With Gadhafi’s ouster, a world of possibilities for Libya and its people
Moammar Gadhafi, a longtime dictator and sponsor of the Lockerbie bombing and other acts of international terrorism, has finally lost his grip on power. Libyan rebels have taken the capitol city of Tripoli and are trying to capture Gadhafi, whose whereabouts are unknown. He chose to fight until the end and will now reap the consequences of that decision. Personally, I’d be surprised if he survives at the hands of those with a long, long list of grievances against him, many of a quite personal nature.
For that same reason, Bashar Assad must be shaking in his Syrian slippers. As the Guardian reports:
“The germs of Syria congratulate the rats of Libya,” read many a Tweet, referring to the terms used by each of the countries’ leaders for those fomenting unrest against the autocrats’ rule.
Others activists used the network to urge Assad to watch the news and realize he was next. The situation in Syria is less certain as the regime continues to crack down against almost exclusively unarmed protesters and without the appetite for military invention that helped push the Libyan rebels to victory.
But the impending end of Gadhafi’s rule – who came to power just a year before the Assad dynasty in Syria – has certainly bolstered morale among protesters.
It is also likely to rattle the regime in Damascus despite Assad’s assertions during a television interview last night that he is “not worried”.
While the assistance of NATO was no doubt invaluable to the Libyan rebels — a vindication of the policy adopted by President Obama and others — this remains a victory by and for the Libyan people. Tens of thousands, and eventually hundreds of thousands, took up the struggle against a tyrannical government, gambling their lives by fighting to free themselves from repression, and for the moment at least they have won that gamble.
As a result, they have earned the right to determine what happens next. It’s important to note that this is not a coup in which one strongman, usually with military backing, emerges to topple his predecessor. This is also not a revolt controlled or led from outside the country’s borders, or an invasion such as that which removed Saddam Hussein. This is something different, a genuine movement, a rising up of the people. And that is cause for optimism as we turn to the obvious question of what comes next?
Nobody really knows. Through their military assistance, the United States, NATO and the United Nations have all earned credibility with the Libyan people. Additional non-military assistance will now be needed as the Libyans attempt to rebuild government and identify and elevate new leadership. Again, that must be their battle. Those outside Libya should offer help as requested and needed, but we have neither the resources nor the wisdom to impose a solution. The Libyans have to do it themselves.
Even with such assistance, it is all too plausible that this rebellion will end as most have in the Middle East, with another dictator or power elite emerging to replace Gadhafi. There are no guarantees. However, what we do know for certain is that Gadhafi, a murderous tyrant, is gone. That opens up possibilities for Libya that did not exist a year ago. And if that part of the world is ever to stabilize and join the modern world, this is how it must happen.
– Jay Bookman
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1,049 comments Add your comment
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
11:39 am
Also, I will call those who support our country over party real Americans..
We need to get our country back from the pocs.
Real Americans will win.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
jm
“You’re counting Federal government jobs too, over which Rick Perry or anyone else in TX doesn’t have direct control.”
Yet Republicans grant Gov Perry credit for jobs in oil and gas industries, over which he has little influence.
Okay, well… maybe he does over gas…..
Don't Forget
August 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
jm, while you’re giving Perry the credit for jobs, are you giving him blame for the debt?
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/12/3217429/texas-debt-growing-at-faster-rate.html
@@
August 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
Libya is a tribal nation……….time will tell which one’s prefer to be dominant vs part of a group.
The same could be said for the United States, compliments of the Democratic Party.
Identity politics…it’s all “the rage”.
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
Re the first 11:25, more unprovoked personal insults.
Another day of hyper-hypocrisy at Bookman’s…
I do think the assertion that there are those who will denounce any move by the president is irrefutable.
The duplicity is palpable…
Good little liberal
August 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
Normal
“Yeah GLL, let’s do the twist.”
