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There may not be boots -- but the CIA is reportedly on the ground in Libya, helping to direct airstrikes and gather intelligence on the rebels. House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell that's exactly what they are supposed to be doing.
Rogers, appearing on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" said he could not discuss classified material, but he did say he “would be shocked if we’re not participating in the collection of information.”
The Michigan Republican congressman said the CIA is "supposed to go to rough places and bad places and collect information -- so that policymakers, the president, the military, the Congress can make good decisions," not to be confused with the “wild speculation” he said was taking place today. Rogers believes the debate about whether or not to arm Libyan rebels and the CIA presence are “two very separate and distinct things.”
Rogers made clear he is against arming Libyan rebels, but he offered his support for the President Obama's decision to lead the coalition in the no-fly zone, "We can't lose sight of the fact that the no-fly zone saved tens of thousands of people."
Rogers said the reason he supported the no-fly zone early on was because of the chemical stockpile that Khaddafy possesses and the risk of it falling into the wrong hands, “You don’t want Al Qaeda armed with some really nasty stuff."
The chairman also expressed his determination to see Khaddafy unseated: "The worst thing you want to have happen ... is his forces full back. The commitment is made only to enforce the U.N. resolution, which means they can't do anything more, and you have a hunkered down Moammar Khaddafy who we know sponsored state terrorism and has bad weapons."
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C'mon, President Obama...
Even Feisty and Bev know that this is about regime change.
So these CIA fellas wearing slippers, or are they walking on their hands?
And didn't Obama just tell us no way no how we send in troops?
Obama = bush - haircut.
Even Feisty and Bev. can regognize a lie, right ladies?
Happy Friday-Eve everyone! Don't forget oil MB. We gotta protect the Chinese and European supply. That makes it all okay.
You know Feisty and Bev are around 24/7, yet they seem to be conspicuously absent when it comes to Obama's war, version 3.
What's the matter gals, them pom poms getting heavy?
Aw c'mon Spanky, war makes you righties feel alive. Just admit it.
I really Think we should come up with a New Strategey concerning Bev and Feisty, I mean we could treat them like they Treat Sarah. From now on we can just say. Bev and Feisty Who......
Nah. nevermind.
And Spanky i will never Forgive you for putting that image in my head of them in them Short Cheerleading outfits. . Think i will go Scratch my Eyes out
I had to laugh at what another poster called Feisty and Bev, the Keyboard Queens for their copy and paste activities.
Short cheerleading outfits......oh no, I may go blind.
Even Feisty and Bev know that this is about regime change.
Aren't those Obamas internet blog Czars.
Loafers? More like Keens or LL Beans on the ground. It's refreshing to hear a Republican member of the House support the mission in Libya.
I'm betting you can't tell them apart from the locals. Loafers? More like beat up sneakers.
Whew...
CNN is really hammering G.E. for paying no taxes on earnings of $5 billion.
Cut G.E. some slack, OK?
They had to pay Olbermann's salary, didn't they?
And don't forget about that award for transparancy Obama just got, in secret.
You really just make this stuff up.
Hey Spanky,
What day of Obama's war are we in? And as for sending in the Clowns-in-Action, he'll lose this one too with those guys. We never had success with these guys during my time in the Nam.
I wonder what Olbie would have said how Immelt is scamming the IRS? I could imagine him blusteing and hee-hawing about Immelt and that Obamba has nothing to do with it. But who knows what birds of a feather can do for each other.
Revealed: Gaddafi Envoy in Britian For Secret Talks:
Colonel Gaddafi's regime has sent one of its most trusted envoys to London for confidential talks with British officials, the Guardian can reveal. Mohammed Ismail, a senior aide to Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, visited London in recent days, British government sources familiar with the meeting have confirmed.
The contacts with Ismail are believed to have been one of a number between Libyan officials and the west in the last fortnight, amid signs that the regime may be looking for an exit strategy.
"There has been increasing evidence recently that the sons want a way out," said a western diplomatic source.
Although he has little public profile in either Libya or internationally, Ismail is recognised by diplomats as being a key fixer and representative for Saif al-Islam.
"The message that was delivered to him is that Gaddafi has to go and that there will be accountability for crimes committed at the international criminal court," a Foreign Office spokesman told the Guardian , declining to elaborate on what else may have been discussed.
________________________
I just copied bits & pieces from the article, and I can't seem to show the website here - but if you're interested, it's at The Guardian.co.uk website
Seems to me, Pat, that the administration is quietly working behind the scenes to get this situation resolved and by the time people in the media & the pundits quit asking about an exit strategy, etc., it will be done.
APRIL 1, 2011
AL JAZEERA:
There are unconfirmed reports that more people have left the inner circle of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, following the high level desertion of Moussa Koussa, Libya''s foreign minister, who arrived in the UK on Wednesday. It is understood a group of top officials who had headed to Tunisia for talks have decided to stay there.
Some Arabic newspapers said Mohammad Abu Al Qassim Al Zawi, the head of Libya''s Popular Committee, the country’s equivalent of a parliament, is among the defectors. Nazanine Moshiri, Al Jazeera''s correspondent in Tunis, said that Abu Zayed Dordah, Libya''s prime minister from 1990 to 1994, has also been mentioned.
