Obama: NATO Considering Military Intervention in Libya

[thej27]

Obama: NATO Considering Military Intervention in Libya

As terrible as it is what is happening to the civilians over there I really don't think we should get involved in another conflict after already being stretched to the limit in Iraq and Afghanistan for almost a decade.

Enforcing a no fly zone there would involve a lot more than flying around looking for Libyan jets to shoot down. Radar stations, SAM sites, AAA, command and control, and military airports would just be a few of the targets to take out first.
Let the Arab countries and the EU sort it out if they want to I really don't want to risk anymore of our service members to another country's internal problems.

 

[Denny347]

Yup...we need to stay away.

 

[level.eleven]

Modern foreign policy has no room for an isolationist. We have to do something. Our past decisions require it.

 

[IndyGunworks]

stay away. we have lost enough of our bretheran to other countries issues. let some of the other countries in NATO bear the brunt of this one.

 

[FordMan79]

stay away. we have lost enough of our bretheran to other countries issues. let some of the other countries in NATO bear the brunt of this one.

Agreed. Let someone else in NATO foot the bill. We are broke...

 

[level.eleven]

Look guys, NATO was nowhere to be found with the invasion of Afghanistan of Iraq. If you want security in the Middle East, we are the only ones who can do the job. Does NATO stand with Israel?

Maybe we could drop UN sanctions on them.

 

[Denny347]

We cannot stabilize the Middle East. Why are we so arrogant to believe that only the US can stabilize the world. Do we not have enough on our plates right now? We are stretched thin as it is. No fly zone would only be the beginning. You see how effective that was in the former Yugoslavia.

 

[level.eleven]

We cannot stabilize the Middle East. Why are we so arrogant to believe that only the US can stabilize the world. Do we not have enough on our plates right now? We are stretched thin as it is. No fly zone would only be the beginning. You see how effective that was in the former Yugoslavia.

We must protect Israel.

 

[hoosier_gooner]

This is a Libyan struggle for independence. They don't want the US involved. They don't want the UK involved. If the US gets involved, it is presumed that they will establish military bases inside yet another country and 'nation build' once the regime is toppled. That is precisely why they don't want us involved, because of the legitimate fear that our military and bureaucrats will not leave. Our interventionism is precisely why our government has zero credibility in the region. The US government knows that, too. That is why the POTUS is pressuring the Saudis to give the Libyan rebels armaments so that it appears to be interArab support, when in reality it is US support through proxy.

If they are to achieve freedom from tyranny they have to continue putting in the good fight for themselves.

and as for

We must protect Israel.

What does that have the slightest to do with Libya?

The Israelis have the highest level of pride in the capabilities of their own military and for good reason-because its the 4th strongest military in the world. They are fine and this entire rhetoric of 'we must protect them' is far overplayed. They are big boys and girls, they can handle themselves and they probably think its a little demeaning or at least the Israeli friends I have would say so to hear this kind of belittlement in our political debate in minimizing the capabilities of the military complex which is a central unifying aspect of their otherwise diverse and conflicting sectors of their society. They can handle themselves-so relax.

Furthermore, domestic uprisings against totalitarianism has nothing to do with the Israelis. This is a political struggle within Arab society. Israel has nothing to do with it.

If the US/NATO gets involved and highjacks a revolution, the Libyan independence movement is going to loose credibility in the region and we could very quickly be looked at as occupying further Arab soil, plus once again-the temptation to continue to occupy their country and aggressively intervene in shaping the new government 'Iraq-Afghan Style' is probably going to be too great for these interventionist leaders we have to not take full advantage of. The Federal gov't should not do this.

If the rebels ask for cover, ask for reinforcements its one thing, but they have gone out of their way thus far to tell us to stay out of it and that must be respected.

 

[ocsdor]

Modern foreign policy has no room for an isolationist. We have to do something. Our past decisions require it.

Nice of you to volunteer. Have you let Uncle Sam know that you are ready to go and fight in Libya?

 

[level.eleven]

Will Libyan revolutionists be more friendly, or less friendly to Israel?

 

[turnandshoot4]

I see what you're doing here.

 

[22lr]

Ahh let our boys get some jet kills they deserve a few after years of just dropping bombs....... then let NATO take over.

But ya, opening a third front would be the worst possible thing for a military already running at a break neck tempo. I would love to see a few jet kills though, so........

Edit: implied purple text.

 

[22lr]

For those who are interested. http://defensetech.org/2011/03/07/were-those-sas-troops-really-on-a-diplomatic-mission/

Maybe we wont have to fight this one. But im betting were still going to have to pull air duty (we always seem to get stuck with it).

 

[CarmelHP]

"It is better that they do a thing imperfectly than for you to do it perfectly: for it is their country, their war, and your time is limited."

Lawrence of Arabia, 1919

 

[INGunGuy]

And whoever thinks that we dont already have personnel "in country" orchestrating all of this then your head is in the sand...

INGunGuy

 

[gunowner930]

The Arab League was considereding enforcing a no fly zone on Libya. Let them do it. They can fly from bases in Egypt. This mess isn't worth one American pilot who gets shot down only to have his corpse drug through the streets