There’s those riveting debate skills that I knew you had.
jm
August 22nd, 2011
11:41 am
Bro 11:36 more denial
TX population has grown by over 21% through 2011. So they’re getting more efficient on a per capita basis. Get the facts man.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48000.html
Normal
August 22nd, 2011
11:41 am
Good little liberal
August 22nd, 2011
11:38 am
Let’s twist again…
…and what’s with the kadaffi love? Are you loving him?
Paulo977
August 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
And while we are focussing on Libya this is happening in our backyard in DEKALB
http://www.ajc.com/news/redistricting-101-1107755.html
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
jm
Quit while you’re behind. You’re attacking a messenger that’s not even in the fight. You keep mentioning MSNBC, but I don’t even watch that channel. You can’t argue with the numbers I pulled from the WaPo. They got their numbers from the BLS.
LONGVIEW, Tex. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry has leapfrogged to the top tier of Republican presidential candidates largely on the strength of one compelling fact: During more than a decade as governor, his state created more than 1 million jobs, while the nation as a whole lost 1.4 million jobs.
Perry says the “Texas miracle” rests on conservative pillars that he would bring to the White House: minimal regulation and government, low taxes and a determination to limit the reach of Uncle Sam.
What he does not say is that much of that job growth has come because of government, not in spite of it.
With a young and fast-growing population, a large and expanding military presence and an influx of federal stimulus money, the number of government jobs in Texas has grown at more than double the rate of private-sector employment during Perry’s tenure.
The disparity has grown sharper since the national recession hit. Between December 2007 and last June, private-sector employment in Texas declined by 0.6 percent while public-sector jobs increased by 6.4 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, government employees account for about one-sixth of the workforce in Texas.
[...]
Analysts call the growth in government employment in Texas a natural consequence of the surging population, which has grown by more than 20 percent in the past decade to 25.1 million. The increase has caused local governments and school systems to hire more teachers, budget analysts, compliance officers and police officers.
“A lot of growth has been happening in the public sector to respond to a growing population,” said Don Baylor Jr., a senior policy analyst with the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a research and advocacy group in Austin. “That has been an ongoing driver of our job growth.”
Baylor warned that the growth in government jobs may shortly come to an abrupt halt when state budget cuts take effect this year. In July, a dip in government jobs contributed to a spike in the state’s unemployment rate, which went from 8.2 percent to 8.4 percent.
“I think we are about to find out what the jobs picture looks like” without growth in the public sector, Baylor said.
Watch how TX starts to look like GA when those public sector jobs start getting cut. Remember GA’s unemployment went up in July due to loss of public sector jobs. Keep sniffing the stuff they sell on that blog you keep referring to. It must be the conservative equivalent of MSNBC, since you keep mentioning it. When you’re done sniffing it, I’ll help you find a 12 step recovery program so you can join the real world.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
No @@,
We have the pocs (party over country) vs the Real Americans( country over party).
Not tribal.
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
Oh, and one more point, Brosephus.
Teachers, police and fire fighters are largely LOCAL decisions, not state decisions, so trying to pin THOSE on a Governor of ANY state is simply wrong.
jm
August 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
Bro, seriously, you’re too ignorant about this stuff. Go learn some things first.
“Even TX’s nonfarm job growth wasn’t at the same pace of it’s government growth.”
Um, Bro. “non farm” includes “government” jobs. You really don’t get this so I’ll try to stop explaining it to you.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
August 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
“I admit, seeing the cons do backflips in order to give ANYONE credit except Obama is hilarious.”
What really is hilarious are Democrats choosing what he does and doesn’t get credit for. If it’s something bad he doesn’t get the credit, if it’s good he gets the credit. Come on, I don’t think there are many things going on that Obama actually wants any credit for…
If someone wants to give Obama credit for Libya that truly is hysterical…
WOODSTOCK MIKE
August 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
“The majority of economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics believe that the federal deficit should be reduced only or primarily through spending cuts.”
http://www.cnbc.com/id/44226011
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
Lets take McCain for example.
He said daffy is gone and assad is next.
Real American.
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
Bro SoCo, you’re too ignorant and I’m too unhinged to stack up against the self-proclaimed know-it-alls!
