dr_mabeuse
seduce the mind
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2002
- Posts
- 11,528
Invading Iraq was the wrong policy at the wrong time in the wrong place, and I was dead set against it. But taking out Moamar Gaddafi is the right policy at the right time in the right place and the US should be doing all it can to neutralize his air power and establish a no-fly zone in Libya. That's probably all it will take to shift the balance of power enough to the rebel side that Gaddafi will be essentially toppled.
Establishing a no-fly means taking out Libya's air-defense and SAM sites in initial bombing raids, which is something The US can do quite handily. Enforcement can then be handled mostly by French and NATO forces. But if we hit him right in a first strike, there really won't be much enforcing to do.
Reasons:
--Much more than Saddam Hussein ever was, Gaddafi is a protector and instigator of anti-Western terrorism, recent promises to the contrary notwithstanding.
--Gaddafi is a sworn enemy of the Arab League and his remaining in power is a threat to Egypt, Tunisia, and the emerging Arab democracies of North Africa.
--The rebel forces have broad local support and are capable of forming their own government without the need for foreign occupation and stabilization. I.e., we don't have to send in troops.
--It's time America put some muscle behind all its empty talk about supporting freedom and democracy. There's a lot of Arab goodwill and credibility to be garnered from stepping in now and helping toss him out. An ally or even semi-ally in the middle of North Africa would go a long way in helping stabilize all of North Africa.
--It would piss off and distract the Iranians, the Chinese, and the Russians all at once. And isn't that alone worth it?
Establishing a no-fly means taking out Libya's air-defense and SAM sites in initial bombing raids, which is something The US can do quite handily. Enforcement can then be handled mostly by French and NATO forces. But if we hit him right in a first strike, there really won't be much enforcing to do.
Reasons:
--Much more than Saddam Hussein ever was, Gaddafi is a protector and instigator of anti-Western terrorism, recent promises to the contrary notwithstanding.
--Gaddafi is a sworn enemy of the Arab League and his remaining in power is a threat to Egypt, Tunisia, and the emerging Arab democracies of North Africa.
--The rebel forces have broad local support and are capable of forming their own government without the need for foreign occupation and stabilization. I.e., we don't have to send in troops.
--It's time America put some muscle behind all its empty talk about supporting freedom and democracy. There's a lot of Arab goodwill and credibility to be garnered from stepping in now and helping toss him out. An ally or even semi-ally in the middle of North Africa would go a long way in helping stabilize all of North Africa.
--It would piss off and distract the Iranians, the Chinese, and the Russians all at once. And isn't that alone worth it?
