The timing of this announcement is interesting. Did they just discover this problem this morning??

So they are backing people with absolutely no military capabilities, who also would rather get back to their true goal of ethnic cleansing.

Seems them rebels do not like Black Africans.

The troubling part is they are retreating even with the air strikes, but also all the covert ops on the ground.

Guess we now know they are French ops, and we know how good them French are at war.

Buckle up folks this whole thing is about to go even farther down the rabbit hole.

Do you think Obama will get back on the TV tonight and Explain to us that this issue of Nato Taking over on Wednesday has now been Delayed. If infact it was Expected why did Obama Tell us last night that it WOULD happen Wednesday, Could he not have just said they they Anticipated it would be Complete by the End of the Week. And if it was Expected then Did Obama Lie to us last night?

Hey Spank,maybe President Obama can get Gadaffi to make a Political Video every 3-6 months, to try & scare the American voter into voteing for'em in 2012?

Has that been tried Yet?

Days Not Weeks!

Hows that 3% growth & 190,000 New JOBS?

Yeah SteveO, he Lied last night, thats what politicians do, aint it?

Funny you bring that you Rick, have you seen the video Iran just put out? Interesting stuff, no?

Didn't we discuss the growth just last Friday? You can recall all the way back then, can't you Rick?

To summarize - it's great. Obama really got the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% right, and Boehner really seems to be producing on the jobs front. You all kept asking him where the jobs where and looky there HE seems to be showing you all.

Cool, right?

Back on topic Rick - what happens when the rebels get routed and Gaddafi is still in power? Does it bug you that it looks like 193 Tomahawks were wasted? How about the rebels' dislike and dismemberment of black Africans.

Let's hear what you got Rick.

Stay the Course. Only cowards cut and run!

Spanky,

Look up on youtube Libya vs. Iraq by ronreich1 it will explain the Liberal thinking. I would post the link but I can from where I'm at.

It's this board, but on video.....

Really Pat, you think Assad is in danger of losing power?

Please explain to us the importance of the fact that everyone but Assad has resigned.

You do recall how his dad came to power, right?

I just hope the world doesn't see fit to commit us to war with Syria. If it does Pat, would you be good with it?

Pat are you ok with us being the world's police force?

Thanks for the info Pat!

Interesting that's not being reported here on FR - instead we get this?

Oh, and, the cost of Libya so far... Wonder when we'll get something on the cost of Iraq & Afghanistan?

Anything to chum the waters, I guess... lol

Awww Feisty - you do realize there are other websites, right?

Although I have to say this comment from you really does explain a lot about you.

Scary, sad, but also insightful.

Carry on old girl and chin up.

I guess the Muulahs in Iran are meeting on this development in Syria!

No doubt Hezzbolah is also concerned with Syria!

Naw, Ronnie Reagun put Hezzbolah outta existence back in the early 80's, no need to worry about them.

Wait, does'nt Hezzbolah run Lebanon now?

O well, maybe they'll invade Syria & Rule them for the next 20 years.

Whew, this Middle East stuff is complicated!

MSNBC:

Assad, whose family has controlled Syria for four decades, is trying to calm the growing dissent with a string of concessions. He is expected to address the nation in the next 24 hours to lift emergency laws in place since 1963 and moving to annul other harsh restrictions on civil liberties and political freedoms

Spanky-

Really Pat, you think Assad is in danger of losing power?

I just hope the world doesn't see fit to commit us to war with Syria. If it does Pat, would you be good with it?

Pat are you ok with us being the world's police force?

Well,well, Spanky just crawled from under his rock to greet the world and the morning sunshine from his nightly sleep. :) I hope you don't find it offensive with me jousting you. You do it all the time.

I can't speak for Pat. But, I can tell you what I think.

This gives testimony to what President Obama said-- "We knew that if we waited one more day, Benghazi – a city nearly the size of Charlotte – could suffer a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world. Libya sits directly between Tunisia and Egypt – two nations that inspired the world when their people rose up to take control of their own destiny"-- Do you see the implications there?

Bev - if you think Assad's going down without a fight you are crazy. And Bev. there were a bunch of towns before Benghazi, but I guess they didn't rate.

Bev - you are ok with us as world police? If so then what about Sudan? Heck 35,000 Mexicans died last year, what about that? And really I'd be fine with policing Chicago - you all have had more deaths there in the last few months than Syria.

Pat - how about a blurb about how his dad came into power. Some may find that interesting.

Spanky-

So they are backing people with absolutely no military capabilities, who also would rather get back to their true goal of ethnic cleansing.

Seems them rebels do not like Black Africans.

Pleeeease enough with your race baiting!!!