Hilarious…
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
11:46 am
GLL
Gotta watch the timeline.
Spkr Boehner was for Pres Obama’s action in Libya before he was against it.
Bottom line: Congress did not impede the President’s actions in Libya. They had multiple opportunities to bring our participation to a close and they chose not to; therefore, they supported the President.
Darwin
August 22nd, 2011
11:46 am
Gosh Jay. You almost sound like W.
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
11:47 am
getalife, one of two Republican men of valor and honor. (Hagel being the other.)
No wonder the neo-cons abhor them both…
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
11:47 am
Oops forgot my “B”.
A – We weren’t talking about OCCUPATION of Libya — you asked me why I was opposed to helping to REBUILD Libya — not occupy it.
B – We were not at war with Libya, so why must we rebuild it? Especially when Libya has the funds to rebuild itself?
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
11:48 am
SoCoBro – pesky things, facts … they keep getting in the way of jm’s argument …
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
11:48 am
So, the speaker’s words were poc but his action was real American.
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 22nd, 2011
11:48 am
Awwww. Wittle AmVet doesn’t wike it when the tables are turned on her . . .
In Amvet’s world, Americans are supposed to be taxed at the Federal level, yet are not supposed to dare ask for any of that back if their state is run by a Republican.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
11:49 am
Y’all can argue over categories of job growth, but overall, Texas job growth rate compared to overall country is pretty consistent for over 20 years, beginning with Gov Ann Richards
A Democrat.
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
11:49 am
Tanisha: Everyone will have to toe the theocratic line, and women will have about as many rights as livestock.”
If that is their choice, as it was originally in Iran after the religious coupe in the 80’s, then it’s their choice. We are not their daddies.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
11:51 am
AmVet,
McCain never met a war he did not support.
Even Clintons victories.
I think our President should use his country over party talking point.
It fits this issue.
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
11:52 am
Paul – oh, how we miss Gov Ann!
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
11:54 am
dave,
Jay’s new rule is talk about this issues and not other bloggers.
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
11:54 am
Dave
I mentioned them, but that job creation isn’t limited to those positions alone. That would not account for a 19% increase in government jobs in a decade. You can’t hire that many teachers, firefighters, and policemen. I think there’s a definite distinction between an EFFECTIVE government, BIG government, and SMALL government. Your point on a limited government is one well made. However, the rhetoric doesn’t always request limited government. The only ones who do are the ones who actually know what they’re talking about, and that group is smaller than the group always chanting against big government.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
11:56 am
USinUK
She was a pistol, all right.
The issue I have with Gov Perry (aside from the fact he has no honor, is a liar and is a coward) is how his actions are so at odds with his rhetoric. The only thing more embarrassing, as a Texan, is that so many other Texans fall for it.
My sister made an astute observation (gotta give proper attribution): many, many, many Texans vote for the Republican, period. End of discussion.
@@
August 22nd, 2011
11:56 am
Getalife:
Not tribal?
Yes we are.
We have the pocs (party over country) vs the Real Americans( country over party).
In the “interest” of politicians and politics, we have hyphenated Americans.
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
Tick, tick, tick.
LOL.
Debbie, up until the torturous (get it?) Bush regime, the USA had always (at least ostensibly) taken the high road. Lincoln pardoned the traitorous rebels and let them go home as free fellow countrymen. Truman airlifted Berlin back into the 20th century.
But that changed with the neo-con’s War on Terror, when the quasi-fascists were running the show…
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
Paul – 11:56 – “(aside from the fact he has no honor, is a liar and is a coward)”
don’t hold back – tell us how you really feel
as far as your sister’s observation, that doesn’t just apply to Texans …
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:01 pm
@@,
Basically, it is patriotism.
poc is not very patriotic.
No tribes just patriotism.
