US Seeks Backing for Libya Intervention
Military Mulls Different Ways to Meddle in Uprising
US diplomats are looking to drum up international support while the military is said to be looking at “all options” available for a possible military intervention into the Libyan Revolution, which at this point appears to be on the verge of ousting dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan confirmed that discussions are underway for different contingencies for military intervention in Libya, and that they are discussing a “full range of options” with possible allies, though he declined to get specific about what form this might take.
At the same time, President Obama has been in talks playing up the violent crackdown by Gadhafi and seeking to gather sufficient international support for a possible intervention.
Though clearly the massive death tolls in Libya have shocked the world, it seems a prospective invasion is very much “after the fact” at this point, as Gadhafi’s regime appears to have minimal ability to launch operations outside of the immediate area around Tripoli anymore, and even this city appears on the brink of falling to the increasingly well organized opposition.
At this point, with the regime clearly on the way out, the intervention could only be seen as meddling by the resurgent opposition, and the inevitable US demands on how the post-Gadhafi government might be run would be bound to provoke anti-US resentment in the region, and ensure that the country (as with other US-occupied nations) will remain unstable long after the ouster of their former regime.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
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tommauel
February 24th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Agreed, we should stay out. This is for the people of Libya to finish.
Robert Shule
February 24th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
It is clear, the U.S. administration is concerned about the protesters, and not anything Gadhafi is doing; as if the U.S. admin has not already caused enough trouble in the region.
augustine
February 24th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
…and if suppression, assault and control by military and airbourne means are so abhorrent ! – Intervention in Gaza should have occurred long ago.
No puppets
February 24th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
"The intervention" can only mean that the US is once again after the oil of yet another Arab country. Keep out USA, We don't need another Irak or Afghanistan. US meddling can only mean more bloodshed and chaos.
John_Muhammad
February 24th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
And remind me, exactly WHY we want to stick our noses in the middle of that mess? Granted, the protesters are suffering huge numbers of casualties at the hands of the regime, but look at the bigger picture- they're WINNING. They don't need our help- if anything, they need us to stay out of their way and let them sort things out. Our intervening in any way- even in a *cough* benevolent manner- will be seen as nothing more than proof of our determination to meddle even in the midst of nationwide upheaval. Might as well save the rhetoric, too, Hussein- you've already proven your words are cheap, if not meaningless, to the rest of the world.
bogi666
February 25th, 2011 at 12:40 am
The US military intervention will not decrease the number of casualties, it will increase them. This is the result of a bloated military budget looking for another place to spend the treasure of the American taxpayers which is forced to contribute, withholding taxes, to the Pentagon protection racket scheme of; fund US, the Pentagon, or else…..! The Pentagon is funded with the proceeds for the national debt, which Admiral Mullen has declared to be a threat to national security. American taxpayers are forced to contribute, withholding taxes, to fund a threat to national security, the Pentagon, to protect US from threats to national security. The purpose of the Pentagon is to protect the worldwide assets of the INTERNATIONAL COPORATOCRACY WEALTHY PREDATORY CAPITALIST WELthFARE KINGS, many of which pay no USG taxes and not even American companies.
bogi666
February 25th, 2011 at 12:41 am
Graft and corruption, that's why. no other reason.
Shootist66
February 25th, 2011 at 1:09 am
I think you might've missed Jason's point a little. I believe any US intervention, regardless of how it might be masqueraded, would ultimately be in support of the Gadhafi regime. You see, even though it's now come out that the son-of-a-bitch personally gave the order to down Pan Am 103, he remains 'our' son-of-a-bitch because of the Bush twerp's deal with the devil. The US government is deathly afraid of self-determination in the Arab Middle East just as it will eventually crack down on self-determination right here at home.,,probably by direction of Israel and AIPAC when the time comes.
bronstein
February 25th, 2011 at 2:36 am
Bush twerp?
Which deal?
Which devil?
I thought the third-rail of assisting the Irish Republican Army against Rust Bucket Thatcher in the 1980s left Gadhafi completely demonized.
Or maybe it was the media's insistence that Gadhafi financed the 1972 Munich atrocity.
Either way, isn't Gadhafi going down?
Hacklheber
February 25th, 2011 at 4:04 am
>the son-of-a-bitch personally gave the order to down Pan Am 103
[citation needed]
tomofsnj
February 25th, 2011 at 5:03 am
military intervention? Gee it worked so well in Lebenon after the fiasco sharon caused by his invasion. It worked so well in Iraq after bush/blair lied us into attacking the defenseless saddam. Why not just state we are a very aggressive military nation who just cannot not attack anyone who AIPAC wants to be bombed. I have to pull out the book ugly american and see if they have updated it.
