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Why can't we just let the Libyans fight it out (...and then make friends with the winners)
The Daily Mail ^ | March 20, 2011 | Peter Hitchens

Posted on 03/20/2011 4:13:01 AM PDT by Scanian

Politics seems to have become a sort of mental illness. We have no bloody business in Libya, and no idea what we hope to achieve there.

We are daily told that we have no money to spare. We have just scrapped a large part of our Navy.

Our Army is stuck in an Afghan war whose point nobody can explain. And now we have set out on a course that could drag us into a long, gory brawl in North Africa.

And yet, when the Prime Minister announces this folly he is praised. Why? Partly it is because we all watch too much TV. Its reports simplify, then exaggerate.

Reporters, much like politicians, like to feel they are helping to make history, and get excited by subjects they knew nothing about until last Wednesday.

Before we know where we are, we are taking sides in quarrels we don’t understand. Who are the Libyan rebels? What do they want? Why do we love them so?

I’ve no idea, and nor has Mr Cameron, as we discovered when he (yes, it was him, not poor William Hague) sent the SAS to see them and they were welcomed with pitchforks and mockery.

The only sensible policy in Libya is to wait and see who wins, and then make friends with them. If you think this heartless, you are of course right. Foreign policy is heartless. Nice countries end up being conquered or going bankrupt. But it may be no more heartless than our kindly interference.

I pray that this episode ends quickly and cleanly. Perhaps it will. But we cannot know. What if our humanitarian bombs and missiles accidentally kill women and children (which is almost certain)? What if air attacks and distant shelling fail to stop Gaddafi’s forces?

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cameron; gaddafi; interference; libya
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To: Sarah-bot

Yeah, like its going to end with that. LOL.


121 posted on 03/20/2011 6:07:30 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (Who needs Al Queda to worry about when we have Obama?)
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To: wita

see #118


122 posted on 03/20/2011 6:08:32 AM PDT by bigheadfred (THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HAS BEGUN)
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To: GlockThe Vote

It could, it could not, what is the difference. If it did end there, what would you say? If it started where you fear, what would you say? The point is that you are anti-American. No mater what we do you will hate us.


123 posted on 03/20/2011 6:10:22 AM PDT by Sarah-bot
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To: Hot Tabasco; InvisibleChurch

For all we know, some of them may be vicious animals from Sudan and Somalia sent to keep the pot boiling.

The whole thing looks like an emotional decision designed to assist self-styled “democrats.” And as all serious adults know, emotional decisions are invariably piss-poor.


124 posted on 03/20/2011 6:11:45 AM PDT by Scanian (i)
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To: Sarah-bot

Your strategy actually worked for the Indians. That is the subcontinent Indians.

I’m lost, what strategy?


125 posted on 03/20/2011 6:12:32 AM PDT by wita
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To: JaneNC

Hey yo, if your reasoned logic is so sound, why are we not in Sudan? =.=


126 posted on 03/20/2011 6:12:49 AM PDT by cranked
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To: FreedomForce

I’m not sure but tHey’re bitching about it now...telling the Western powers to stop the “indiscriminate use of force.”


127 posted on 03/20/2011 6:13:27 AM PDT by Scanian (i)
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To: Sarah-bot
I'm calling BS on your claim to "service." If you had enlisted in our nation's military, particuarly the Army or the Marines, you would definetly sing a different tune with regards to how tired our forces are. You think the sky high rates of suicide of our troops is due to Pokemon being canceled? What about soliders who are on deployments five or six? You think they're roaring to deploy to Libya now??

And I would hope that someone who HAD served in one of those conflicts would understand that KILLING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IS A BAD IDEA. Our goal is to protect the populace from the bad guys. Your championing of a policy of blowing everyone away is not what a professional solider or Marine would be in accordance with. Besides it being against the UCMJ (google it if you have no idea what that is), it won't win our wars.

128 posted on 03/20/2011 6:14:20 AM PDT by KantianBurke (Hey Tea Party folks - what about Social Security reform?)
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To: wita

Throwing yourself in front of trains actually won the Indians their freedom. I can not argue against the effectiveness of that strategy, but I would rather not participate in it.


129 posted on 03/20/2011 6:14:38 AM PDT by Sarah-bot
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To: Sarah-bot

This is at least the second time you have defined war as training. You are an idiot.


130 posted on 03/20/2011 6:14:49 AM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get down that hill?")
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To: org.whodat

“permanent vacationer”

Don’t you know it!

This weeks Rasmussen’s should tell a story.


131 posted on 03/20/2011 6:15:04 AM PDT by Scanian (i)
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To: Teacher317

then the War on Terror(ists) is won.

Amen!


132 posted on 03/20/2011 6:16:22 AM PDT by wita
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To: GlockThe Vote

Mega bump to post #114


133 posted on 03/20/2011 6:16:30 AM PDT by KantianBurke (Hey Tea Party folks - what about Social Security reform?)
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To: Sarah-bot
How does shooting cruise missiles spread us out? It is target practice.

It is an act of war. From the launching of the first cruise missle we have launched an unauthorized and undeclared war against a sovereign nation.

What do we expect to accomplish by this act of naked aggression? Has anyone in Obama's administration indicated what our endgame strategy is in this war??

Maybe you can explain it for them.

134 posted on 03/20/2011 6:16:37 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Scanian

” Witch side are the bad guys on ? “


135 posted on 03/20/2011 6:17:33 AM PDT by piroque (Southern born and Raised,Love "G R I T S")
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To: KantianBurke

That is the ate up thing about this site. I actually called them up one night after a long fight and offered to send them by DD214. I asked that they would make it a requirement for anyone claiming service, but they declined.
I have chilled out since then. so should you.


136 posted on 03/20/2011 6:17:45 AM PDT by Sarah-bot
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To: P-Marlowe

Kill the bad guys.


137 posted on 03/20/2011 6:19:18 AM PDT by Sarah-bot
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To: sport

...and Iran is resolute and focused on becoming the first middle eastern nation to become nuclear, when the rest of the world has gone completely mushy after the tsunami.


138 posted on 03/20/2011 6:19:42 AM PDT by wita
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To: Sarah-bot

You are a troll. Go back to DU.


139 posted on 03/20/2011 6:20:27 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Sarah-bot

Ok, someone report this troll to JR now.


140 posted on 03/20/2011 6:20:27 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (Who needs Al Queda to worry about when we have Obama?)
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