In Libya, Obama playing the cards he’s been dealt
President Obama’s decision to join our European and Arab allies in launching air assaults against Libyan forces has been criticized by some as an ad hoc, patched-together reaction rather than a carefully thought-out strategy. And to a degree, they’re right. Sometimes, an unexpected and quickly changing situation does not permit the careful application of strategy. Sometimes, you just have to play your cards as they are dealt, recalculating risk and reward as each card is flipped your way. I don’t know how this is going to play out, but so far Obama seems to be playing his hand rationally and cautiously.
Sure, intervening earlier against Gadhafi on the side of the Libyan rebels might have proved more effective in military terms, but it also would have put the United States in the position of trying to dictate outcomes in the Arab world. And not intervening at all, as some on the left still advocate, was a cruel option at best. Had the coalition not acted when it did last week, the world today would probably be sitting back and watching helplessly while a brutal Gadhafi massacred tens of thousands of his fellow Libyans.
Many of those now condemning Obama for acting would have been condemning him for not acting. That’s how these things go. As Obama himself noted in his Nobel Peace Prize speech, “I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later. That is why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.”
The fact that we are acting, somewhat reluctantly, at the urging of European and Arab allies also minimizes the geo-political risk. This is not an American initiative in which the United Nations and others are being strong-armed to support our policy; this is an international initiative which the United States has agreed to join as its most powerful member. There’s a world of difference between the two, not least because it has forced other countries to shed their infantilism and take responsibility, rather than leaving the tough decisions to Uncle Sam all the time and then grumbling about the outcome.
Obama’s critics also point out that we have no real idea how this will end, or even how we want it to end. Again, that’s accurate to a degree. However, Gadhafi himself has made it clear that he sees only two possible outcomes: victory or death. He has no third option — at this point, he can’t leave Libya to live elsewhere, and he knows it.
Publicly, coalition leaders are saying that Gadhafi is not a military target, but the smoking ruins of his personal compound in Tripoli offer more convincing evidence to the contrary. And at some point, if Western air power doesn’t take him out, his own commanders might. They now see their units being taken apart from the air, and there’s nothing they can do to defend themselves. The quickest way to make it stop is to make Gadhafi stop.
So we shall see.
– Jay Bookman
ADDENDUM: After all these years, the cynicism of Newt Gingrich continues to amaze and even disgust.
Until last week, the former speaker had been pressing Obama to intervene militarily in Libya and force Gadhafi’s ouster. “This is a moment to get rid of him,” he told Greta Van Susteren on Fox. “Do it. Get it over with.”
So what does he say now? As Politico reports:
“Newt Gingrich blasted the decision to attack Libya Sunday afternoon as “opportunistic amateurism without planning or professionalism.”
“It is impossible to make sense of the standard for intervention in Libya except opportunism and news media publicity,” Gingrich said in a statement to POLITICO, his first public comments since President Barack Obama gave the go-ahead order on Saturday.
Iran and North Korea pose “vastly bigger threats” to American national interests, he argued. There are other countries in Africa where strongmen brutalize civilians, including Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
“Mugabe has killed more people, the Sudanese dictatorship has killed more people, there are a lot of bad dictators doing bad things,” Gingrich said.
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1,639 comments Add your comment
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:55 am
BUILD CARS NOT BOMBS
BUILD CARS NOT BOMBS
BUILD CARS NOT BOMBS
BUILD CARS NOT BOMBS
BUILD CARS NOT BOMBS
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:55 am
MAKE BRACKETS NOT WAR
MAKE BRACKETS NOT WAR
MAKE BRACKETS NOT WAR
MAKE BRACKETS NOT WAR
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:56 am
WEAR MOM JEANS NOT CAMO
WEAR MOM JEANS NOT CAMO
WEAR MOM JEANS NOT CAMO
WEAR MOM JEANS NOT CAMO
WEAR MOM JEANS NOT CAMO
jm
March 21st, 2011
9:56 am
jm – obama is a war monger….
whether he’s a reluctant warrior, or a willing one, the result is the same. We’ve now had 4 successive administrations of war… hmmmm
JB
March 21st, 2011
9:56 am
Funny reading Reports of of the Soviet Union and China this morning. Just watch them react in their own country to any kind of uprising from the “folks”. Trust me, they would not involve the UN or the World as to what to do….
jm
March 21st, 2011
9:56 am
weird. somehow I wrote a post to myself. wtf
TaxPayer
March 21st, 2011
9:56 am
Did Gingrich hire WOW to operate his bumper sticker machine.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:56 am
STAY IN 56 STATES NOT ARAB STATES
STAY IN 56 STATES NOT ARAB STATES
STAY IN 56 STATES NOT ARAB STATES
STAY IN 56 STATES NOT ARAB STATES
STAY IN 56 STATES NOT ARAB STATES
F. Sinkwich
March 21st, 2011
9:57 am
LOL WOW
DebbieDoRight
March 21st, 2011
9:57 am
MPercy: Pres. Bush sought and received Congressional approval before taking any action, and this debate lasted more than a month in Congress before passing convincingly.
