...on paper, military action to prevent a massacre and hit a dictator who has supported and ordered terror attacks against Americans in the past ought to be easy to support. But this administration manages to take even this and make it feel overcomplicated, internally divided, confused, contradictory, and emanates this aura of anxiety-inducing rhetorical muddle that suggests the folks at the top are making it up as they go along.
For starters, apparently Gaddafi doesnt have to go now?...Asked by NBCs Savannah Guthrie what the U.S. commitment is in Libya if Qadhafi remains in power but continues to pose a threat to his people, Obama appeared to leave the door open for political reforms.
I love how Hillary Clinton and Obama continually talk about Qaddafi stepping down and call on him to do so. Like thatll happen. Have they heard any of his speeches during this crisis? He sounds like a cross between primal screams and a professional wrestler taunting his opponents. If he wanted to grab his fortune and flee to the French Riviera with his voluptuous Ukrainian nurse, he could have and probably would have done so a long time ago. How many times does a guy with the nickname Mad Dog choose a quiet exit, to a retirement of luxurious seclusion?
This is my new worry: Obama will realize what a complicated mess hes just charged into, realize that seeing this through would mean telling the American people things they dont want to hear and require telling his own party to grow up, and hell try to find the military equivalent of voting present. My guess is that means after a certain number of air strikes, declaring victory and ceasing military operations, declaring that cause that got us into this, protecting civilians is now the responsibility of the world community. Our allies shrug, pointing out the obvious, that they dont have the resources to continue operations anywhere near the current tempo. Most of the rest of the world yawns and turns away. Qaddafi resumes his offensive against the rebels, who start to feel like the Kurds after the Gulf War, and begin fermenting bitter anti-American feelings of betrayal as they retreat towards the Egyptian border.
Oh, and then Qaddafi begins looking for payback....
Posted by: Mike ||
03/24/2011 13:02 ||
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"Quagmire".
LMAO!
Posted by: Jefferson ||
03/24/2011 13:47 Comments ||
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#4
I know many of you don't remember the Kosovo campaign/war/police action/etc, but this looks EXACTLY like that operation. Loose set of goals, shaky (if any nato support), and no boots on the ground.
[Asharq al-Aswat] Libyan Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Khalid Kaim spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat via telephone from Tripoli about the latest developments on the ground in Libya after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 imposed a no-fly zone above the country. Libya is in a state of chaos, with US-led air strikes targeting Libyan military infrastructure throughout the country, and forces loyal to Colonel Qadaffy continuing to shell the rebel-held western town of Misrata.
Dr. Kaim accused the UN-sponsored military forces of hitting civilian targets, including a hospital. He also told Asharq Al-Awsat that the human shields present in many areas under Qadaffy's control were there of their own volition in order to protect Libya and the Qadaffy regime. Dr. Kaim did not rule out the Libyan military attacking targets in the Mediterranean, as Colonel Qadaffy previously threatened, and described Arab States as being treacherous and responsible for a conspiracy against Libya.
The following is the text of the interview:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There have been reports that Tripoli has been hit by aerial strikes, is there any truth to this?
[Kaim] This is a new Crusader war, and civilians, residential areas, and the Njela district -- which is a famous neighborhood in Tripoli that includes 6,000 housing units -- have all been hit. If you go there, you will see the damage inflicted on the apartment buildings, and 90 percent of all areas that have been hit have been civilian targets. The [attacks targeted the] residential neighborhood in Njela; a school in Al-Ma'murah for police cadets and trainees; the Military Engineering Faculty -- which is a faculty for training military engineers -- of the civilian Tajura College; a factory for computer equipment in Tajura; the customs warehouses in the area of Al-Rumman; the Air Observation Center in Tajura, which is a center for civil aviation; fuel storage tanks in Misrata; and the drugs and food warehouses in the area of Al-Mamurah, which is a supply areas that has been visited by a UN delegation.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are the statistics with regards to the number of civilians who have been killed or maimed in these attacks?
[Kaim] There was a funeral this afternoon (yesterday) and we are in the process of counting the number of those killed and maimed.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can you give us an approximate number, based on the preliminary information in your possession?
[Kaim] The preliminary figure at present is over 40.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Are you saying that these attacks have not hit any military target, and that they are solely targeting civilians?
[Kaim] Yes, and even the French warplane that was downed crashed above a civilian neighborhood and farms.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] So you are saying that a French warplane was shot down?
[Kaim] French Television announced a short while ago that a French warplane had crashed in the Njela area, and that it crashed in a civilian neighborhood.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Was it shot down by Libyan air defenses or by accident?
