Speaking today on 60 Minutes, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates denied that the US was actually “at war” with Libya, saying he prefers to think of it as a “limited kinetic action” against Libya.
At the same time, Gates conceded that if he was “in Gadhafi’s shoes” he would think of it as a war. The comments come two months after a UN resolution which authorized a “no-fly zone” that directly led to US and French attacks on Libya.
Interestingly enough, Gates had been critical of the “no-fly zone” calls in early March primarily because it would, by his own admission, mean a war against Libya. Now that the war is not only ongoing but mired in stalemate, its redefinition seems to be convincing no one.
This is not the first time the Obama Administration has tried to redefine the Libyan War as the Libyan “not-quite-a-war.” Shortly after the attacks began, officials were calling the conflict a “kinetic military action” as well.
In practice it is a distinction without a difference, but the Obama Administration isn’t doing so entirely without reason. With growing questions about the fact that the war is, as of next Friday, running afoul of the War Powers Act for not consulting Congress about a use of troops lasting 60 days or longer, an attempt to downplay the conflict as something minuscule could be part of a political effort to avoid debate.
Gates is showing himself as a lily-livered, gutless wonder. While sympathetic to his original hesitation on getting involved in the Libya revolt, it seems that with any guts he would resign an administration with which he disagrees; now, and not later. 'Kinetics'. Not quite a war. Are we suppose to suck up all that crap?
"kinetic" ?
kinetic [kɪˈnɛtɪk kaɪ-]
adj
relating to, characterized by, or caused by motion
[from Greek kinētikos, from kinein to move]
Ok, so are they saying we are bombing the heck out of Libya, killing his children and trying to kill Ghaddafi because we were moving? We were moving and we just happened to run into Libya so that's why all the cruise missiles and bombs have been exploding all over the place.
What the heck is a 'kinetic military action'?
More insanity from DC
"Kinetic Military Action" Sounds like a fucking Aerobics Class. Hilarious. Fuck You Obummer. And Fuck You Gates. You don't fool me for a fucking second.
What the hell?!!! Bombs being dropped upon your heads, from that mythical "no fly zone", but it's not called war? What is it then, a love tap? Orwell would be in fits keeping up with these new lies for old.
And if someone started bombing the USA? What would that be?
You already know the answer- it would be Terrorism(tm), no matter the source or the reason. It's always about Terrorism(tm). Anything less just doesn't fit the storyline being dangled in front of us.
“limited kinetic action”… So, I gotta ask. Did the yahoo he was talking to on "60 Minutes" ask him WTF “limited kinetic action” means? Or did he just nod his head like, well, EVERYONE knows what “limited kinetic action” means…
To a lot of people, e.g. in Fallujah, Iraq and in North Waziristan and also relatives of about 6,000 unarmed civilians killed by US Army in Panama City in December 1989 it would be seen as justice.
"At the same time, Gates conceded that if he was “in Gadhafi’s shoes” he would think of it as a war".
He is saying that because it is not US which paying for this war.., he is saying that because the Libyan war is going to be a long war.., it is the Saudis Tyrants and Arab Emirates and Kuwaitis been paying for it thus far. He is saying that because: US is bankrupt so is EU, US according to news have used its credit to the max, no one will barrow any money to US any longer., not even Saudis.., but they do pay for this war.., therefore is a limited operation due to financial situation. The Sunni Muslims in the region thinking that their Capital is going to be Jerusalem when and if Israel accepting the two states where and if that happens then the Sunni Muslims would rule the entire Middle East keeping the Iranian Shiiets to obey the Sunnis.., that is why Saudis’ and Arab Emirates – Kuwaitis supporting this war.., but here what is wrong where religious been used to divide people in middle east for years.., its been done by the English monarchism so as the Labor party Tony Blair or for that matter the Swedish or French Social democrats. At the same time each and every government from west been using all necessary means to keep this trend by creating wars and etc. to have their monopoly in Oil production and export in the region. NATO was created by US.., is a long arm of US militarism regime to act on behalf of US government whenever and wherever US is not capable.., this time US is bankrupt so French, English and Italian Mafiosi doing the dirty jobs.., where US is defiantly monitoring the actions and orchestrating the bombings if nothing else.
It's for stupid Americans who don't know what 'kinetic' means and are too lazy to look it up. That's at least half of them.
