Article

2011-06-22 Africa North

Italy calls for a suspension of hostilities

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-06-22 11:20|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ] Top

#1 So now the African Union is, at best, deeply conflicted over the Libya thang. The Arab League continues their predictable duplicity. Russia, China, and all the tin-potter nations are condemning the mission as overly aggressive. Muslim leaders of every stripe are calling the campaign a new Western crusade. Heavy armaments have reportedly shown up in the hands of Jihadis in Nigeria, Tunisia, and Algeria. Some NATO members have already openly expressed fatigue over finances, objectives, and overall commitment. Italy has gone so far as to actually use the 'H' word - "hostilities".
Meanwhile, President Obama who supports the War Powers Resolution (Widely considerd Un-Constitutional) says it doesn't apply in this situation. His logic being the US Congress should be "consulted" but doesn't need to give formal approval because there are no "hostilities" in Libya.
Wow...and they said Bush lied the US into war? Go figure.

Posted by DepotGuy 2011-06-22 11:42|| 2011-06-22 11:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Suggestions:

1) Implement Jerry Pournelle's idea to solve the problem: $200 million and a blank US passport to the person who brings us the severed head of the Duck of Death.

2) Once we have the head, thank NATO for all it's done and withdraw from the military side of the organization. We'll remain a member much the same way France did all those years.

3) Withdraw all parts of our military from Europe that aren't needed to make our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan work.

4) Strike a bilateral deal with the Poles and Czechs for a missile-defense system, if they're willing.

NATO was a great idea in the early 1950s: keep the US in, the Soviets out, and the Germans down. In 2011 we don't need to be in, Russia doesn't look to be coming in, and the Germans are down, down, down.

Time to disband NATO. Let Europe defend Europe, and let Europe put muscle behind their words when they talk about ousting (or extremely disliking) a thug somewhere in the world.

Posted by Steve White 2011-06-22 11:49|| 2011-06-22 11:49|| Front Page Top

#3 "We've pretty much trashed the place. Now let's pull out and watch it sink."

Posted by mojo 2011-06-22 14:18|| 2011-06-22 14:18|| Front Page Top

#4 Hard to believe RR and Maggie came very close to getting all of NATO to 3% of GDP on defense spending. Perhaps it's time to put NATO in long term storage.

Posted by Goldies Every Damn Where 2011-06-22 14:31|| 2011-06-22 14:31|| Front Page Top

#5 Italy has gone so far as to actually use the 'H' word - "hostilities".

That's because Italy is involved in the hostilities and we aren't. Explains why things are going so smoothly.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-06-22 14:34|| 2011-06-22 14:34|| Front Page Top

#6 "We've pretty much trashed the place. Now let's pull out and watch it sink."

Second the motion.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2011-06-22 22:17|| 2011-06-22 22:17|| Front Page Top

22:44 JosephMendiola
22:38 tipper
22:28 Redneck Jim
22:17 Redneck Jim
22:17 JosephMendiola
22:08 Barbara
22:07 twobyfour
22:05 Beavis
22:01 SteveS
21:50 Thing From Snowy Mountain
21:44 trailing wife
21:42 trailing wife
21:40 lotp
21:37 trailing wife
21:37 Procopius2k
21:36 lotp
21:35 SteveS
21:34 JosephMendiola
21:30 phil_b
21:25 Pappy
21:17 johnbragg
21:15 texhooey
21:13 JosephMendiola
21:08 JosephMendiola