[Kaim] The circumstances are still unknown, but it is said that the air defenses shot it down.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can you talk to us about the human shields that are present in front of the Colonel's [Qadaffy] stronghold at Bab al-Aziziyah?
[Kaim] The people went to all the airports and vital areas, including the area of Bab al-Aziziyah to protect it.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] So the regime is not mobilizing the citizens in order to protect Colonel Qadaffy?
[Kaim] No, I swear by God. Since 3 am yesterday, tens of thousands of Libyans rushed to all areas and airports in all areas of Libya, including Bab al-Aziziyah, and the vital infrastructure in the city of Tripoli and outside the city.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Are we speaking about five countries that took part in the offensive, or just the United States and La Belle France?
[Kaim] Those who truly participated in the bombardment are the French and the Americans. The French participated through their warplanes; the Americans participated via air strikes and missiles, while the British contributed to the logistical operations for the offensive.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is it true that they attacked the Muytiqah Military Air Base?
[Kaim] No, they did not, but they did attack a hospital near the Muytiqah Base and many people were killed.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you interpret the fact that in spite of these attacks, only the President of Venezuela has come out to condemn them, whilst the Arab world has remained silent?
[Kaim] Yes, the Venezuelan president did that, and Russia [also] made a statement to this effect. However, The emphatic However... no Arab country has thus far condemned the attacks. This means that the Arabs, perhaps not all of them, have participated in this treachery. This is a clear Crusader operation, and the Arabs had previously never participated in a Crusader war such as this one. I hope that the Arab governments return to consciousness and adopt an honorable stand.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is there a solution other than a military one?
[Kaim] The Libyans are prepared for the confrontation until the last moment.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is it true that Libya has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council?
[Kaim] Yes. It is true and confirmed.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Why?
[Kaim] What we are now seeing is UN aggression against an independent member state, and we intend to protest this. According to Article 51 of the UN Charter, this is considered to be flagrant and unjustified aggression. Therefore, Libya has asked the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the issue of aggression. For your information, this aggression has been against civilian areas.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What do you expect from this meeting?
[Kaim] We intend to inform the international community of its responsibilities, and if there is chaos, then let it be known that there is chaos.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you hope that the UN Security Council will intervene in the coming hours?
[Kaim] I hope that an urgent stance will be taken by the Security Council to protect the Libyan civilians because these attacks are targeting civilians, nobody else.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is there still a chance for a peaceful solution?
[Kaim] Yes. The Council of the African Union has just concluded its meeting, and there is still a chance for dialogue and reconciliation. The treacherous Arabs have refused to even participate [in dialogue] and countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are continuing their treacherous role, and the aerial bombardment is continuing until now.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How is Libya dealing with the air strikes, on the official level as well as on the popular level?
[Kaim] On the popular level, the people are in the street and are ready for the confrontation, whilst at the official level, [we are dealing with this] through international organizations and, God willing, everything will work out.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Will Libya attack targets in the Mediterranean, as Colonel Qadaffy warned?
[Kaim] As long as the battle is continuing, then everything is allowed and everything is open.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you view the Arab stance?
[Kaim] The Arab stance has become a disgraceful one. A state is facing bombardment and attack as a result of a conspiracy in which Arab countries have participated. This is something sad, and history will not forget this. The Arabs have paid for this conspiracy, which has now taken place and the aggression is ongoing.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What does Libya want from the Arabs now?
[Kaim] To act quickly and correct the mistake that has taken place. I place my hope in the Arab peoples, that they will act and adopt a position.
#2
JM Hello!; I don't believe he is prone to the symptoms you describe. So much propaganda is directed towards him. The truth is he is still there and he is going to stay. He has the full support of his tribe. That's all that matters to him. The interdiction of outside forces will only prolong the conflict and loss of life.
#3
I don't believe he is prone to the symptoms you describe. So much propaganda is directed towards him.
Dale, in that part of the world paranoia and instability are survival traits. The former is realistic and the latter keeps competitors, underlings, and the common people from planning ahead. The "propaganda" is either true or spread by his people to discourage revolt... and mostly it's true.
#3
#2 I wonder if European Leaders gave any thought to how many Scuds Qadaffy has? Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-03-24 16:51
Yeah, but how many of them would actually work? I'd expect half of them would blow up on their Transporter-Erector-Launchers. The rest would be as equally likely to hit Tripoli as anything they were aimed at. The only places in "Europe" close enough to hit with a SCUD would be Pantellaria or Malta, and Malta may be a stretch.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/24/2011 18:13 Comments ||
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Libya's anti-ship missiles are a much bigger threat. Sink a couple of merchant ships and much of the European economy would grind to halt as cargo traffic in the Med stopped.
