Obama considering military action against Libya

[sabra]

Source: CBS News/AP

President says U.S. still may take military action in wake of "unacceptable" violence under Muammar Qaddafi

(AP)

President Barack Obama says the U.S. and its NATO allies are still considering a military response to violence in Libya.

Speaking at the White House, Obama says the U.S. will stand with the Libyan people as they face "unacceptable" violence. He says has authorized millions of dollars in humanitarian aid.

The president sent a strong message to Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, saying he and his supporters will be held responsible for the violence there. Libyan warplanes launched multiple airstrikes Monday on opposition fighters in the second day of a harsh government crackdown to thwart rebels advancing on Qaddafi's stronghold in Tripoli.

Obama spoke on Monday alongside Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who is in Washington for meetings.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/07/politics/main20040093.shtml?tag=stack

[Newsjock]

1. How the blazes to pay for it?

Wait, I know. More tax cuts for the rich. That'll make them suffer!

[KansDem]

4. How about we bomb Libya with rich folks?

[thereismore]

15. As usual, the oil will pay for it. Ehm. nt

[bluestateguy]

2. I really don't see that materializing

and a bunch of speculatory news leaks from anonymous sources will not change my view.

[Pirate Smile]

6. I don't see it happening either. The strange part is people on DU bashing him for not doing it.

:crazy:

[WolfoftheWild]

3. all the Rebels need is air support.

[charlie and algernon]

5. that still requires serious military action

Our planes would have to attack Libya's anti-aircraft sites, airfields, and if we're acting as their air support, we'd be called in to attack ground forces as well. Soon we're engaged in a full-scale war.

[Major Hogwash]

28. Not really.

One cruise missile could take Khadaffi out in 2 minutes.
We know where he is staying, what building he is in, and what it takes to get to him.

This isn't like Osama bin Laden and his complicated, multi-level underground cave compound that the NYT drew a cartoon so generously for all of us a few years ago.

[Nihil]

32. Seem to recall you tried this once before ...

... with a spectacular lack of success that time too ...

Seems like some people believe "Team America" was a documentary!
:rofl:

[Major Hogwash]

34. They didn't have GPS systems in those days. You have no idea the level of technology we deploy now.

We can put a cruise missile within 2 feet of any object these days.
Come rain or come shine.

Just one A-10 Warthog could take out any radar installations Khadaffi may have for his palace retreat. They're nearly invincible.

[Nihil]

37. You'd be surprised.

I find your one-handed typing on this subject is somewhat incongruous
with respect to your chosen avatar but will leave you to your fantasies ...
:hi:

[Pirate Smile]

8. That requires bombing potential air defenses first.

[joshcryer]

31. You can destroy their runways in abouy 10 minutes, and their jets, too.

They can do it within ten minutes of me writing this if they wanted to, since they have drones flying over Libya as we speak.

[sulphurdunn]

7. We won't be "standing with the Libyan peolpe"

We'll be standing between them and their oil.

[reformist2]

9. Boy, everything sure becomes our business pretty quick!

Can't we ever just sit one out once in a while?

[Major Hogwash]

29. Quick! Before Sarah Palin twitters again!

It's been almost 3 weeks.
Enough is enough.

[avebury]

10. No No But Hell No !!!!!

I feel sorry for the people of Libya but:
1. we can't afford any more wars
2. we need to focus on what is going on in our own country for once
3. we need to stop the Republicans and Tea Pary idiots from turning our country into either an oligarchy or fascist country.

[snooper2]

11. The French or folks in Australia can do this, it's their turn anyway

[Plucketeer]

12. Abso-friggin-lunacy!

Keep out - stay away - fuck no!

[demigoddess]

13. Please! No!

I feel for the people of Libya but

we can't afford it. and we do not want the people of the middle east to think we were behind all this. Libyans should take their own freedom, as every people have to.

[RoccoR5955]

14. WTF are we the world's police department?

This is nuts. He wants to have a THIRD war? This is totally out of line. Let them settle it on their own. Perhaps some countries there, in the Middle East, or Africa can help.
Who made us the world's police any way? What's wrong with the UN?
This is just SO WRONG!

[thereismore]

16. Will we be greeted as liberators? nt

[AtheistCrusader]

17. Considering my ass. You can bet something is already in motion.

What's up with the Enterprise carrier group. Did it suddenly turn around, and head back toward the Med? I bet it has.

[frebrd]

18. Wheeee!`

Here we go again!

:banghead:

[patrick t. cakes]

19. and why not?

it's worked so well in the past.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[hayu_lol]

20. Maybe this is an end run for this administration...

to take back Wheelus AFB. Would make a great staging area for the middle east. Was there in the early 60s when we gave the air force of King Idris it's first aircraft and eventually returned the base as well. That early air force consisted of one Gooney Bird(DC-3)and two, two-seat T-33s(F-80).

Gobs of info on Wheelus...just google Wheelus Air Force Base.

[woolldog]

21. Obama is all talk.

I don't believe anything he says anymore.

[David__77]

22. This is media whoring for invasion, but it's not going to happen.

Obama has never said anything of the sort implied but unstated by this article. Obama has wisely NOT intervened, and I expect that will continue. US military should NOT be a force for projection of socio-economic system or intervention in other countries' affairs.

[Alamuti Lotus]

25. You are usually quite correct, and I hope you are now

[nalnn]

33. +2, -1

Indeed. I gladly agree that we will NOT be invading Libya. It's not our fight. It IS a fight however. If anyone, I would expect the EU, AU or the Arab League to stepin with boots on the ground as it were.

Regardless of the protestations and expectations, for better or worse, the United States IS looked at by most of the rest of the world as the world's defacto 'police force'. I don't like it one bit, but there it is. Expect it to continue til we go broke...errr...MORE broke.


--EDIT--

Oh, let me add that, while we are looked at as the world's police force. That view seems to quickly change once we arrive 'on the scene' unfortunately.

[Vinee]

23. bad idea. Set the oven on self clean and do something else for a while.

Russia will back Qaddafi to keep things nice and unstable and we'll be in for more war than we can handle.

[Alamuti Lotus]

24. oh bullshit hypocrites, the butchers occupying Afghanistan have a problem with airstrikes? bite me.

the US-backed army of the Republic of South Sudan has been killing about the same rate, where's the intervention there? Oh right, they're already being backed 100%.

[Safetykitten]

26. This is why we can't have nice things.

[No Elephants]

35. LOL!

[defendandprotect]

27. What should be done is only what the Freedom Fighters are asking for -- and NO

ground troops!!

[Johnny_dollar]

30. Hmmm

...odd there is no action is supporting the Honduran people who are being subject to violence and terror. Or, maybe, violence against progressive elements are "acceptable."

Kucinich/Sanders 2012

[primavera]

36. Perhaps he should consider...

... military action against Wisconsin Governor Walker while he's at it.

[hardtravelin]

38. Ummm...Fuck that shit

I'm tired of war and how many friends I've lost.