With false, misleading data and intelligence ===>> WMD’s.
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
9:57 am
WOW@9:52
Ok, enough of that.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:57 am
“Did Gingrich hire WOW to operate his bumper sticker machine.”
If he did, he just created more jobs than Obama’s stimulus package.
Paul
March 21st, 2011
9:58 am
TaxPayer
“I wonder if these Dems in Congress that you didn’t identify will be able to muster enough votes to put forth legislation to recommend against open funding of this effort.”
IMHO, not a snowball’s chance.
The ‘cut off funding’ was my interpretation from a Politico piece and a piece about Sen Boxer’s opposition. Was concerned mostly with how Pres Obama did consulted with alllies, consulted with Arab League, but did not consult with Congress. Spoke of their displeasure and some definite actions and possible actions, such as funding. I usually read those listings in a news story as background from those interviewed as could happen. Good reporters don’t go off on speculation and editorializing in a news story.
DebbieDoRight
March 21st, 2011
9:58 am
How old is WOW? Shouldn’t he be in school?
jt
March 21st, 2011
9:58 am
Bids are already open…………for Libya———————————-(the authorities are interested in prisoner transport and/or prisoner manufacture in Libya itself)———-
“Government agencies are required to buy goods from Unicor, according to a Congressional Research Service report (.pdf). And no wonder: the labor costs are bordering on zero. “Inmates earn from $0.23 per hour up to a maximum of $1.15 per hour, depending on their proficiency and educational level, among other things,” the report notes.
(snip)
The missiles are then marketed worldwide — sometimes by Washington’s top officials. Last year, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pitched the Patriots to the Turkish government last year, a diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks reveals: “SecDef stressed that ‘nothing can compete with the PAC-3 when it comes to capabilities.’”
Patriot assemblers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin aren’t the only defense contractors relying on prison help. As Rohrlich notes, Unicor “inmates also make cable assemblies for the McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15, the General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16, Bell/Textron’s Cobra helicopter, as well as electro-optical equipment for the BAE Systems Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s laser rangefinder.”
Last year, Unicor grossed $772 million, according to its most recent financial report.
Remember……..they hate us for our freedom.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:58 am
“Ok, enough of that.”
Why?
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
9:58 am
jm:9:56
Thank you. You made my morning. LOL
WOW
March 21st, 2011
9:59 am
F. Sinkwich
It’s so much fun to turn the tables on the same libs who cried about Iraq.
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:00 am
Jay, Um, yeah. BTW, when is Obama going to get permission from Congress to wage war? This same question was posed on Meet the Press. Since when does the President get to declare war without Congress’ permission?
Inquiring minds want to know.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:00 am
“when is Obama going to get permission from Congress to wage war?
He doesn’t have to in this case.
james
March 21st, 2011
10:00 am
I do hope that Obama moves toward playing from stregnth as a, excuse me- the, world leader. Continue to build support largely with Europe. Play China, Russia, Venezuela, for what they are- non participants in areas of human rights. Have as a first goal, the threat to the Libyan people. Second, clearly state that US should be repaid for 600 million + (to date) of costs through reduced UN costs or directly with oil from Libya afterwards.. That is a hell of a lot of teacher’s and firemen that should be funded completely from the source.
electrician
March 21st, 2011
10:00 am
Debbie.ple.vietnam wasn’t “war” either.but with aircraft,bombs and guided missels landing on people it really doesnt matter what you call it,the human sheilds are in place.get ready for the collateral damage reports.
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:01 am
If not fossil or Nuclear, where do Libs think we ought to get our energy? A 100 acre wind farm won’t run a gas grill…….
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:01 am
BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL CARS NOT HIGH SPEED MISSILES
BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL CARS NOT HIGH SPEED MISSILES
BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL CARS NOT HIGH SPEED MISSILES
BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL CARS NOT HIGH SPEED MISSILES
BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL CARS NOT HIGH SPEED MISSILES
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:02 am
“He doesn’t have to in this case.” Cause he’s a Dem?
