Are we getting ready to get into another war

[Skip_In_Boulder]

I am now listening to CBS radio network news which is saying we are contemplating military action in Libya but assuring me that not on our own but as part of an international coalition.

I couldn't help but think that sure sounds familiar.

[Hannah Bell]

1. i think we're getting ready to occupy libya.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

2. Oh, another 6 months and it will be over deal?

[Hannah Bell]

5. once we get there, who knows? i think the idea would be to ensure that the successor

is friendly, but not sure how well that will go over with the populace or what other actors might be in the mix.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

6. Well I keep seeing these Twitter post and news articles

that are saying when the people of Libya are asked if they want U.S. intervention they are resoundingly saying no. Al-Jazerra is saying when asked why they do not want U.S. intervention they Libyan people are saying one word. Iraq.

[pampango]

7. There was a BBC story a couple of days ago that the provisional government

did want "foreign intervention to stop government air raids against the rebels".

I don't know if the rebels have an "official" position on foreign intervention - none at all, just a "no-fly-zone", something else. For now my impression is that, for the most part, they don't want any foreign help. They believe the can defeat Gaddafi on their own.

The tough call for the West (not just the US) will be if the rebels ever do decide that they want foreign help to equalize the military power imbalance that Gaddafi enjoys. For now that remains a hypothetical scenario, but if they are not able to get rid of Gaddafi, at some point it may not remain a hypothetical forever.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12643311

Rebels in eastern Libya have said they will not negotiate unless Col Muammar Gaddafi quits and goes into exile.

The National Libyan Council in the city of Benghazi also called again for foreign intervention to stop government air raids against the rebels.

In Benghazi, the opposition National Libyan Council said there was no room for talks, following reports that Col Gaddafi had ordered an intelligence chief to negotiate with the rebels. The council is led by former Libyan Interior Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, who defected last month.

"If there is any negotiation it will be on one single thing - how Gaddafi is going to leave the country or step down so we can save lives. There is nothing else to negotiate," Ahmed Jabreel, a spokesman for Mr Abdel-Jalil, told Reuters news agency.

[Skip Intro]

3. Against who? Lybia?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

4. Yeah, Libya. Sorry I left that part out

I have updated the post.

[NuclearDem]

8. Gates is just as much against a ground war as we are

Military action would be limited to shutting down Libya's Navy and Air Force. It's something that can be done from the Carrier group in the Mediterranean and from airbases in Italy and the UK. No ground war necessary. Just enough to keep the Navy and AF from threatening the protesters.

[elocs]

9. Well, does Libya have anything that we might want? n/t

[lonestarnot]

10. Are you kidding me?

[elocs]

11. The question was rhetorical. I thought that would be obvious. n/t

[lonestarnot]

13. Oh and my question is not allowed then? I thought the answer would be "obvious" as well.

[elocs]

15. I wonder, where was it ever said your question was not allowed?

Like sounds that only dogs can hear, was that written in letters only you can see? :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

16. The word "obvious" in your post looked critical.

:shrug:

[grahamhgreen]

12. Every time a gun is fired or bomb dropped, our opposition makes money. To them, war = money.

[TransitJohn]

14. We can only hope.

It's been a while since I've felt that thrill of jingoistic bloodlust. :sarcasm:

edit: sp