Gaddafi gave money, weapons and training to many rebel groups in Africa – from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Chad and Niger to Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe and Nelson Mandela's African National Congress in South Africa. Gaddafi also championed African unity and self-sufficiency, a stance supported by many African heads of state.

http://slinkingtowardretirement.com/?p=27758

He also gave the nation of Islam, Black Muslims, $500 million to help their business ventures.

Kenya: 'Dogs of War' Fighting for Gaddafi

When asked where the mercenaries came from and how they were recruited, the first country he mentioned was Kenya. Other countries he listed are Chad, Niger and Mali.

He described the mercenaries as jobless ex-soldiers and officers who were enticed to Libya by money.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201102250009.html

So are you telling my you are ok with the fact that the rebels, as supported by us are chopping up black Africans?

It's not limited to mercenaries - it's any and all blacks they come across.

And this is what you are good with? WOW!

Bev - you are ok with us as world police? If so then what about Sudan? Heck 35,000 Mexicans died last year, what about that? And really I'd be fine with policing Chicago - you all have had more deaths there in the last few months than Syria.

Why don't you crawl back under your rock? It appears sunshine clouds your judgements.

Again Chicago is not the murder capital. Also , I'm not chasing the lies you perputate. The President and Mexico are working together to curb drugs across the border.

It's not limited to mercenaries - it's any and all blacks they come across.

And this is what you are good with? WOW!

Wow!!! You are a sick little wanker. Gaddffi gave money to SA to end apartheid when Bush didn't. All you can focus on is what you deem as the worst blacks!!! Read it they were called dogs.

How's that workin' out?

There is way more drug crime in the So. West now then ever.

Bev. 35,000 dead Mexican. How many dead Libyans? Why is one a humanitarian crisis and the other is not?

Please explain it to me. Help me understand Bev.

And in your view the murders in Chicago are of little or no concern?

Pat, thanks for keeping us informed. A number of these dictators are suddenly promising to lift the emergency rules that kept its citizens under wraps for decades, promising better things for the citizens. It is a desperate attempt to retain power--not sure the citizens are falling for it any more. I believe we are witnessing historical change in the middle east. No one knows how that change will look in the end, it will be difficult with ups and downs in the years ahead.

Amy - what happened to Dean?

Critical of Iraq, but all on board with Libya?

I suspect that it has a lot to do with the fact that we have no national interest in Libya - Gates has flat out admitted that. So why is Hillary, Dean, Joan Walsh and so many others fine with Libya Amy?

Spanky:

... we have no national interest in Libya - Gates has flat out admitted that.

I saw that, and I'd be more impressed if it wasn't for the fact that he's Secretary of DEFENSE, not Secretary of STATE.

I think his job runs more to defending the national interest than it does to defining it.

Ok, but Hillary the person you believe is the one, didn't say it was in our national interest did she? She said it was justified becasue it was so awesomly multinational.

But tell you what - I value and respect yur opinion AM so tell me: Do you believe this is in our national interest?

I bet I know your answer, after all you are, or were formally a fence sitter, which had to be hard for you.

True, Amy, the media is trying to restore its image after allowing Bush/Cheney and friends to tell them whatever without questioning anything. Unfortunately, that effort to "fix" its image back to responsible journalism by challenging everything President Obama says and does has taken them to the opposite extreme, one that is equally harmful to the public. They drove the message then, they drive it now and neither resembles what journalism should and must be--facts, honest investigation, honest analysis, honest questioning of those who criticize, and above all, just simple reporting without hyping anything toward one direction or another.

Anna - this is terribly frightening.

THey are not handing anything over, are they?

Spanky:

THey are not handing anything over, are they?

Don't know, Spanky, but as I have been so thoroughly unmasked as NOT being a warmonger, I might as well begin assuming my traditional role as Cassandra.

Trojan horses are coming.

So are we still on the fence?

Come on over with me - this is the biggest mistake since the last biggest mistake.

And like that one, this one will only get worse. How come the folks can't see that?

Is it a pom, pom thing, or can they really not see how bad this will get?

On the fence?! I fell so hard I hit my head on the ground. I'm already there, buddy.

On a slightly lighter note, I misread "pom, pom" as "porn, porn" and I started to laugh until I realized that wasn't very funny.

There really are people who get off on this stuff.

Lost Florida (from previous thread):

I'll buy off on this as a humanitarian mission when I see a US carrier fleet sent to a non-oil producing country to prevent a massacre.

Lost Florida makes a good point. Myanmar always comes to my mind. But that wasn't on President Obama's watch. This is.

While I'm not really big into military "interventionism" or war-mongering, I can understand the reasoning as to why it was necessary, at least in a limited way -- if anyone can see the difference there.