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:02 am
“If not fossil or Nuclear, where do Libs think we ought to get our energy?”
The sun.
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
10:02 am
“Why?”
You’re just gloating now.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:03 am
jm
No, I can’t remember the exact verbiage but the US President can intervene without Congress’ permission. Other presidents have done it before.
Lawrence
March 21st, 2011
10:03 am
To Jay…Obama can do no wrong. That is typical of him, a bleeding heart liberal.
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:03 am
RE Energy. Someone pointed out something funny this morning. There’s a nuclear plant in TX that produces as much energy in 1 week. As Solar Energy has produced in the LAST 10 YEARS.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:03 am
Joel Edge
I’m just having a little fun with our anti-war crowd.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:04 am
If wind power is so great, why did Ted Kennedy ban them near his own house?
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:04 am
WOW 10:03 – it’s pretty clear we are engaged in an act of war. By any literal definition, only Congress can declare war. Except when the Constitution gets run through the shredder.
TaxPayer
March 21st, 2011
10:05 am
It’s so much fun to turn the tables on the same libs who cried about Iraq.
Is that what you call that.
A 100 acre wind farm won’t run a gas grill…….
I hope not.
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:05 am
WOW 10:04 – cause old people, in particular, old senators, are senile.
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
10:06 am
Fun and anti-war. Two words that are never linked. Good work, but these people are serious.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:06 am
“By any literal definition, only Congress can declare war. ”
It’s not a full-scale war, jm. It’s like Clinton/1993 on steroids. Remember when Muslim terrorists bombed the WTC in 1993? Clinton had a battleship shoot a few missiles into an empty warehouse and a couple of sand dunes to pretend like he cared. Same with Obama in this case.
Obama cares more about his NCAA bracket than he does about freedom in the Mid East.
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
10:08 am
“…and yet hasn’t a clue as to who served.”
Oh, I have a helluva clue.
I can smell Dick Cheney juniors from a mile away!
And jm is right, I seriously doubt that your average flabby neo-con could get through boot camp…
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:08 am
John Boehner to President Obama: Define the mission
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51617.html#ixzz1HF8KS2Qj
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:08 am
The jokes about Palin crack me up. No, I don’t want her as President, but roll back the clock 21/2 years and let 100 CEO’s look at Her work history vs Obama’s to be hired to RUN SOMETHING, 90 CEO’s would hire HER. I just don’t get what great things he did. Missing half his senate time and voting “present” is not an accomplishment. Also, Palin could have documented her record. We can’t find a living soul who knew him at Columbia, just say’n.
JIMBOB (aka James Robert)
March 21st, 2011
10:08 am
Good new article by Jared Israel on this. The US government is forcing the Muslim Brotherhood on one country after another. And our ‘liberal’ watchdog media covers for it by squealing only of ‘lobbies’ that would NEVER advocate such policy…
Del
March 21st, 2011
10:09 am
Jay, did his best to defend Obama, however, there were a few too many “and to a degree, they’re right” comments, which says that Jay has some skepticism, himself to a degree. The hard fact is that Obama was dragged kicking and screaming into this military action in Libya, by his own secretary of state along with, France, the U.K. and the Arab League. Gates says that in a few more days military leadership will be handed over. I wouldn’t recommend taking that to the bank. If Qaddafi continues ground attacks on his opposition there could very well be escalation requiring ground force operations. Guess what country would need to provide military leadership in that event.
Paul
March 21st, 2011
10:09 am
Lots of dancing around the subject, but I’ve yet to hear, regarding our participation in the US-authorized no-fly zone in Libya:
those who are opposed to Pres Obama’s actions: why?
those who are in favor of Pres Obama’s actions: why?
big un
March 21st, 2011
10:09 am
Solar energy is what grows things we eat, just like it has since time began. Fossil energy is what powers the cultivating and harvesting equipment so we don’t starve to death. Nuclear energy should be what illuminates our stores and homes so we don’t bump into each other while grocery shopping and spill food on ourselves while eating. It is a pretty simple matrix to understand, but requires some logical thinking and reasoning capability.
TaxPayer
March 21st, 2011
10:11 am
RE Energy. Someone pointed out something funny this morning. There’s a nuclear plant in TX that produces as much energy in 1 week. As Solar Energy has produced in the LAST 10 YEARS.
From my perspective it’s a sad testimonial to American ingenuity, or the lack thereof. We should be capable of so much more. Perhaps if we put as much emphasis on advancing as a society as we do on advancing the bottom line or whatever.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:11 am
Oh Jay, that last comment was all in good humor.
