Posted on 03/24/2011 12:39:03 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
As America's NATO allies shoulder a greater share of the air war in Libya, the Arab countries that urged the U.N. Security Council to impose a no-fly zone are missing from the action. Except for the small Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, which is expected to start flying air patrols over Libya by this weekend, no other members of the 22-member Arab League have so far publicly committed to taking an active role. The U.S. has sold many of these countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, billions of dollars in sophisticated military gear over the past decade to help counter Iran's power in the region.
Nearly a week into the campaign to prevent Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces from attacking civilians, the United States increased the pressure on its NATO allies to take command of the campaign, suggesting the U.S. might even step away from its leadership role in a few days, even with the conflict's outcome in doubt.
Despite the threat, officials said there was no absolute deadline to hand over front-line control to other countries, or for an end to all U.S. participation. Still, with the costs of the campaign growing by the day and members of Congress raising complaints over the goals in Libya, the Obama administration wants its allies to take the lead role soon.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, an early skeptic of American military intervention in Libya, said President Barack Obama made clear from the start of the campaign last Saturday that the U.S. would run it for only about a week. In an exchange with reporters traveling with him in Cairo on Wednesday, Gates was asked if his comments meant the U.S. had set a firm deadline of this Saturday for turning over command.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
MORE
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said that when Gadhafi started a violent crackdown on his people, Obama moved with “unprecedented speed,” and when Gadhafi remained defiant, Obama worked with allies and the Arab nations. He called it a “prudent course of action for the president and for our nation.”
It’s time we honor the members of Congress who voted in 2002 to prevent the Bush administration’s hasty rush into an unprovoked attack and occupation of Iraq.
The dramatic, much-debated vote on Joint Resolution 114 was taken on October 11, 2002. It passed the Senate by a vote of 77 to 23, and the House of Representatives by a vote of 296 to 133.
Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) included.
http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalleadership/a/IraqNayVote.htm
Ah yes....bowing as he did just didn't do the trick. Trust but VERIFY, putz.
At the very least, without Saddam paying off the families willing to strap bombs on their children, that horror has seemed to drop off the scope. And Saddam's penchant for killing hundreds of thousands via genocide has not been repeated. Two very good things.
I am proud of our troops and their heroic efforts in Iraq and prior to Iraq, Kuwait.
It's worth pointing out that the Iraq War Resolution passed both the Senate and the House with a majority of Democrats voting in favor.
Including Dick Durbin. And John Effin' Kerry. And Hillary Clinton...
When the united states leaves Iraq, mookie al sadar will take over within two years.
I’m amazed Durbin could say anything at all with his lips that firmly attacked to Obama’s buttocks.
I’m just sayin’ y’know?
They voted against the war. Before they they voted for it.
Excuse #2
One they.
I should preview.
“Uhbama is getting a real good lesson in just how inept a community organizer is when it comes to dealing with foreign nations and their ability to waiver and betray.”
I think you’ve really hit it on the head. Obama seems to have this view that every political issue can be flow-charted out to a formulaic resolution. That might work when it comes to appointing a new Postmaster General, but foreign policy is by nature a tricky, often dirty business. It some parts of the world, it even defies logic at times.
Obama doesn’t get that, I think. And neither do most of his senior advisors, IMHO. I suspect Hillary actually does know the score (at least better than Obama), but is pulling a Francis Urquhart on him.
This is a UN NWO scam orchestrated by idiot Marxist Feminazis.
Oops! Forgot this :-).
I have said from the beginning that if the Arab States wanted a no-fly zone they should establish it themselves.
The Arabs are smarter than we are, they sucked us in again.
Exactly
“...President Barack Obama made clear from the start of the campaign last Saturday that..”
Well, Obama has SAID a lot of things over the years and done something entirely different.
He has said “Absolutely no boots on the ground in Libya..” (paraphrased) and yet we have marines on the way there RIGHT NOW!
And the media doesn’t even bother with one peep about this LIE.
ABSOLUTE FREAKING MADNESS!
“The U.S. has sold many of these countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, billions of dollars in sophisticated military gear over the past decade to help counter Iran’s power in the region.”
Yeah, but how good are the drivers?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.