Libya: FCO Minister, Alistair Burt, meets Misrata eyewitnesses.

As a society, we can never allow this type of action to go uncontested

But we do all the time; it's happening right now all over the world. In other parts of Africa and the Middle East. We have almost 1,000 dead in Syria and nobody really knows what went down in Bahrain. The west (especially America) can no longer afford to police the word.

Sanctions...damn right. Naval blockades...of course. Bombing the hell out them...eh, maybe. But if Obama puts American troops on the ground in Libya...he loses my vote.

I have to agree with all you said, the last thing we need is another war, and the expense of maintaining that war. We need to back off, and pass the ball to some one else to be the new sheriff. Let the troops come home and meet their families, an d their kids they have never met.

Joe.

Nations have responsibilities to their citizens first. Americans are hurting, are poverty rate is high, our debt is high, our deficit is high, our inflation is high all while our education and health is low.

Obama does has a choice, he can choose not to get reelected. And if he starts a third ground war...that's almost guaranteed.

StevG

Don't forget Libya is 200 miles off the coast of Europe. I'm sure Joe will tell ya, the EU is one of the richest and militarily powerful unions in the world.

It's a tradgedy what's happening in Libya, but I have to disagree with you on this one Jo and I agree with Weaver. The UN has no mandate or right to go into Libya. And this war has nothing to do with saving civilian lives. That's just a cover story to get the average citizen behind another war. That's my opinion anyhow, for what it's worth.

I agree. If the UN was around when the Nazi's were in power, as soon as they attacked another country unprovoked, they would have had a mandate to step in. However, that's not the case in Libya. The Libyan government didn't attack another nation. They're trying to put down a rebellion.

Just curious, Grisham, what are your thoughts on the UN in regards to Rwanda in '94?

Shouldn't the UN, or the International Community, have taken a more active role in stepping in?

Good question, bigsaf. I see what you're getting at. I think they were two different things though. Rwanada was a case of genocide while Libya is a case of putting down a rebellion. Many people forget that it was the rebels who attacked first. Now, I'm not saying I have any love for Gad. I'd love to see the citizens win, but that doesn't change the facts that that isn't what the UN was established for. If anything, the Arab League should be handling this issue, not the UN. I also resent governments telling me that it's for the good of the citizen when it isn't. It's just smoke and mirrors. Actually, Rwanda shows that the UN cares very little for the average citizen if they don't have anything to offer.

Hope that answers your question and thanks for posing it.

Hope that answers your question and thanks for posing it.

That was well put, thanks.

While I disagree on the situation and do side with Jo on Libya, believing intervention was needed, I do appreciate the doves who rather see less international military conflict than the hawks, some of whom who'll look for any excuse.

That is what the UN is about, murdering people, soldiers order to rape, snipers killing Innocent people indiscriminately, how long would it have gone on, even Russia came out today and said Qadhafi's got to be taken down.

even Russia came out today and said Qadhafi's got to be taken down.

Besides talk, is Russia going to do anything about it? Unlikely.

It does, and there are so many places that need the UN's help, and you can't help everybody, even if we wanted to, America is paying the price of poor management and a recession as is everyone else, we are already deployed in about 5 different hot spots in the world now, and we have stepped up everytime, and will again, I am just saying, let some one else take the lead for a while, we will still be their because it is the UN, let us support others for a while in stead of always taking the lead.

Joe

I have no doubt that the UK/EU is more than capable of handling little ole Libya.

As long as America has 13 million children living in poverty, an unemployment rate close to double digits, a debt the size of most of the world's GDP combined, a vastly shrinking dollar, and about 150,000 troops in the middle east, i'm not interested in future military involvement...anywhere. The "super power" isn't a super power anymore. In fact, we are close to going under.

It's been fun, have a good one.

China?

I hear it's lovely this time of year. ;-)

The rise of China, IMO, is a great reason why a strong America is good for the free world. But America is not strong right now. And yet another 10 year, 1 trillion dollar, nation building experience in another Muslim country won't help.