Only in the bizarro world of DC can you bomb and kill someone but not be "at war". What if a country started dropping bombs on America? That of course wouldn't be "war" either, i guess. Shows just how deeply military use has been integrated into US diplomacy.
forked tongue
@jamal
no nato was not created to keep the american power itnact -it already was intact there. Natpo was created and it still functions to serve the itnerest of england who wanted american arms under truman to bully germany and Rusia and keep the infulcen of bankrupt england still inside europe after second world war.
nato ,since has served only one pwoer and itnerest-that is england-all other actions has been to serve what english parasites wanted to happen.
In recent developments the US, England and France have declared a so-called NATO war against Libya. They have frozen $32 billion held in trust by the US in the US. That is the largest amount ever held by the US concerning a foreign country’s asset. The three countries want Libya’s oil, four water aquifers, central banks and their 484.5 tons of gold, plus the Libyan funds held by other countries. These three want to steal it all and leave the country destitute. The EU has in addition frozen $67 billion. It is thought that because the US is desperate for funds that they will now put into the economy those funds to help keep the economy from collapsing.
Anything to keep the game going, anything to deceive. We see no comment in any media that the US and European countries had frozen some $32 billion in US banks and $67 billion in European banks of Libyan sovereign wealth funds. As you have seen desperate people do desperate things. These funds do not belong to Mr. Gaddafi, they belong to the Libyan people. It is simple the west is broke and needed the funds. When you see Chatham House all over the European news you know the black nobility executed this.
The US Treasury and the Fed have created a giant bond fraud and the world’s professionals and governments are well aware of it. If they have to take the US dollars in trade they have to take the inflation that comes with them.
@Avatar.. Thank you for your input.., its always good to know more.., yet I might be right when I say that US is not paying for this war where US is not participating but instructing and observing it.
It is the US and EU predictable thievery in term of creating such moment where they can swallow peoples wealth.., the system has done it for last 100 years and is called capitalism.., the second reasons by saying.., that it is the Saudis and Arab Emirates whom are paying for this war is what you have said: “It is thought that because the US is desperate for funds that they will now put into the economy those funds to help keep the economy from collapsing“.., at the same time considering the fact that Saudis and entire middle eastern kingdoms families – regimes are kind of shaky therefore they love to stop the Iranian influence in the region.., second they need to be protected from south of Saudis peninsula so as from the north. Therefore they need a opening for US and EU militarism regimes to enter the African continent to protect them in Red Sea.., in northern part of Saudi Arabia US – France – England and some other EU or NATO members with their militarism regime are present .., they are willing to enter the red sea and occupying countries there and being stationary in African horn countries.., believe me they are working hard on that.., they haven’t succeed the idea because they are stuck in Afghanistan and have no where to go from there.., they thought that Afghanistan would be walk through. So they have two choices.., one to keep on fighting Pakistanis where their demand is a US/EU naval – army and air force base in southern Pakistan or keep on the fighting in Libya until there is a opening for them to enter the area. Congo is been burning for last 60 years, the civil war in that country is US-EU – Swedish written all over it and it’s a on going war.., over 6 million people are killed thus far.., the Congo matter is a sample how these systems operate.. that’s the nature of capitalism.., making sure while people are fighting they stealing the peoples wealth., and that is why I say US is not paying for this war.., US have no funds for paying it.., but Saudis dose have the fund for such a small war.., therefore, Muslims Brotherhood by Hillary Clinton and Obama been setup fighting the US-EU war in Libya while the plan is to steal the Libyans peoples wealth and protecting the Tyrants families.
Yes, yes- I seem to remember an article in Jane's about the new series of Hellfire missiles and Tomahawk Cruise Missiles coming from the factory with a "WAR" setting and a "LIMITED KINETIC ACTION" setting. See, the "WAR" setting blows up people, while the "LIMITED KINETIC ACTION" setting blows up the ground *underneath* the people. I'm positive everything we're shooting over there is set on "LIMITED KINETIC ACTION"; it's not our fault a lot of people happen to be standing on the particular piece of ground the missile is targeted for.
Gates may have a few decent enough ideas floating around, but the notion that there is any difference between a war and a 'limited kinetic action' is completely ludicrous. A bullet doesn't know why it's being shot, or at whom, and the person being shot is just as hurt or dead.
"Speaking today on 60 Minutes, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates denied that the US was actually “at war” with Libya, saying he prefers to think of it as a “limited kinetic action” against Libya." I am a REALIST and I prefer to call it what it really is… A WAR!
"Limited kinetic action"= using a .38 rather than a .44 magnum. Just ask Dirty Harry.
What do you expect out of a pig more than a grunt? This guy Gates is a mobster. Hauling drugs for the S&Bs and the Coutts bank account.