On the NRO Libya Editorial, I Respectfully Dissent

National Review ^ | Andrew c. McCarthy

[hcmama]

“If we did supply the rebels, who exactly would be receiving our money and munitions? Libya’s internal politics are opaque, to put it mildly. But here’s one disquieting data point, courtesy of the Center for a New American Security’s : Eastern Libya, the locus of the rebellion, sent more foreign fighters per capita to join the Iraqi insurgency than any other region in the Arab world.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/opinion/14douthat.html?_r=1&ref=rossdouthat

[Walts Ice Pick]

Aid to the Libyan rebels is a job best left to the private sector. Our government shouldn’t be in the business of picking winners and losers, especially overseas.

[SMARTY]

Who then, did Evita meet with? What authorization were they given? How did they represent themselves?

You mean there is NO ONE of any standing we have any business treating with, but she went anyway?

[Liz]

Thanks for the heads-up.

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES The Iraq war hawks urging intervention in Libya are confident that there’s NO WAY way Libya could ever be another Iraq. Of course, they never thought Iraq would be Iraq, either.

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ANALYSIS Libya----just another neocon happy face war (/snix).

The war profiteering by the Endless Mideast Invasions cheerleaders is monstrous. Neocon guru Richard Perle's war profiteering is such that he is starting an oil business in the bloody Mideast---a region made safe for Perle's business interests with US tax dollars and rivers of blood from young soldiers.

===================================

And isn't it "interesting" that impoverished Egyptians with hardly enough food in their stomachs, and no visible means, were able to topple 30-year dictator Mubarak who controlled the Egyptian Army.

Yet, the Iraquis are whining that their army---trained with zillions of US tax dollars--won't be "ready" for another five years. By the time we exit there---if ever---all of the Mideast Invasion Cheerleaders will be zillionaires---and won't be paying a penny of US taxes.

[ScottinVA]

In your haste, you seem to have overlooked that Obama himself took time from his busy recreation schedule to say Gaddafi must go.

No, I heard when the dumbass made that comment when he thought Gaddafi's fall was imminent.

As for the lives of Libyan rebels, I frankly don't care -- those knuckledraggers are not our problem. THEY rose up; THEY said "no intervention, we'll handle it"; and only after they found Gaddafi wasn't going to cave like they assumed he would did they come squealing for help.

As for our being in harm's way... the danger of a terror attack against America is no less than it ever was; knocking aside Gaddafi in favor of an al Qaeda - supported cabal of murderers, IMO, doesn't exactly mitigate that threat.

We as a country -- because of the den of idiots running the place -- will likely rush blindly and brazenly into the Libyan conflict... largely because 0bama would love nothing more than to appear decisive at a time when Americans are finally wising up to his gross ineffectiveness.

EVERY time we aid muslims, it costs us in blood and treasure. From earthquake aid, to military aid, to invasion, we've saved millions of their miserable, pathetic lives over the past 35 years -- does evidence exist they like us any more than they did in the 1970s?

I realize this country needs a "lift" of some kind. With things not progressing well in Afghanistan, Mexican drug cartels occupying parts of our Southwest, our economy sucking wind and gas prices skyrocketing, people are just generally pissed off about life. It's understandable that we need something to cheer about and of course whacking a thug like Muammar Gaddafi would (momentarily) salve those psychological wounds. But my whole point is and has been the post-Gaddafi ramifications aren't being thought through. All we hear is, "let's do SOMETHING."

And still... no proponent has addressed this: Under which flag will our troops will be fighting... U.S. or U.N.? Just remember what happened in the streets of Mogadishu to those U.N.-ASSIGNED 18 Army Rangers... that should be a reminder of how liberal administrations value military troops.

So... once again... thanks but no thanks.

[dforest]

Wow. Powerful post Liz.

All of it true. Thanks.

[ScottinVA]

The Iraq war hawks urging intervention in Libya are confident that there’s NO WAY way Libya could ever be another Iraq.

With Libya primarily a tribal society, could you imagine the nation building project we'd be undertaking THERE?

We can't afford it, folks. Let's hand the baton to someone who can.

[ScottinVA]

The Iraq war hawks urging intervention in Libya

Ah, yes... with cheering and candy and smiles all around. /S

[andy58-in-nh]

"It is essential to attack Islamic terrorists who plot against America, but our humanitarian military efforts in the Islamic world have been a disaster — at staggering costs in lives and hundreds of billions of dollars that we don’t have. "

Amen. Enough "nation-building" nonsense already.

[Liz]

With Libya primarily a tribal society, could you imagine the nation building the US would be undertaking THERE?

Libya no-fly zone----another cockamamie con job by the neurotic, self-absorbed neocons. They have a paranoid need to be number one---they think nothing of sacrificing US soldiers and US treasure for their selfish needs

Americans don't like the tactics neocons use against those who dare to utter a discouraging word

The American era in the ME is O-v-e-r. There is NOTHING in the US Constitution that compels US citizens to subsidize these backwater ME hellholes.

[ScottinVA]

I never thought until this past week that I’d be blasting neocons... but in light of this Libya issue, I’m blasting away.

Let’s pass on Libya and marshal our forces for a conflict that’s more related to our national security.

[calcowgirl]

At least someone gets it!

BUMP!

McCarthy nails it.

[Forgotten Amendments]

I never thought until this past week that I’d be blasting neocons...

Prepare to be called an isolationist and an anti-Semite.

Those creeps are evil.

[Condor51]

Sorry for the tardy reply, I was reading the article - its a looooong one. (I didn't finish)

Andrew McCarthy is right.

We have NO BUSINESS getting involved in Libya -- None, nada, nicht, zip, zero, zilch - period!

And if these (blanking) Neo-Cons want to have a war with Libya so much, I suggest THEY ALL LEAVE America and start up their own country. Then they can attack Libya and whomever else they god-dang please!

Of course that would cost THEM MONEY and LIVES from their own families.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks ventanax5.

Andrew McCarthy:

Google

[dforest]

Excellent response, needs to be bumped!

[ScottinVA]

I thought they were asking for, equipment and advisors

Could be, but that's how our involvement in Vietnam started, too.

[zzeeman]

The editors instead claim that “the request by the rebels and the Arab League [is] all the authorization we need”

WTF???

McCarthy is absolutely correct in his piece. This is pure insanity.

[fallujah-nuker]

They are neocon chickenhawks. Now, McCarthy will probably be purged as "unpatriotic". TNR has been a worthless rag since the Clinton era. Mark my words, they will eventually have an issue about the "groundswell" of support for Lieberman for GOP Prez in '12.

Obama is following what NR editor Jonah Goldberg refers to as the Ledeen Doctrine: “Every ten years or so, the United States needs to pick up some small crappy little country and throw it against the wall, just to show the world we mean business.