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:11 am
WOW- I’m not trying to be argumentative.
“It’s not a full-scale war, jm”
But is there such a thing as a half-scale war? Really? I mean, to be intellectually honest on this, I think he should’ve run through congress.
What they’re really doing is saying: I have to get permission for ground war, but as long as I’m using our totally superior air power, I can do whatever I want.
We’ve launched 120 cruise missiles, dropped 1000 pieces of ordinance probably totalling 1 million pounds of explosive. And we’re not at war. I don’t think so. We’re at war, under a pseudo flag of the UN, and only using air power. But we’re at war, make no mistake about it.
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
10:12 am
“flabby neo-con could get through boot camp…”
Well, speaking for myself and my entire engineering company during OIF 1, we went over and did our jobs. Average age in the late thirties. I joined back up in 2001 at age of 44. Thanks for the support.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:13 am
jm
Again, Obama isn’t breaking any rules/laws by going after Libya. I can’t remember the exact verbiage but Obama can act without the approval of congress.
Ramzad
March 21st, 2011
10:14 am
It amazes me how isolationist the Right has become, or is it that all American interventions are wrong except the
ones Republicans start? There was a time when America believed that injustice anywhere was injustice everywhere,
but now, particulary on the Right and among Tea Party Taliban injustice for blacks, Latinos, gays and the poor is
just a political strategy. The Right and TPT are shameful to the declaration of “We the people……..”
Obama is late in Lybia, but at least he woke up to the reality of Gadhafi’s thirst for blood.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
10:14 am
Completed, yes, negotiated, not even close. 2 free throws and the ball for whomever stands is calling a dumbass.
RW, cribbing from Wiki: it was signed by the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker on November 17, 2008. Ratified by the Iraqi parliament ten days later.
How is that not “negotiated?”
TaxPayer
March 21st, 2011
10:14 am
Nuclear energy should be what illuminates our stores and homes so we don’t bump into each other while grocery shopping and spill food on ourselves while eating.
Or we could all just glow in the dark and cut out the middle man.
F. Sinkwich
March 21st, 2011
10:14 am
GROW DEBT NOT DEATH !
GROW DEBT NOT DEATH !
GROW DEBT NOT DEATH !
GROW DEBT NOT DEATH !
GROW DEBT NOT DEATH !
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:15 am
“There was a time when America believed that injustice anywhere was injustice everywhere,
but now, particulary on the Right and among Tea Party Taliban injustice for blacks, Latinos, gays and the poor is
just a political strategy. ”
Yep, it’s all the rights fault.
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:15 am
WOW 10:13 – yes, you’re correct. The Executive Branch has taken liberties to describe its ability to wage war outside the confines of permission from Congress. Congress, spineless as it is, has not been inclined to snap the leash on the EB.
So the Constitution continues to get perverted.
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:15 am
Let’s cut to the chase. How many Libs on here will vote for this guy again in 2012? Just a simple yes or no, not conditions…………….. Who wants more of this?…………(This will be good)
DebbieDoRight
March 21st, 2011
10:16 am
electrician VietNam was not a war? WTF!! Hmmmmm perhaps you need to go back to school and take a refresher course in American History. Just saying……..
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:16 am
“How many Libs on here will vote for this guy again in 2012?”
They all will.
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:17 am
Ok, would love to continue this debate, but gotta actually go do stuff…. cheers.
getalife
March 21st, 2011
10:17 am
Our no fly zone mission is over and the coalition is in command.
Mission Accomplished for real this time.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:17 am
JB
They won’t abandon Obama for any reason and that doesn’t really matter because Obama is a colossal hypocrite. What the libs need to worry about is that fact that independents have left the Dems and will not be voting for them in 2012.
the watch dog
March 21st, 2011
10:17 am
The time to have acted was 1988 after the Lockerbie bombing of the PanAm plane. We are way to late. As for the hostilities in libya, it is one more endless drain of the revenue of the U.S. I think it bizarre. The hastily put together coallition. All France has to do is loose one or two men or planes and they are all back in Paris, nice and safe, same with the British, all back in London. The U.S. will intervene on the ground with military and there will be one more endless conflict along with Iraq and Afghanistan. I cannot believe with a 14 trillion dollar deficit that that the administration is so eager to spend more money. Every peeny that gas goes up is i billion more out of the economy, and it has gone 3 cents in the last day, that is three billion, no economic recovery here.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:18 am
“Mission Accomplished for real this time.”