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
12:01 pm
AmVet: But that changed with the neo-con’s War on Terror, when the quasi-fascists were running the show…
That’s because they fancied themselves as real life “Men Of Action” even though the most action any of them saw was dodging the draft or by dodging National Guard Duties. They had real military who had seen action and knew the costs of war, however, they didn’t wish to listen to them. After all, what did THEY know?
Jefferson
August 22nd, 2011
12:02 pm
What happens depends on if the lobbists for the GOP wants to control the oil and money and who they will buy to do it.
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
12:02 pm
But in the short term it’s certainly good news that Ghadafi appears to be on the way out. And it will be comical to watch the right pretend that Obama played no role in what’s happening, though the question of whether Obama has been vindicated seems petty compared to the challenges that the Libyan transitional government will face in the future.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-rights-bizarre-response-to-libya-events/2011/03/04/gIQAPprNWJ_blog.html?hpid=z3
Latifah
August 22nd, 2011
12:02 pm
“This is something different, a genuine movement, a rising up of the people”
Jay, ever the starry eyed dreamer. Sure, the unwashed Libyan masses will have their brief moment of celebration, and then the next tyrant will step in to replace Gadhifi. That’s the way it always proceeds. I fear the U.S. and NATO have (again) destabilized the government of a strategically important country.
stands for decibels
August 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
Figured Paul and others might enjoy pondering this question, culled from the WaPo’s comments:
“Is Perry too stupid to understand his own book?”
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
If daffy won, would the pocs blame Obama?
You betcha
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
12:04 pm
jm
When you can’t debate without attacking the messenger, you’ve already admitted defeat. Just be honest with yourself. I have yet to call you any adjective, however, I’ve responded to every post you’ve put up. The argument isn’t about you and I, it’s about TX.
TX population has grown by over 21% through 2011. So they’re getting more efficient on a per capita basis. Get the facts man.
As I said earlier about the Fed level, federal employment is the same as it was during Reagan’s administration. You and other conservatives claim we have too many federal employees. US population has grown since 1980, but fed employment is the same. If you’re saying it’s ok for TX to grow public sector jobs and it’s still more efficient on a per capita basis, where’s that analysis on the Fed level?
My point IS and always WILL BE, if you’re touting TX as a job creation model, you’re championing government job growth as a part of the overall economic model. Otherwise, you’re being dishonest with yourself. I was throwing hyperbole in with the championing Big Government thing, but on a serious note, you can’t say TX is good out of one side of your mouth, and then complain about fed jobs out of the other. My point is much bigger than TX which is why I think the whole swooning over TX is much ado about nothing.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:05 pm
Keep kicking the tires on perry.
The facts on perry are ugly.
md
August 22nd, 2011
12:05 pm
An awful lot of variables goes into job creation by State……..one happens to be cost of living…..TX has a fairly constant rate compared to some others…….CA, NJ, NY etc………one must look at the totality of the picture…………….
Steve - B.
August 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
It’s just a pet peeve of mine but why do people make posts that have nothing to do with the article that Jay wrote. Is there a law that certain people can’t just take the day off and not post instead of pushing their agenda?
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
Paul
I have no problem with TX’s job creation rate at all. I think it’s great. My problem is with the people who trot it out as some private sector double-sided dildo to satisfy everything we need without crediting the public sector side of their job growth as well. We, as a country, are in the negotiation stages of cutting jobs on the Fed level. If TX’s model is something that people want to emulate on the national stage, then cutting fed jobs now run counter to that model. When Fed jobs have remained virtually constant over the past 30 years when compared to population growth, that’s opposite what TX has done over the decade that’s getting people all so excited.
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
“I was throwing hyperbole in with the championing Big Government thing, but on a serious note, you can’t say TX is good out of one side of your mouth, and then complain about fed jobs out of the other.”
Actually, you can, Brosephus.
Te closer you get to the local level, the closer you are to providing jobs that have direct benefit to the people they are supposed to serve. In addition, local governments are largely more efficient than the Federal government.
That being said, the rate of Federal government growth should be slower than the rate of local government.
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
“When you can’t debate without attacking the messenger, you’ve already admitted defeat.”
