A week later, Abbott and Costello still in charge of war in Libya
When stories like this one from the New York Times are still cropping up a week after hostilities begin, it cannot be a good sign:
Having largely succeeded in stopping a rout of Libya’s rebels, the inchoate coalition attacking Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces remains divided over the ultimate goal — and exit strategy — of what officials acknowledged Thursday would be a military campaign that could last for weeks.
The United States has all but called for Colonel Qaddafi’s overthrow from within — with American commanders on Thursday openly calling on the Libyan military to stop following orders — even as administration officials insist that is not the explicit objective of the bombing, and that their immediate goal is more narrowly defined.
France has gone further, recognizing the Libyan rebels as the country’s legitimate representatives, but other allies, even those opposed to Colonel Qaddafi’s erratic and authoritarian rule, have balked. That has complicated the planning and execution of the military campaign and left its objective ill defined for now.
Only on Thursday, the sixth day of air and missile strikes, did the allies reach an agreement to give command of the “no-fly” operation to NATO after days of public quarreling that exposed the divisions among the alliance’s members. (emphases added)
And on it goes. The entire piece is truly a depressing thing to read — on its own, but also because we’ve been hearing similar things since before the intervention began. It is stunning that our government and our allies managed both to wait until Qaddafi had beaten the rebels to a pulp and to rush headlong into action without a plan.
Oh, and in case you were thinking the president might address the nation to explain what’s going on and how it can end well, forget about it.
So, while Daniel Henninger’s obituary for the “internationalist approach” to foreign policy still looks about right, I must admit I was wrong last week to suggest that there was ever a time when when the Obama administration could have been trusted to begin a new air war in another country with even a modicum of coherence.
In terms of sheer competence, from fiscal management to military “strategery” and everything in between, Barack Obama has doubled down on just about every mistake George W. Bush made.
And it’s only been 26 months.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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85 comments Add your comment
Bookman-Tucker-Luckovich
March 25th, 2011
2:16 pm
ALL HAIL THE GREAT AND POWERFUL COMMUNITY ORGANIZER!!
Bookman-Tucker-Luckovich
March 25th, 2011
2:21 pm
Sean Smith
March 25th, 2011
11:41 am
Obama could have lunch with Jesus Christ and the republicans would complain that Obama is not christian enough. There hypocrisy is getting pretty old and tired.
And whats with all the juvenile name calling in these blog posts. Junior high kids from Alabama have more smarts than most posters here.
The definition of “hypocrite”, see above. Unbelievable.
that's goofy
March 25th, 2011
2:33 pm
Good Grief @1:25 – about those 37 countries – the Coalition of the Willing: how many actually deployed troops? And by troops I mean combat troops with a force more than 50? US, UK, Australia and….
Most countries withdrew by 2006.
that's goofy
March 25th, 2011
2:35 pm
I am the only one that finds it funny that people complain about name calling and then call people names?
What a bunch of dorks.
Peter
March 25th, 2011
2:38 pm
Hey Get Real (the original)… yes you are correct….I am / was against the WAR in Iraq….there was ever a reason to invade.
So….should we invade every nation with a horrible ruler then ?
Why are we not invading Africa ?
Bad Intelligence ? I don’t agree with that statement at all….Bush and Cheney wanted the war in the worst way. They did all they could to make it happen…..You couldn’t have “Cost Plus Contracts” without that war.
Why would Cheney say Bin Laden and Saddam were working together ? A blatant lie from Cheney.
WOW a 3 Trillion dollar mistake ?
So what is the reality then ?
The War has benefited American’s in some way ? But the Grand kids will pay for it ?
The trillions spend on the war somehow is good for the deficit ?
The Dead soldiers family’s are OK……..the weekend soldiers that lost their jobs, and homes because they were forced to go to battle without proper training who went bankrupt, no big deal ?
The mentally messed up soldiers that came back..no big deal ?
The money wasted that could have been spent at home re-creating our infrastructure wasted…..no big deal ?
Bush gets a pass ? Just forget about it ?
Bookman-Tucker-Luckovich
March 25th, 2011
2:43 pm
Peter
Have you ever complained about the $4 Triilion plus spent on LBJ’s “War on Poverty”
DannyX
March 25th, 2011
2:45 pm
“In terms of sheer competence, from fiscal management to military “strategery” and everything in between, Barack Obama has doubled down on just about every mistake George W. Bush made.”
