I maced myself as I crossed the picket line. Screw me, I want to talk about this.
So Obama gave a 7-page, single-spaced speech last night about Libya.
And what do we know now that we didn't know last night?
Who are we fighting to protect? Are the rebels a pack of AQ throw-offs who've been exporting trained terrorists throughout Europe and the Middle East, or are they a plucky band of Benghazi U humanities majors and their spirited public employee union allies acting out a "Red Dune" scenario.
Dunno. Obama didn't tell us.
Told us it was not in our national interest for Libya to have a civil war. Why?
Dunno. Obama didn't tell us.
Told us NATO was" taking command of the enforcement of the arms embargo and the no-fly zone. Last night, NATO decided to take on the additional responsibility of protecting Libyan civilians."
Um, except this morning they're not, not yet, anyway.
Said the United States " has done what we said we would do."
Except we haven't. Ghaddafi is still in power and we have said regime change is not our objective. SO WHO THE FUCK ARE WE BLOWING UP?!
Dunno. Obama didn't tell us.
"Moreover, America has an important strategic interest in preventing Qaddafi from overrunning those who oppose him. A massacre would have driven thousands of additional refugees across Libya’s borders, putting enormous strains on the peaceful –- yet fragile -– transitions in Egypt and Tunisia."
"There will be times, though, when our safety is not directly threatened, but our interests and our values are." Liiiike....? Apparently like those American values that are defended by flying airstrikes in support of Al Qaeda. Those values.
"The United States will not be able to dictate the pace and scope of this change."
"But let us also remember that for generations, we have done the hard work of protecting our own people, as well as millions around the globe. We have done so because we know that our own future is safer, our own future is brighter, if more of mankind can live with the bright light of freedom and dignity."
So Obama gave a 7-page, single-spaced speech last night about Libya.
And what do we know now that we didn't know last night?
Who are we fighting to protect? Are the rebels a pack of AQ throw-offs who've been exporting trained terrorists throughout Europe and the Middle East, or are they a plucky band of Benghazi U humanities majors and their spirited public employee union allies acting out a "Red Dune" scenario.
Dunno. Obama didn't tell us.
Told us it was not in our national interest for Libya to have a civil war. Why?
Dunno. Obama didn't tell us.
Told us NATO was" taking command of the enforcement of the arms embargo and the no-fly zone. Last night, NATO decided to take on the additional responsibility of protecting Libyan civilians."
Um, except this morning they're not, not yet, anyway.
Said the United States " has done what we said we would do."
Except we haven't. Ghaddafi is still in power and we have said regime change is not our objective. SO WHO THE FUCK ARE WE BLOWING UP?!
Dunno. Obama didn't tell us.
"Moreover, America has an important strategic interest in preventing Qaddafi from overrunning those who oppose him. A massacre would have driven thousands of additional refugees across Libya’s borders, putting enormous strains on the peaceful –- yet fragile -– transitions in Egypt and Tunisia."
Except that the refugees are swamping Italy instead, realizing there are no government dole checks in Egypt and Tunisia.
Our commander in chief appears unclear about how bombers and aircraft carriers work. One airstrike on Ghaddafi's palace on day one of the insurrection and the tempo would have changed a LOT.
President Bush, is that you?
To sum up: we weren't told why we went in or how long we're going to be there. We WERE told we don't intend to enforce "regime change" on the monster who supposedly made it imperative we go in. We are defending American values by flying air cover for terrorists and we are defending our national interests by putting our troops in harms' way under the orders of foreign powers who can't even permit themselves to admit they are in charge of the mission they called for. We are flying 95% of the combat missions in this "joint action" and we are going to stay there as long as Sarkozy wants us to.
Did I miss anything?
4 comments:
It's always smoke and mirrors time with Obama. He had to make up all the pretext because it would be far too embarrassing for the French to admit that they can't defend their oil supply. Obama has other reasons, of course. Plus this gives the French Air Force something they usually don't get...war zone experience. That Libyan medal will really wow the boys, and girls back home. Probably worth a few drinks.
Deborah Leigh
If, as Obama said a month ago, Qadhdhaffi must go, then it is imperative to send in troops to aid the rebels to take him out. A fairly small number might do it quickly; an MEU, a brigade of infantry, some A-teams to cooprdinate airstrikes with the rebels, the way they did with the Northern Alliance. If it is not our objective to take out Qadhdhaffi what is our objective? Does Obama want another 12-year no-fly zone like with Iraq? In such a case we ought to have stayed out and Obama should have kept his mouth shut about saying Camel-jockey boy must go.
It appears to me that Obama ordered airstrikes in a fit of panic, egged on by Clinton, Power and a few other Tranzies in his administration.
Obama should realize, PDQ, that if Qadhdhaffi survives in power, not only will it be a humiliation for the USA, it will be a personal humiliation for Obama as well. Your own prestige is on the line Barack. Deal with it.
I've heard stuff I can't confirm that we already have boots on the ground from the spec ops community, viz. Obama's promise, FWIW
All of Obama's promises have an expiration date.
All. Of. Them. No exceptions.
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