Define the mission.
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:18 am
Wait till the truth comes out about this guy. ( Obama)
Paul
March 21st, 2011
10:18 am
stands for decibels
Back to what I saw as your original point between Pres Obama, Iraq withdrawal and SOFA:
“Had Obama broken that agreement, would you be happier?”
I think the safe answer is “NO!!!!”
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
10:18 am
Joel, good on you. In my book, you’ve put your money where your mouth is, as opposed to the tough-talking, 101st Chairborne “warriors” here…
Where is Rags?
He’ll be thrilled to know that when his idol, Mann Coulter, starts glowing in the dark, it is healthy and normal.
No wonder the cons are so derided. Their oracles are virtually without fail, completely clueless and virulently demented…
Last night, Ann Coulter came on to The O’Reilly Factor and said this:
“There is a growing body of evidence that radiation in excess of what the government says are the minimum amounts we should be exposed to are actually good for you and reduce cases of cancer.”
O’Reilly, in response to this nonsense, jokingly said “we should all be heading for the nuclear reactor leaking and kind of sunbathing,” to which Coulter actually agreed!
Nuts with a capital N…
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:19 am
“Last night, Ann Coulter came on to The O’Reilly Factor and said this:”
O’Reilly isn’t on tv on Sunday night, Vet.
MiltonMan
March 21st, 2011
10:19 am
AmVet – clueless like always. Bush Jr. – worse president ever??? Yes, let’s totally forget about the peanut farmer turned president.
Amvet’s opinion – worth as much as a wooden nickle.
poison pen
March 21st, 2011
10:19 am
Debbie, Vietnam was a conflict, it was never declared a War. I don’t feel that way but that is fact.
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
10:20 am
WOW@10:16
I think you’re wrong on this one. I think we’re going to see a primary challenger for the Dems. Probably won’t go anywhere.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
10:20 am
We’ve now had 4 successive administrations of war… hmmmm
Why, it’s like there were a military-industrial complex acquiring unwarranted influence regardless of which party happens to hold the reins, or somethin’.
Paul
March 21st, 2011
10:20 am
AmVet
BOR usually makes fun of Coulter. To her face. It gets old, though. Too predictable.
Tommy Maddox
March 21st, 2011
10:21 am
We are witnessing the George McClellan Doctrine.
Mick
March 21st, 2011
10:21 am
Actually, dems will vote for obama again because there is no real or credible alternative, simple as that….
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:21 am
“I think we’re going to see a primary challenger for the Dems. ”
Yeah, cause that worked out so well for them the last time it happened.
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:21 am
WOW… I agree, but we gotta give them a good alternative…..For me, it’s any conservative who can breath on a mirror….LOL
Tom
March 21st, 2011
10:22 am
JB@10;08a – Most people don’t really want to speak of the real truth! Ok, envision this, Mr Obama is a White Male with his past work history and Mrs Palin is a Black Female with her past work history. Who gets the job and will be elected to public office? Democrats and liberals will not like this comparison!! Secondly, seems like our President comes to the aid of Muslim countries in distress awfully quick to me. Seems like to me we should reach out to our citizens first on issues like unemployment, gas prices, immigration costs before we go helping third-world countries with our TAX DOLLARS!!!!
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:22 am
“Actually, dems will vote for obama again because there is no real or credible alternative, simple as that….”
Thanks for making my point, Mick.
Del
March 21st, 2011
10:23 am
JB and WOW, Not only has he lost the Independent vote but also he’s lost considerable support among exuberant youth voters that he had in 08. He’ going to be a one term president.
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
10:23 am
JB, and assorted cons, if George W. Bush or Dick Cheney runs in 2012, can they count on your vote? (grin)
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:23 am
“I agree, but we gotta give them a good alternative…..For me, it’s any conservative who can breath on a mirror”
We have what, over a year before the GOP primaries begin? Sit back, relax and watch the left implode.
The GOP nominee should open up the debate with Obama with: “Well, where to begin…”
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:24 am
“Not only has he lost the Independent vote but also he’s lost considerable support among exuberant youth voters that he had in 08. ‘
Especially when the “youth” is back living at home with mommy and daddy.
225rd
March 21st, 2011
10:24 am
Hillary is calling the shots!!!!!!!!!!
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:25 am
“if George W. Bush or Dick Cheney runs in 2012, can they count on your vote?”
That’s our AmVet!!!!!!!