Hear, hear!
Debbie, and why they’ve earned the label of chickenhawks.
Bravery by proxy.
And given the chance, they’d likely get us into another contrived, deadly quagmire as soon as they could…
md
August 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
I have no problem giving Obama his due in Libya………but in the same breath, I must also give credit to the NATO countries that stepped forward……..amazing what they can do when THEIR oil is threatened……….too bad they bailed on their duties in Afghanistan………..
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm
Steve,
Lets stay with the issues and not other bloggers.
Thanks.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm
sfd
Sounds a little harsh.
But, in answer, yeah…….
Don’t know if it’s ’stupid’ or an inability or unwillingnes to see how things are related, to acknowledge consistency in ideas, how ideas may pan out a few years’ down the road. He strikes me as a very ‘in the moment’ person. He’s a great campaigner, he can pull in megabucks, he can connect with a crowd.
But that does not mean he would make a good president.
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
12:12 pm
I fear the U.S. and NATO have (again) destabilized the government of a strategically important country.
Again, the PEOPLE of Libya demanded Gadhafi’s outster. G didn’t want to go. He attacked the demonstrators asking him to leave. The demonstrators fought back. G sent in his troops. The demonstrators picked up arms. The UN warned G not to fire upon his people or the UN would step in. G didn’t listen. The UN stepped in to provide air strikes to help people who already wanted their leader OUT.
Normal
August 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm
getalife,
You might like this…
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/08/22/political-pictures-rick-perry-i-like-to-think-of-jesus-as-an-ice-dancer/
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm
Steve, An Atlanta blog with a little bit of opinion about a whole lot of things.
We are a bunch of unherdable cats…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8
Steve - B.
August 22nd, 2011
12:15 pm
‘getalife’ – That was my whole point. Can’t we discuss the article at hand rather the same people taking having a spitball contest? The article is the issue.
Thanks.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm
Funny Normal,
It looks like they use old grease on those corn dogs.
I bake mine.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
Steve,
Another huge accomplishment for our President.
There ya go.
Steve - B.
August 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
Amvet – Point taken.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
12:18 pm
Brosephus 12:10
Well said.
And if states want to replicate Texas, they need to bring in, as you said, government jobs as well as oil and gas, military installations, health care, to name a few.
But Texas has taken a consistent position of not regulating to the point of absurdity. Read of one CA company, owner wanted to put a cover over his company’s sidewalk leading to the street. Pictured one of those canvas things. State’s requirement would have cost $700,000. He relocated to Texas, where it was pretty much left up to local codes.
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
12:18 pm
Te closer you get to the local level, the closer you are to providing jobs that have direct benefit to the people they are supposed to serve. In addition, local governments are largely more efficient than the Federal government.
Dude, don’t bogart that joint you’re tokin’!!! Are you saying that my job doesn’t have a direct benefit to the people I serve?
Doggone/GA
August 22nd, 2011
12:18 pm
“Can’t we discuss the article at hand rather the same people taking having a spitball contest?”
In reality? No. If it gets too out of hand Jay will step in. But generally, he runs a pretty “loose” operation.
md
August 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm
“The UN warned G not to fire upon his people or the UN would step in. G didn’t listen. The UN stepped in to provide air strikes to help people who already wanted their leader OUT.”
Which happens to be part of the problem………..I have problems with a UN (NATO,EU,US) that picks and choosers which lives to save………….at the moment, Libyans are worth more than Syrians………
Steve - B.
August 22nd, 2011
12:20 pm
‘getalife’,
I would say great strategy by the President and a huge accomplishment by the Rebels.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:20 pm
FYI, Jay posted a new rule late last night.
Talk about the issues and not other bloggers.
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
12:21 pm
That being said, the rate of Federal government growth should be slower than the rate of local government.
AmVet: Bravery by proxy.