Which sounds so very much like the stated mission of the Bush regime the mission that the Democrats and the press pushed, and pushed and pushed against, non-stop, for six long years.
It seems, after all, that helping to establish democratic governments in the Middle East might be in Americas best interests, and in the bests interests of human liberty for the rest of the world.
I guess what Im wondering is, how much further along would the Iraq governments stabilization be how much further along would the quest for democratic governance be, in the Middle East (and how much less reluctant would tyrants be to try to stop it by killing their own people), if only the Democrats hadnt wasted 6 years politicizing our efforts and another two years bowing and scraping and restarting and gasbagging and doing everything they could to say, were not Bush, only to become all they said they hated?...
...Im struck how Bush took months and months to rush to war while Obama seems have decided to take on Libya between writing his brackets and packing his travel bags, and yet Bush was the impulsive cowboy and Obama sigh, oh, whats the point passive aggressive?
Posted by: Mike ||
03/24/2011 12:05 ||
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It's impossible not to notice how aggressivly the Progressive narrative has focused on "legitimacy" and not the end game. Let's be clear. The reluctance and apparent confusion over whom or which entity will take command over this "Not-War" is a feature- NOT a bug. Make no mistake, the world is witnessing the manifestation of "Progressive Realism". Unfortunatly, one must adopt the most cynical logic to grasp this concept. Basic examination suggests that one of the tent-poles of Progressive ideology is to exploit or create a crisis to advance a greater agenda. Further, there must be a predetermined "solution" to said crisis. Have you heard that one before? Does anything or anyone come to mind when you hear that theory? Mark my words, very soon there will be calls to "re-examine" the roles existing institutions and the need to "take steps" in avoidence of future confusion. In fact, the speeches have already been written. They just need to be updated. You see, the traditional view that the soveriegn nation state can act on behalf of their own intrests has become too cumbersome. Moreover, it has the appearrance of selfish Imperialism. One only has to recall how rapidly the role of billgerent was coordinated to shift away from Saddam Hussien and on to GW Bush. It's a 180 degree twist on the old addage.
Now it the means that justify the end.
[Arab News] by Asif Ali Zardari MARCH 23 this year is most memorable as it is the first Pakistain Day after the Parliament unanimously removed from the Constitution the over three-decade old vestiges of dictatorship to make it truly democratic.
It is a proud day for every Pak as we celebrate the triumph of democracy over dictatorship and demonstrate to the world that dictatorship can never take roots in the country.
On this auspicious occasion I wish to greet the entire Pak nation.
Seventy-two years ago on this day the Mohammedans of the sub-continent set out to achieve the goal of a separate homeland for themselves. In a short span of seven years the Mohammedans, led by the Quaid-e Azam, were lifted to their goal by their dreams.
And then, after a mere two decades of Muslim comity, the political descendants of Father Jennah in West Pakistan drove half the Muslims of India to full, and successful, revolt. So much for the Qaid's dream.
The Quaid and our founding fathers had envisaged a democratic and pluralistic state where constitutionalism and rule of law would reign supreme and where minorities will have equal rights as citizens. We must not deviate from those principles.
A little late for that not-deviating stuff. Jinnah and the founders would be appalled by the outcome of their efforts.
Let us on this day reiterate our principles and resolve to be strong in upholding them.
On this day let us resolve that we will not allow anyone to usurp the fundamental rights of our people and trample on their democratic aspirations. Let us also on this day denounce violence, hatred and intolerance that have crept into our polity.
I call upon every one today to forge a spirit of tolerance, mutual accommodation, harmony and respect for dissent.
I pray to Almighty Allah to guide us and enable us to be worthy of the heritage bequeathed to us by the Quaid-e-Azam.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
We will celebrate in the U.S. as soon as we get democracy back in 2012.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Asharq al-Aswat] Libyan Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Khalid Kaim spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat via telephone from Tripoli about the latest developments on the ground in Libya after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 imposed a no-fly zone above the country. Libya is in a state of chaos, with US-led air strikes targeting Libyan military infrastructure throughout the country, and forces loyal to Colonel Qadaffy continuing to shell the rebel-held western town of Misrata.
By Robert Spencer
MARCH 23 this year is most memorable as it is the first Pakistain Day after the Parliament unanimously removed from the Constitution the over three-decade old vestiges of dictatorship to make it truly democratic.