I just think that we need to be VERY careful about how we go about this, as this delay in making the handoff illustrates. And complete candor would help.

I hate to say it, but Joe in Albany also makes a very good point -- we didn't know about this little problem until this morning? That sounds fishy to me, too.

Because everything is all goods in Sudan?

Cause I get People Mag, and according to noted statesman George Clooney there is a humanitarian crisis there of biblical purport ions.

So AM when we headed there? Wait, no oil, huh?

And meanwhile, while our eyes turn to Libya ... some news from Afghanistan ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/world/asia/28afghanistan.html?scp=3&sq=afghanistan&st=cse

Insurgents kidnapped 40 men in an ambush in the northeastern province of Kunar on Saturday, Afghan officials said. And a suicide bomber killed 13 people and wounded 56 others in the eastern province of Paktika on Sunday, according to initial NATO reports, although the toll was still being assessed.

The Taliban quickly claimed credit for both episodes.

The "Tali-who"? Why, I thought we rooted them out.

Or maybe not. Turns out this may take a while, too:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/02/obama-team-talking-to-taliban-in-afghanistan/1

The Obama administration has opened "direct, secret talks" with senior Taliban leaders who are involved in the insurgency in Afghanistan, The New Yorker is reporting.

"The discussions are continuing; they are of an exploratory nature and do not yet amount to a peace negotiation," writes Steve Coll.

"That may take some time," Coll noted. "The first secret talks between the United States and representatives of North Vietnam took place in 1968; the Paris Peace Accords, intended to end direct U.S. military involvement in the war, were not agreed on until 1973."

Ummm ... looks like we'll always have Afghanistan. And so, here's my point, in case anyone is wondering:

Before we get too far along in this Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Libya adventure, maybe a little truth -- and maybe some reflection -- about those other wars might be useful.

And I haven't even gotten to Pakistan yet. Pakistan makes both Iraq and Afghanistan look like Sunday afternoon in the park -- and not with George, but rather with Barack.

Cause I get People Mag, and according to noted statesman George Clooney there is a humanitarian crisis there of biblical purportions.

CLOONEY!!!!! You sure do know how to ring MY chimes, Spanky. ;-)

Sudan, Darfur, Rwanda ... take your pick.

All excellent candidates, but what about Mexico?

They got a little civil war raging there right now. And guess what actual American are dying because of it.

Why not send in the marines?

But I'll be honest AM, I'm on team Pitt.

I hate to say it, but Joe in Albany also makes a very good point

_____________________________________

OUCH!!!!

AM: That had to hurt!!!!

Nice personal attack, but perhaps you can provide some actual insight.

1. why am I wrong?

2. what is the end game?

3. Who the hell are the rebels, and now that they are being routed, what happens next;

4. In 2, 3, 10 weeks will Gaddafi still be around;

5. Obama said others are bearing some of the costs. Which costs, and what percent?

6. 200 tomahawks [$1.5 million per], 193 from us. Seem fair to you?

7. Why Libya? Oil. What intervention to a non oil state?

So let's hear it from you Torpedo, and please be a specific as you can be.

@Anna: that has got to be the most intelligent comment I've seen posted here on the entire middle east situation.

and...

Presidents typically pick their fights according to the crisis and circumstances at hand, not any consistent doctrine about when to use force in one place and not another. They have been criticized for doing so — by Obama himself.

In his pre-presidential book "The Audacity of Hope," Obama said the U.S. will lack international legitimacy if it intervenes militarily "without a well-articulated strategy that the public supports and the world understands."

He questioned: "Why invade Iraq and not North Korea or Burma? Why intervene in Bosnia and not Darfur?"

Now, such questions are coming at him.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFWACvAYca3zjwTnnLh1JG8l2Rtw?docId=f1839ff6dd0e4265b2952651c972f4a5

"Ok Spankster! You asked for it!:First I am not going to let you deflect and reframe and argument which is a typical"conservative tactic' "

Followed by torpedo's missing the battleship by .....you guessed it...massive deflection and reframing...

"how can you expect an answer to that question?" That's your answer?

Torpedo You:

Spanky and the Gang of Pundits on the right and the left want this thing over yesterday. Well isn't that special?

All of these experts on ALL things related to wars and interventions are making me tired.

For it. Against it. For it. Against it. Snooze...

"3. Who the hell are the rebels, and now that they are being routed, what happens next"

Well Bob...He asks a question that cannot be answered..Do you have a crystal ball?...You might want to Google the UN resolution which spells out what the coalitions' role is. Better yet since you have obviously taken some advanced logic and military strategy courses so you can enlighten us,yes?.

And Bob..What about the other 6 points...Oh I forgot they don't matter. Again, like teaching fractions to a housecat!