Andrewp111
February 25th, 2011 at 5:13 am
The USA should intervent to support Gadaffi, as crazy as that sounds. The alternative is an islamic state, that will be united with its contiguous neighbors into a Caliphate if the will of the people can be expressed. We need Libya to remain a small and weak state that can be contained, as in the status quo ante.
liveload
February 25th, 2011 at 5:34 am
A Caliphate.
lol
Take it easy on the Kool Aid.
Good Luck
February 25th, 2011 at 6:44 am
What's sort of funny is if the US didn't get involved in the IraqAfPakistan fiasco the US would have had the resources to do the unitary power thing in Libya.
baz
February 25th, 2011 at 7:12 am
of course, libya has lots of oil
definitely, lets put another american stamp on the destruction of yet another muslim country
didi
February 25th, 2011 at 7:48 am
an intervention by the USA would be absolutely insane. What is wrong with these egomaniac politicians? THeir 'man' is soon to be out. Doing anything futher will probably mean something similar to iraq – oilfields offline for far longer than before. The west have to accept that the middle east are choosing to improve their livelihoods at the expense of our oil consumption. The alternative is a war of attrition that probably means everybody loses
FedUp
February 25th, 2011 at 7:54 am
Intervention? WTF? Lets finish what has been started over 10 YEARS AGO!
thedissenter
February 25th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Castro should pat himself on the shoulder. He orchestrated this one to perfection and turned it over to the US. That embargo should be dropped at the next UN meeting. Then, the US and Cuba will become the best of friends again and Fidel will live his life dream of dying nice and cozzy in the pocket of the Empire. What fools men are. On both sides.
thedissenter
February 25th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Actually, they're getting quite a bit of help from their foe with the beard and the cigar.
thedissenter
February 25th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Wow! Somebody drank some of that Qaddafi Nescafe brand laced with Hallucinogens for breakfast this morning.
thedissenter
February 25th, 2011 at 9:35 am
You forgot how well it's worked in Afghanistan. And check how things are going in Pakistan while you're at it too. Just to make sure.
thedissenter
February 25th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Or maybe, it's the fact that Qaddafi is a psyco, a murderer and a dictator. But, oh, please, let's forget about that. After all, he has ~wink, wink~ resisted imperial powers so he must be all that and bag of chips too.
thedissenter
February 25th, 2011 at 9:38 am
It's the oil, stupid!
[Sorry, I'm not really calling you stupid but that has more punch to it. No heart feelings?]
Mr. Raven
February 25th, 2011 at 9:46 am
Piss off neo-con your kind has already caused a million innocents to die in the middle for Israel and oil companies and severaly damged the U.S. economy and society. If I were President I'd demand hare mongering against Muslims foreign agents of AIPAC be deported and I say this as a hard leftist. Enough damaging American society through endless bloodshed of war and draining the treasury for AIPAC agents, banksters, oil companies and the MIC. Millions of Americans have had it with your kind "Tomofsnj!" Go fuck off to Israel!
jack
February 25th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
without a clue what humanatarian relief is besides a catch phrase,allready spent and paralyzed by guilt,ya know yer predessors mis-adventures in the mold of vermin and swine,to the east to the east totally worthless and mis-representing "it"self/selves oh he she said, what will the neighbors think,appeareintly as soon as something with no honor OR shame touchs anything it immedietly goes bad,turns to bile and rot to the sadistic glee clubs pretend DISDAIN,ha,so ya better not since ya obviously allready did,turn to stone if rot is to hot 4 ya,its 1969 ok
fedupandsick
February 25th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
And then the caliphate will take over the world! The only superpower left can't control the Taliban but somehow we are led to believe we are in danger of an Islamic caliphate being a threat to the west. Yeah, let us keep that status quo thing going. Idiot.
City Buddha
February 25th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
:"Muslims foreign agents of AIPAC " ?? Mr. Raven your heart rate seems to have climbed out of its shell. Control what you can and leave the rest to those who cannot. There is no way Shell, BP, etc. will let any Mid-East country have its own way.
Also, explain this to me: If Libya supplies 2% of the worlds oil supply, why the sudden increase in crude when the Saudis agreed to match the loss? That's your answer folks.
City Buddha
February 25th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Don't forget the Chinese!
pendulum
February 25th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
captain of the vincens ordered the downing of the iran commercial airliner and medals were awarded, 103 has NOT been proven iran's liner was on the tv
rtb61
February 25th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Intervention will likely be limited to excluding the use of airspace by Gadhafi's forces and possibly some tactical air strikes at locations where Gadhafi or his closest supporters are likely to be. With a follow up of aid once Gadhafi and his family have been eliminated (by his actions this is now inevitable with that regions view of justice).
The US will want to be very clean on this and have no soldiers on the ground and allow Libya to go which ever way the people choose, in order to start trying to repair the global public perception of the US.
They want to get and then get out as quickly as possible. The real global political support should come from non-government organisations forming links and providing expertise and experience ie. Unions, community organisations, politcal parties (only unelected members).