Scottish authorities said on Thursday that they wished to interview Koussa over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. The bombing over the Scottish town in 1988 killed 259 people, mostly Americans, on the plane and 11 on the ground.
Last month, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the former Libyan justice minister and leader of the rebel''s interim national council, said that Gaddafi ordered intelligence officers, including the convicted bomber Abdel Baset al Megrahi, to carry out the bombing.
Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was among those killed, said Koussa''s arrival in Britain was an opportunity to finally shed some light on the bombing.
"Koussa was at the centre of Gaddafi''s inner circle. This is a guy who knows everything," he said.
"I think this is a fantastic day for those who seek the truth about Lockerbie. He could tell us everything the Gaddafi regime knows."
Can't leave the Libyan freedom fighters alone on this. However we need to know who they are. In the meantime you have cut off Gaddafi's resources and lifestyle. He won't, and more important his followers won't, last long this way and he will be gone by Libyan hand one way or another. Also, if a bomb accidently falls on his head while we are enforcing the NFZ so be it.
But hey AnaB it shouldn't ake too long to interview each and every on of the 920 or so, right?
Say isn't this kinda like how we got sucked into Vietnam?
Spanky,
Something I posted earlier for someone else asking the same question.
JuvenBachen,
Vietnam was less defined than this. The CIA was in before any military action began. Then special forces. When CIA realized it would be a mistake going in and recommended pulling out to Kennedy. He was assassinated shortly after and Johnson ignored the recommendation and went full force in. Big Mistake! This is why conspiracy theorist think Johnson, a Texan, had a hand in Kennedy's assassination. Johnson profited from the Vietnam War through companies under Lady Bird's name.
So . . . unless Michelle Obama has industrialized war machine companies under her name or Biden under his name we can confidently say when the CIA makes its recommendation, they will be taken seriously this time around.
Accidentally, AnaBanana?
ACCIDENTALLY?
Would you be OK if it wasn't 100% accidentally?
So. if Libya has no planes in the Air what would be the need to Drop more Bombs on those people, I mean i can understand Shooting any Air Craft that might be flying. but to be dropping bombs for no reason?
Clearly this is more then a NFZ we are in a War pushing Regime Change........ Just man up and come otu and Say it. Obama?
Can anyone confidently say anything about what Obama/Hillary/Rice will do?
CIA is there. So are the covert/special ops. Obama has said the dude's gotta go.
And just how can anything be less well defined than this?
Mixed Bag,
My bad. However if you look them up, they are both acceptable spelling of the same word. Also I would be 100% OK with the Libyans doing as "they" want with their leader if he doesn't leave Libya willingly or he "accidentally" dies.
We have to protect the citizens of Libya, Steve.
As dangerfield said...
You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
Did you watch President Obama's address, or not?
It wasn't about your spelling, AnaBanana...
Are you OK with President Obama killing Gaddafi in a manner that's not entirely...hmmm...how should I put this?
Oh...I know.
ACCIDENTAL?
MB. of course i did............ I just want him to be more Clear. are we protecting the Citizens Supporting the govt that have guns. Or the ones Against it that have Guns? I get so confused....
I just want to know if we're going to kill the rebels threatening the pro-Gaddafi civilians, Steve.
Hmmm...that's almost the same question, isn't it?
Feisty...?
Bev...?
I am not sure they are going to Educate us on this manner............ perhaps they have us on Ignore Again.. well Not the Real Ignore. just the ignore of the really hard Questions...
If you check President Johnson went into Vietnam under false pretenses. Gulf of Tonkin was the tipping point and we were not attacked by the Vietnamese, and the administration knew but wanted to go anyway. Another war started on a lie this time by a democratic president.
AnaBanana, I commend you for trying to dialogue with the knucklehead rightwingers on this board; reading your posts is like watching Jane Goodall try to discuss zoology with the gorillas.
Once Ghaddafi leaves, do we let the Libyans choose their leader?
Funny...
This President Obama's coalition...in that respect, it's President Obama's war.
So...
Where are President Obama's sycophants?
Hello...?
ECHO...echo...
!
Chuck, for such a smart guy, you need to learn how to pronounce "get". It's no longer cute. Grow up. I love watching you and are a big fan but come on already! And I really do mean that I think you're great but it's just so annoying when you can't pronounce that one word correctly. It almost seems an affectation.
Obamba a war President? I can't believe it! Say Obie whatever happened to all that Socialism, and the Progressive society? Now, you're saving Libyans instead of Americans. Why do you send them a stimulus. Be careful. Remember Afghanistan and Pakistan how they took our billions and turned those guns against us.
Don't tell me that Fiesty and Bev were fooling us all along these days. Being born on the 1st of April makes you wonder if they were really suppose to see the light of day. But they are like two fools in a pod.
You wait when Obamba and the Dems start to lose in Libya , Guess what? They'll blame on Bush. Yuh , can't trust the Dems.