At War In Libya: How Long Will It Last? Will Qaddafi Be Gone? [Who Knows..]

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | March 20, 2011 | Brad Knickerbocker, Staff Writer

[fight_truth_decay]

Libyan rebels drive past a burning tank and other military vehicles
of Muammar Qaddafi’s army that were hit by coalition forces on the road
from Benghazi to Ajdabiyah on Sunday, March 20.-Newscom

With US bombs and missiles hitting Libyan targets, lawmakers and other observers want to know how long the fighting will continue and whether Muammar Qaddafi will be forced from power.

[fight_truth_decay]

What's with All the questions: How should I, the citizen reader, be expected to know? Even Senator Lugar doesn't know much.

Senator Richard Lugar, senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, wonders "who it is in Libya that we're trying to support?"

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm Mike Mullen on ABC This Week "is speculating".

The Arab League Secretary General says the missile strikes and aerial bombing had gone too far and we just got started.

Then at the end we get:

SOUND OFF: Did the UN make the right decision in approving a no-fly zone?

[MinorityRepublican]

“Obviously, the people who are against Qaddafi, but who?? Sen. Lugar asked on CBS’ Face the Nation. ?In eastern Libya, for example, a huge number of people went off to help the Iraqis against the United States in a war that still is winding down.?

[IbJensen]

The real question is not if Kadaffy Duck will be gone, but when will Barry Barack Soretoes Obama and Richard Lugar be gone?

[Broker]

...and who is calling all the shots on Libya? Who is leading this charge?

[MinorityRepublican]

Who knows?

[dfwgator]

...and who is calling all the shots on Libya? Who is leading this charge?

[Iron Munro]

This is insanity.

What the hell are we doing bombing another 3d world muslim country?

They were doing a perfectly good job of killing each other off.

This is all about beefing up Obama’s credentials for the 2012 election.

[Broker]

Hillary Rodham Clinton has forged together an alliance or coalition of great powers? Is that why she was in Eygpt last week? OK is she is the political wonk, who is the military genius commanding these international assets?

[libertyhoundusnr]

Viva Kadafii!
Screw Obama....

[Bean Counter]

If we are all smart, it will last as long as it takes to remove Kadaffy and his Family to the presence of Allah.

No solution that involves the survival of the Kadaffy Klan is acceptable.

[dfwgator]

No solution that involves the survival of any Muslim Brotherhood or Al-Qaeda fighters is acceptable.

[Riodacat]

The Administration isn't going to vocalize what its true intentions are.
They know that Q-daffy hates America and would kill westerners again if he could get away with it and they may suspect that the rebels are, to a large degree, made up of Islamist facists, who would turn to international terrorism if they were in control.
If that is the case, a reasonable strategy could be to keep Q-daffy in power in western Libya with rebels controlling the western part of the country with each side keeping each other busy for years to come rather than focusing their energy externally for terrorist activities.
Under such a scenario, the no-fly zone would ensure that Q-daffy can't defeat the rebels, but such that Q-daffy retains sufficient capability to keep the rebel at bay.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I would rather attack Saudi Arabia.

[Riodacat]

They were doing a perfectly good job of killing each other off.

No, Q-daffy was days away from overrunning the rebels.
The no-fly operation will degrade his assets and capabilities to the extent that the 2 sides are now pretty well evenly matched and can pound away at each other for years.
Actually a very clever move..

[Mister Da]

Contrary to the pundits, I think Kaddafi will bug-out to another country when the bombs get too close. He has a history of personal cowardice.

The pundits say he has no place to run. Not true. Several countries would be happy to take him & his millions/billions. Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, several African states, & maybe Saudi Arabia would take him in & shelter him from the Hague courts.

The closer the JDAMs come to that yellow streak on his back, the sooner he will leave.

[fight_truth_decay]

The Administration isn't going to vocalize....

BUT shouldn't those people in my Comment know something?Like Sen. Lugar, senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee or Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen?

[fight_truth_decay]

I think Kaddafi will bug-out to another country when the bombs get too close

In those outfits he always wears? that stands out..won't get far..and he would make a real ugly woman.

Remember when Kaddafi said: "We are content and happy if Obama can stay forever as the president of the United States."..[pander-pander]?

Before that, the Bush Adminstration and Condi Rice said the "scared straight" autocrat whom Ronald Reagan once said was a "mad dog" became, in the words of Rice, "an important model as nations around the world press for changes in behavior by the Iranian and North Korean regimes."

Now Obama is calling Rio a model for the Middle East. Rio is a safer choice for a model, I think.

[Bean Counter]

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

[Jim Noble]

the rebels are, to a large degree, made up of Islamist facists

Can you name three similarities between Islam and fascism?

Can you name any?

[Riodacat]

BUT shouldn't those people in my Comment know something?Like Sen. Lugar, senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee or Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen?

They should and maybe they do and aren't saying - or maybe they don't know shit from Shinola.