And given the chance, they’d likely get us into another contrived, deadly quagmire as soon as they could…
If Obama looses in 2012, watch for a push for a war in Libya. It’s going to be billed as “Freeing Libya From Tyranny” or “Pre-Emptive Strike Against AlQueada”; but what’s really going to be happening is that Shell, BP, Exxon, etc. will become the new tyrants, while they litter the landscape with more American soldiers’ and indigent citizens’ lives all in the name of their real god, Money.
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
12:21 pm
Paul
I’ve been reading on Texas in regards to regulations and such. As there are still vast stretches of nothingness in Texas, they can get away with that with no major negative effects. I’m willing to wager that there will be talk of changing things in relation to water after your drought is broken. One of those 20/20 hindsight moments. I’m not saying there will be huge regulatory changes, but the non chalant approach might get a bit of a body check.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:23 pm
Steve,
Fair enough.
Everybody in Libya are armed like Americans and all that was needed was a spark and not a occupation.
They asked for our help and promised to pay us back for the costs.
RB from Gwinnett
August 22nd, 2011
12:23 pm
“We have the pocs (party over country) vs the Real Americans( country over party).”
The problem with all this POC nonsense, getaclue, is that the only things you consider to be COP are things you agree with which are entirely waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay far left leaning liberal on the fine line of communism. You whine about people are are single minded, yet you are very much that yourself.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
12:23 pm
stands for decibels
I thought this was a pretty clever review of Gov Perry’s “Fed Up” on Barnes and Noble:
“It’s great to see that Rick Perry has a book coming out. This means he has, in fact, been doing something during his time as Texas’s governor. While I look forward to learning why Rick Perry has been “fed up” with a federal government that bailed him out some $12 billion dollars, I find myself wondering if the table of contents will list these chapters: “The $18 Billion Deficit: How I doubled state debt while not working”; “Get Rich Quick: The art of getting cash from your friends and donors without the FBI getting involved”; “Get Rich Quick Pt. II: A primer in illicit land sales”; “HPV and Me: The virtues of unilateral mandates for 6th grade girls that benefit your lobbyist chief of staff”; “Socratic Nothing: How I learned to stop worrying and avoid answering questions”. If, to my disappointment, these sections are not included, I suggest that Barnes & Noble reclassify Fed Up as a work of fiction. ”
Except he forgot the largest gov’t land grab in Texas’s recent history and how that squared with big guvmint vs homeowners -
md
August 22nd, 2011
12:24 pm
“getalife’ – That was my whole point. Can’t we discuss the article at hand rather the same people taking having a spitball contest? The article is the issue.”
This is a “liberal” blog site………..we are free to do our own thing………
And we pretty much do……within reason.
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
12:24 pm
getallife – 12:03 – heads, I win … tails, you lose
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
12:25 pm
Doggone, and as far as I know, our lips haven’t sunk any ships yet!
I wonder if the kids in Tripoli listened to this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imb4tYOk8GE
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
RB,
Issues are not about me.
Thanks.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm
md
“.I have problems with a UN (NATO,EU,US) that picks and choosers which lives to save………….at the moment, Libyans are worth more than Syrians………”
But isn’t that the nature of reality?
One may be in favor of ‘protecting’ populations, but the regime’s ability to inflict damage on the US makes it not worth the cost (North Korea).
Or, one may find a situation where, for little risk to life and treasury, momentous results can be achieved.
So it’s not about one life being worth more than another, it’s more about what saving one life will bring down on us, compared to another.
md
August 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm
“If Obama looses in 2012, watch for a push for a war in Libya.”
Considering the majority of that oil goes to Europe, you may be right. But it will be the EU finally getting off their duff to protect their economies…………..which are on the verge of disaster with all the weak sisters they are trying to support…………………
Brosephus
August 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
On topic:
I applaud the people of Libya for doing what they are doing to try to remove their leader. As I said from the outset, freedom handed to someone on a silver platter will not really be freedom. That they have worked to earn that freedom themselves will make it mean that much more to them.
buck@gon
August 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
Mary Elizabeth @ 9:26,
Is reading your own pap the highlight of your day?
