rebels Reportedly Within 2 Miles Of Tripoli's Center | FoxNews.com

Perhaps shock and awe isn't always the best solution.

Who are the rebels again?

-spence

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by spence

Looks like Ghadafi won't last long now...

-spence

I hope so. Still plenty of time to screw it up. Understand that while Tripoli is a center of gravity it is not THE only center of gravity. Area is very tribal and still plenty of time for a cluster bleep.

Originally Posted by spence

Perhaps shock and awe isn't always the best solution.
-spence

Don't be dumb please. I realize you have left a lot of room open for "context" - we expect better even from you than that.

You do realize that this may be the worst managed "coalition" of all time, right? The Coalition of the Willowy. From the massive material support of the individual Euronations. 4 planes here, 5 there, 6 but only on Tuesdays from blank country, Occasional tepid Arab support we'll send some planes, no we won't, maybe we will. Some nations flat out. Some nations opening and closing bases for use. Once (semi)self reliant nations wiping out their annual defense budgets.

France and UK on a weapon sales demo. Many nations using up all of their weapons reserves (though this may be good now that the nations have run out of munitions they are less likely to attack Lichtenstein).

This has been an entire Clusterbleep of stoopid proportion. Maybe the only good thing is that we have a better understanding of how badly our "Partner" nations have crippled themselves over the past 2 decades at the alter of social programs.

The parallels between today and the early 20th century are shocking, except the socialists wield more influence today.

Originally Posted by spence

Who are the rebels again?
-spence

Hopefully people that can build something good

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Don't be dumb please. I realize you have left a lot of room open for "context" - we expect better even from you than that.

I think you misunderstood my comment.

The point being that a solid lean into an opponent at times is better than a sharp blow. This may have been a gamble, but one that has potential to pay off. The US investment is relatively small, but the EU who has more to gain short-term couldn't have done this on their own.

Surprising how the GOP has been pretty quiet eh?

-spence

[JohnR]

Do your really think that this was a solid lean? Really? It was anything but. It was a case where fortune happens to award the clumsy and impotent. Had this been anyone other than Quadafi the rebels would have been crushed months ago.

This is a blind squirrel = occasional nut. A half as$ed effort that we'll be lucky if it pays off.

[scottw]

probably prudent to wait till you have all the facts too....oh, I forgot...we're talking Spence...

Battle for Tripoli not yet over as Gaddafi loyalists strike back - The Washington Post

hey Spence...I hope you've seen a doctor because I'm sure that thing has lasted much longer than 4 hours at this point

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Do your really think that this was a solid lean? Really? It was anything but. It was a case where fortune happens to award the clumsy and impotent. Had this been anyone other than Quadafi the rebels would have been crushed months ago.

This is a blind squirrel = occasional nut. A half as$ed effort that we'll be lucky if it pays off.

While the formation of the coalition was a little clumsy, it would look as though NATO did a good job of ramping up support at the right pace to let the rebels gain momentum and establish relationships with the right people.

This wasn't dumb luck...it seems as though it was quite calculated.

-spence

[RIROCKHOUND]

Whats the point? It is ridiculous that NATO's support wasn't critical to the rebels sucess? I think w/o NATO, if they had suceeded, that would have been luck...

I'm still not in agreement with our involvement, but when given lemons, make ghadafi-aide I guess...