US officials Sunday repeatedly insisted that regime change is not the “immediate goal” of the new war against Libya. Exactly what the goal is, however, remains totally undefined, with lobbing large numbers of missiles seemingly an end unto itself.
And even though the war was only about a day long at the time, Admiral Michael Mullen warned early Sunday that a war could rapidly devolve into a stalemate, leaving Moammar Gadhafi in power in West Libya over the long term.
It is incredible how quickly the war is moving toward a fast-forward version of a typical modern US conflict. Saturday evening saw a “shock and awe” campaign, and within hours officials were already expressing concern about a quagmire.
And predictably, the pundits are already calling for a major escalation, with a ground invasion of Libya being sold as an exit strategy for a conflict America has barely entered. With growing international concern about the air strike and allies like the Arab League already jumping ship on the mission, an invasion is likely to be even more controversial.
How on earth did this go from imposing a no-fly zone to an all out bombing campaign in less than 24 hours? And without the "leadership" of the Nobel Peace Price Winner, our magic mulatto? Did that creep of Sarkozy manage to orchestrate this all on his own? Where is the formal declaration of war, asking Congress, etc. on the part of the Obamination of Desolation, who is busy partying in Brazil? Is the neo-con death and destruction mafia now officially running the White House?
The only good thing that can come out of this is that more Americans will become anti-war.
Possibly another good thing that can come out of this is the the USG will run out of money or effectively default that much sooner than it otherwise would have.
Or maybe the FED will have to add a weekend shift down at the printing plant.
No need to print! Just add a few zeros with your laptop….. It's like havin Bernie Madoff with the administrative codes to the central bank….
What is sad is the immense ignorance coming out of Washington political circles. Washington DC and it's corporate supporters really believe in it's own importance in the world.
Every elected or appointed official who has voiced their support for this new adventure – as well as the previous adventures – should be voted out of office. And those DIRECTLY responsible for taking this country to war should be tried as war criminals for crimes against humanity. As voting citizens, it is our responsibility to remove these criminals from positions of authority. There is no justification for their actions as our country was never, I repeat never, in immediate threat by any of these countries.
If the American people care about our country (and I seriously wonder) then voting these people out of power would be the beginning or taking our country back from those who secretly rule (own) the politicians.
Somebody pass the pipe this way…
Every elected or appointed official who has voiced their support for this new adventure – as well as the previous adventures – should be voted out of office. And those DIRECTLY responsible for taking this country to war should be tried as war criminals for crimes against humanity. As voting citizens, it is our responsibility to remove these criminals from positions of authority. There is no justification for their actions as our country was never, I repeat never, in immediate threat by any of these countries.
If the American people care about our country (and I seriously wonder) then voting these people out of power would be the beginning of taking our country back from those who secretly rule (own) the politicians.
Somebody pass the pipe this way…
Curmudgeonvt: You don't get to vote for the people who actually wield power. You only get to vote to choose WHICH particular corporate lackey will act as spokesperson figurehead of a (neo) LIBERAL 'democracy'. The corporate decide which candidates campaigns they will fund. Voters have to choose between avery short list of options.
Ostensibly this Western Coalition intervention is to protect the lives liberties of innocent civilians. How come the West tacitly or overtly supports dictators until the eleventh hour
and only seems to intervene when control over access to resources is in danger of falling into the hands of someone they may have no control over?
Has Mike Mullen learned from the Nazis? "Just following orders." He swore to uphold the Constitution and he's spitting on it. He had NO Constitutonal authority to attack the sovereign country of Libya, regardless of orders from Obama. Oh but yes, that's a ho hum in America today. Obama? He's just picking the ball up where Bush left it. I shudder to think what's going to happen to the, "InGod We Trust" country." "Vengence is mine saith the Lord".
Ground forces, i'll believe it when I see it. I don't think Saddam had to hire "third world mercs" to do his heavy lifting. Analogies suck, especially when they don't even come close to aligning.
Isn't that the plan, another long drawn out quagmire to keep the money train rolling to the defense contractors?
I would still like someone to point out where the US Constitution gives the president the authority to militarily attack another country without consent from Congress.
It is simply stunning that the west is again foolish enough to wage war in an Arab country. Have the last 10 years taught us nothing?
We should never come to the aid of any Arab faction in a war. It is a no-win situation that will earn us nothing but treachery and hatred.
The moment a civilian is killed (even if forced to be human shields) we will again be seen as infidel imperialists intent only on stealing oil. Just watch.
The real scandal here is that the Arab world would leave the rescuing of the Libyan revolution to the west in the first place – all the while apparently expecting us to do so without hurting anyone.
If they have a problem with the way we enforce no-fly zones then they should STFU, get off their rear ends and enforce it themselves!
Let the Arab world handle this 100%. If that means that Ghadafi brutally crushes the revolt while the Arab world looks on then so be it. Even the most well-intentioned military action in that part of the world will always be an utterly thankless task.
Hey Mikey, would that be anything like the 10yr Afghanistan/Iraq "stalemate"?
Good thing we're only going to be participating for "a few days", right?