I have a much better understanding now of your intellectual vanity.
How’s that for dealing with YOU um…. “laterally”? Consider yourself too far “above” such lowbrow screed to write back? I’ll bet you do.
Midori
August 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
FYI, Jay posted a new rule late last night.
Talk about the issues and not other bloggers.
NOW I know why my ears kept ringing thru the night!!!
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
“Are you saying that my job doesn’t have a direct benefit to the people I serve?”
Don’t know, since I am not a cyber-stalker who tries to find out from everyone what they do. But if you are in a public safety role, as I suspect you are due to your posts, then you are more likely to have direct benefit to the people you serve.
If you’re an an Undersecretary to the Secretary of the Dept. of (fill in the blank), then no, you don’t.
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
AmVet – nah – it was this (funky beat … disturbing lyrics)
md
August 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
“So it’s not about one life being worth more than another, it’s more about what saving one life will bring down on us, compared to another.”
That’s because in that “reality”, we are the UN and NATO……………………………………
Share that burden with the rest of the UN…..as it should be…..and we may have a very different reality.
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
or, I could add the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ&ob=av3e
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm
md: Which happens to be part of the problem………..I have problems with a UN (NATO,EU,US) that picks and choosers which lives to save………….at the moment, Libyans are worth more than Syrians………
It makes me ill too. When the genocide in Rwanda happened, the UN didn’t authorize air strikes — the cynical part of me believes that the reason why they didn’t was because there wasn’t any GAIN (read – money), to be made out of the deal.
However, with the vast amount of money (oil) in Libya, the UN felt it was their duty to intervene on the “rebels” behalf. Classic!!
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm
More proof Iraq was a costly mistake.
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 22nd, 2011
12:32 pm
The mere fact that getaclue is attempting to be blog monitor is laughable.
If he wasn’t a liberal, Jay would have booted him months ago.
DawgDad
August 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm
Many of you posters are demonstrating why I strongly prefer very limited central government.
As for the G-thug in Libya, hope his days are over; whatever measure of justice this is for him it’s far too soft and far too late.
The left and the Dems should be very careful about claiming a “victory”. Doing so, they own everything that goes wrong in the aftermatch, ala “Mission Accomplished”. I have no problem giving the Administration their due on the handling of the situation, but it’s too early to say whether or not their chosen level of involvement was appropriate.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm
Midori,
Yeah, they were talking about you and he stepped in.
Jay is a nice guy with a lot of patience.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm
There ya go again dave.
Midori
August 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm
Getalife,
I’m not even going back to look.
Just goes to show they can dish it out but can’t take it.
DebbieDoRight
August 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm
Paul: So it’s not about one life being worth more than another, it’s more about what saving one life will bring down on us, compared to another.
Tell that to the Rwandans.
md: Considering the majority of that oil goes to Europe, you may be right. But it will be the EU finally getting off their duff to protect their economies…………
Good point.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
Debbie,
They sell that oil to Europe so they took the lead.
They owe us about 1.1 billion so the President can use their oil to replace the reserves.
Oil should drop now.
Paul
August 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
DDR
Pres Clinton called that one of his biggest mistakes.
We should learn from our mistakes, not repeat them.
Granny Godzilla
August 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
PHOTOS: Libyans Applaud President Obama And International Allies With Large Thank You Sign
Libyans, you are very welcome.
stands for decibels
August 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
Paul, similar merriment can be found in the Amazon 1-star reviews.
USinUK
August 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
GG – WOW! thanks for sharing
Midori
August 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
dang Mrs G!!!
you’re gonna make me change my wallpaper
stands for decibels
August 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
GG 12.28, that’s actually *not* photoshopped, is it?
huh. go figger.
getalife
August 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
That is awesome GG.
Thanks.
RB from Gwinnett
August 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
Anybody suppose the people of N. Korea, Cuba, China, and Iran would like a little help getting rid of their governmental problems?
AmVet
August 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
Granny, that is a powerful photo. They look euphoric.
Thanks for sharing it…