Military Involvement in Libya: What could be done?

[RollWithIt]

I would argue that at this point the only measure that could be quickly adopted would be for the UN, and possibly NATO, to order a "No Fly Zone" over Libya. It could be quickly enforced with European, American, and possibly even Egyptian support. No one wants their troops on the ground there. But if we can cut off the Libyan Air Forces ability to bomb its own unarmed civilians perhaps this can end well and stop a potential genocide.

[HEyHEY]

1. I don't think that's needed from what I've read

Seem like just a matter of time before they get their hands on power. I just worry about after.

[RollWithIt]

5. I would suggest checking out the reddit.com worldnews subreddit

www.reddit.com/r/worldnews

Or just check out aljazeeras english live blog.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/17/live-blog-libya

[Countdown_3_2_1]

2. If Gadafi has already fled, then the battle is over.

Its probably too late to do anything now.

Besides the nation has missiles that can reach Europe...it would be a shooting war in short order.
Planes and pilots are defecting to neighboring countries, his army is disintegrating...
Its almost over

[RollWithIt]

4. While I think we will know more in the next few days, I do think you are wrong that he has left

If you check out the reddit world news threads/posts it is pretty clear he's still in Tripoli. He's still calling the shots. And he is sadistic. Of course, this could change quickly. But as we've learned in other mass killings/genocide situtations. Waiting a week can turn into a bloodbath with tens of thousands dead. For all we know. That is happening right now.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

9. So you want us to INVADE?

Gadafi has long range missiles that can reach Europe.
If we use planes he will fire his missiles and drag the EU and NATO into a ground war.

I don't see any way we can help, without a ground war being the result.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. Gadafi has been there too long time for a change

for the better?

[killbotfactory]

3. And stop the importation of mercenaries

Who he is apparently using to slaughter the protesters.

[Alcibiades]

6. Not our business

Leave it to the Italians or somebody else. I have no faith in our military's "humanitarian" capabilities.

[impik]

8. Hitler wasn't "out business" either, right?

[Cali_Democrat]

10. Hitler was a direct threat to the United States

Germany was sinking many of our civilian and cargo ships throughout the late 1930's and early 1940's. Hitler also had a direct alliance with Japan which had attacked Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941.

Japan and Germany were directly impacting the economic interests of the United States and Libya is not.

The two situations aren't comparable. The US military shouldn't be in the business of removing dictators because they're bad guys who oppress their people. We simply don't have the resources to play that game all over the world.

[Alcibiades]

11. Thanks for proving my point

You went straight for the Hitler comparison. You know who liked to go straight for the Hitler comparison? George Bush.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/21/1037697805270.html

In his attempt to persuade America and the world that Saddam was an immediate threat, he always compared Saddam to Hitler. We shouldn't have listened to him then (and I certainly didn't): why should we listen to you now?

Think for yourself.

[Dash87]

14. +1 Just let it play out.

We would do much more harm than good.

[Alcibiades]

15. The Libyan ambassador to the US has called for regime change

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/02/22/libyas-ambassador-calls-for-qadhafi-to-step-down

He serves, of course, at the pleasure of his own government. Not to count Qadhafi out, but when someone you appoint to serve abroad as your ambassador is calling for you to step down, your days are numbered. Besides, a government formed by the legitimate demands of the people is always more enduring than one imposed from outside.

[JVS]

12. We could try not geting militarily involved.

[boppers]

13. Food drops.

Petrol Drops.

[olegramps]

16. This is a matter that should be handled by the International community.

Isn't that is what went wrong in regard to Iraq when the Bush administration was allowed ot catapult the their propaganda?

[PVnRT]

17. None

We have a bad enough reputation in that part of the world already, why do something that Qadafi could use to legitimize his regime?