That’s not how the rest of the world seems to see things. Gallup just released a poll that shows just how incompetent the rest of the world viewed Bush. American leadership has retaken the “most admired leadership in the world” status, after taking a pounding during the Bush years.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/146771/Worldwide-Approval-Leadership-Tops-Major-Powers.aspx
Bookman-Tucker-Luckovich
March 25th, 2011
2:48 pm
American leadership has retaken the “most admired leadership in the world” status
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Laughable.
MC
March 25th, 2011
2:51 pm
BW these new cons are not conservatives. They are neo-cons. Big difference. Most of them should be prosecuted for mentioning themselves in the same breath or sentence with the word conservative. There are only neo-cons and Goldwater (true) conservatives. There is not 10% of the republican party today that qualifies as a true conservative.
MC
March 25th, 2011
2:53 pm
And puhleeeeeeze! Never let a social conservative con you into believing he/she has the slightest clue as to what conservative means.
mike
March 25th, 2011
2:55 pm
Way to go Road Scholar. There always be those who stand on the sidelines and shout down any idea other than their own. I suppose a great majority of these conservatives lack the guts to take any action other than spouting out all things opposite to what this President does or saids.
carlosgvv
March 25th, 2011
2:56 pm
retiredds
That is my point. There was no victory in Vietnam and all our soldiers died for NOTHING. It is highly possible the same will be true for all the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Will Libya be the next Vietnam?
Junior Samples
March 25th, 2011
2:57 pm
He did.
Kyle forgot about Katrina.
The Canadian Mounties arrived to help long before our troops.
MC
March 25th, 2011
3:03 pm
Peter, there has never been a lie Dick Cheney wouldn’t tell.
Bookman-Tucker-Luckovich
March 25th, 2011
3:04 pm
Speaking of Katrina, let’s not forget the FINE job Louisiana Governor Blanco(D, and the Mayor of New Orleans, Mayor Ray “Chocolate City” Nagin(D) did, both before and after Katrina.
MC
March 25th, 2011
3:05 pm
Interventionist policy is why we are in most of the messes we’re in today. The chickens are coming home to roost. Some of them from 100 years ago or more.
MC
March 25th, 2011
3:18 pm
Kyle why are you even calling this a war? That implies that we are in as deeply as well…..a war. Are you trying to be a little misleading with your terminology? It seems that way.
that's goofy
March 25th, 2011
3:35 pm
Gov. Blanco declared a State of Emergency and requested federal assistance 8 days before the storm hit.
FEMA – being the bloated entity that it is made a bad situation worse.
that's goofy
March 25th, 2011
3:36 pm
should be FEMA under DHS.
“Heck of a job Brownie.”
wallbanger
March 25th, 2011
3:59 pm
There is a difference between Obama and Bush. Bush had Congressional authority to go to war, and Obama didn’t. Bush let our military control our troops, Obama has given over control to NATO–who will strategize and order, but Americans will end up doing the work and the dying. Why are we involved in a fight that costs us millions a day with no end game in sight and no dog in the fight? And has anyone forgotten–we are in the frickin cellar financially. We can’t afford to play with the big boys. We can’t afford it.
wallbanger
March 25th, 2011
4:01 pm
By the way, for those liberals who want to divert the attention to Katrina–the 4th ward is full of welfare recipients–people who for generations have sat on their hands and allowed the government to take care of them. They continue to sit on their hands. They want/need help. They always will because they are lazy and ignorant, except in ways to graft the government. Disasters have happened all over this country since Katrina, but decent citizens get out the bulldozers and get the job done.
MC
March 25th, 2011
4:02 pm
We had a dog in the fight before invading Iraq wallbanger?
Peter
March 25th, 2011
4:05 pm
Hey Bookman-Tucker-Luckovich…about this statement…..
Have you ever complained about the $4 Triilion plus spent on LBJ’s “War on Poverty”.
Wow ……so I am suppose to compare going to WAR as in Invading Iraq for really no reason, or helping impoverished Americans ?
Well I am not all for giving away money to those who are capable of working, and those who failed to get educated……. but for those with disabilities, or have legitimate health reasons, I think helping American’s here at home should come first.
I also don’t believe a mother who continues to get pregnant for an income should get that income, they maybe should get some help first time around, but if they get pregnant again, then what ever help they originality got, then they have to share amongst the others.
They should also be mandated to get an education, so they could become part of the working force.