The Teleprompter Caliphate of Socialist Union thugs
March 21st, 2011
10:26 am
If women ran the pentagon, would those missiles
be shaped any differently?
SouthGaDawg
March 21st, 2011
10:26 am
All I want to know is where are all of the protesters calling Obama a “war criminal” like they were with George Bush? Oh…they’re nowhere to be found because Obama’s the president now. More hypocracy from the Left.
One more thing: Thanks for bringing up Obama’s undeserved Nobel Peace Prize. All this Libya situation (and the continuing Iraq and Afghanistan wars) proves is that this award was undeserved then and continues to be undeserved. What a joke.
williebkind
March 21st, 2011
10:27 am
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
10:23 am
What tee-time will the interview start?
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
10:28 am
“He’ going to be a one term president.”
And the Dems can see that also. A primary challenge would have devastating consequences for the Dems. But i”ll guarantee you there is somebody talking about it.
“Hillary is calling the shots!!!!!!!!!!”
I have that same impression. Maybe Obama will pull an LBJ. Just saying.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
10:28 am
Back to what I saw as your original point between Pres Obama, Iraq withdrawal and SOFA:
“Had Obama broken that agreement, would you be happier?”
I think the safe answer is “NO!!!!”
I’m trying to imagine how Obama could’ve handled that one: “Look, guys, I promised everyone in a campaign speech that I’d have those particular forces out in 16 months instead of 19, so could you take this back to your parliament and change the timetable so that, coupla years from now, stray commenters at a newspaper blog don’t take any cheap shots at me? Thanks!”
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:28 am
Top Dem Strategist: Soaring Prices Will Sink Obama in 2012
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/DougSchoen-Obama-2012-PresidentialElection/2011/03/20/id/390121
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:28 am
I wonder if Congress thinks we can just go drop 120 cruise missiles and a few thousand bombs on China or Russia without a declaration of war, if the UN says its ok….
Food for thought folks.
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:29 am
I wonder what all the College kids who voted for him now think of him that they are hitting the streets looking for a job with that degree………..and a year later, they are still at Starbucks making $9 an hour, getting 30 hours and no benefits…………How cool is he now?At the end of the Day, nothing beats gainful employment.
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:29 am
“Maybe Obama will pull an LBJ.”
Or a Carter. Either way, he’ll be a one-term president.
RW-(the original)
March 21st, 2011
10:30 am
stands,
Maybe you should go back to that wiki piece and read instead of cribbing. The negotiations had been ongoing for months.
Paul,
Your question of support or oppose sort of depends on timing and defining of the mission. Back on March 3rd Obama said G/Q must go as he was no longer legitimate. Then there was all the hemming and hawing about how setting up a no-fly zone would take attacking the country first. Once the rebel forces were scattered and weakened we decided to set up this no-fly zone and the attack of the country to do it took about a half hour so it couldn’t have been that big of a deal. (slight sarcasm in that last sentence)
Now we’ve got the nfz, but we’re no longer saying G/Q must go and the only mission definition we have is that we won’t be around for long and we won’t put boots on the ground. When you add all that up it would seem the only way to be in support would be blind faith.
stands for decibels
March 21st, 2011
10:30 am
For me, it’s any conservative who can breath on a mirror…
Has Tim Pawlenty actually proven he can do that?
williebkind
March 21st, 2011
10:30 am
JB
March 21st, 2011
10:29 am
Yeah but they still have cozy jobs! I rather see them as mud makers and brick toters.
Joel Edge
March 21st, 2011
10:31 am
“nothing beats gainful employment.”
Amen.
AmVet
March 21st, 2011
10:31 am
BOR usually makes fun of Coulter.
It reminds me of a certain poster here, Paul.
Pretend to be the rational, informed straight guy, though pretty much all he does if proffer (unintentionally) laughable and ignorant crappola to see if people will bite. A big part of Loofahboy’s shtick it to more than occasionally finds some really bizarre, WAY out in far right field Republiloon to make him look more rational and moderate.
And yes, it was funny for about 15 seconds back in 2003…
willie, with all of the legitimate things to complain about regarding BHO, what is patently juvenile, but immensely humorous to me, is to watch the rabid righties bitch endlessly about his golf, or his NCAA brackets, or Michelle’s garden. Or some other contrived and completely irrelevant poutrage.
It makes them look like the petulant brats they really are…
WOW
March 21st, 2011
10:31 am
“Has Tim Pawlenty actually proven he can do that?”
Who?
jm
March 21st, 2011
10:32 am
Still waiting on that declaration of war….. izza impeachment time?