We are not the world enforcers of justice, but the reality is…… Corporate America wants that so they can conduct business for profit around the globe, and have tax payers foot the bill, and not reap the profits.
Peter
March 25th, 2011
4:07 pm
Hey MC………Let’s not forget the folks who got FEMA Trailers are all getting sick, the government knew about it, but did zero.
MC
March 25th, 2011
4:25 pm
that’s goofy
March 25th, 2011 ” Most countries withdrew by 2006.”
All that means is that their leaders were a lot smarter than ours that’s goofy.
Good Grief
March 25th, 2011
4:27 pm
So are you saying the only way countries can contribute to war efforts is through the use of troops? Nothing about aid, or materiel, only bodies?
that’s goofy – Blanco may have declared a state of emergency 8 days prior, but Nagin still did very little. And even when questioned about his actions, he defended himself. It was okay to let an entire lot of school buses sit in one place and then go underwater. He couldn’t find qualified drivers. Heck, anyone who’s ever pulled an RV or driven a Town Car, get in the drivers seat and get people out of harms way.
But I keep forgetting that Bush and Cheney were standing over to the side aiming missiles at the levees…
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
March 25th, 2011
4:28 pm
Kyle Wingnut, you should be ashamed, totally ashamed of yourself! This is column is out of bounds to the extreme, horribly out of line, a completely uncalled for low blow shot on………………Abbot and Costello.
They could never be the clown fool that obozo is!
Retract this travesty now!
Peter
March 25th, 2011
4:30 pm
Wow wallbanger …..you really showed today that you really are the judge, the juror and the executioner……..
“By the way, for those liberals who want to divert the attention to Katrina–the 4th ward is full of welfare recipients–people who for generations have sat on their hands and allowed the government to take care of them. They continue to sit on their hands. They want/need help. They always will because they are lazy and ignorant, except in ways to graft the government. Disasters have happened all over this country since Katrina, but decent citizens get out the bulldozers and get the job done.”
Since your made this statement…… it is easy to point out you are NOT a Christian…..because that attitude has NEVER Been taught in church.
That attitude is basically in exact opposite to the bible and all Christ’s teachings.
SO….. there is a Non Religious Republican out there ..WOW !
Jefferson
March 25th, 2011
5:12 pm
Kyle, don’t tell me that President Obama’s (much like President Bush) ability to make grown men call names like children and take the petty road to EVERY situation that confronts him, has made you act this way.
Just Saying..
March 25th, 2011
5:45 pm
So you’re depressed his Decision Points resemble your Republican President?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
March 25th, 2011
6:25 pm
What obozo has wrought on the world-
CAIRO — In post-revolutionary Egypt, where hope and confusion collide in the daily struggle to build a new nation, religion has emerged as a powerful political force, following an uprising that was based on secular ideals. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group once banned by the state, is at the forefront, transformed into a tacit partner with the military government that many fear will thwart fundamental changes.
Exactly what we told you he would do.
What does Catholic just war teaching say about Libya? – Washington Post (blog) | OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN
March 26th, 2011
2:26 am
[...] Zimbabwe GuardianLibyan War: Imperialism Pure And SimpleBlack Star NewsThe Moderate Voice -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Sydney Morning Heraldall 1,395 news [...]
Joel Edge
March 26th, 2011
7:23 am
I would disagree on the Abbott and Costello remark, it’s more like the Keystone Cops.
independent thinker
March 26th, 2011
4:21 pm
.
Kyle – if there was an “Abbot and Costello” moment in US history it was when our president landed in his flight suit on that carrier and declared “mission accomplished” A trillion dollars later what have we accomplished? Giving Iran a friendly neighbor and we are broke. Tax cuts do not fund two wars.The war in Libya is no different than NATO’s successful air campaign and ultimate liberation of Kosovo under Clinton. Sqame humanitarian concerns existed and in the end the mission was accomplished successfully. It just drives the noecons crazy when the United States does not assert its military without great expense and a cowboy attitude.
If France and Britain want to be in charge- that is fine with me.
No More Progressives!
March 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
Peter
March 25th, 2011
11:03 am
How many Trillions has America spent in Iraq and Afghanistan Kyle ?
Time to look in the Republican Mirror.
Do Deficits matter Kyle ?
Who cares how many trillions, Peter. Lefties like you and Michael Moore are comvinced that we’re not broke, and that other peoples wealth is a national treasure for the taking. So go & spend, for Heaven’s sake.