Save Benghazi

[Casino67]

NationalReview.com:

Two weeks ago, we thought Qaddafi would soon be out of Libya or hanging from a lamp post. But he checked the momentum of the rebels and reversed it with astonishing speed. The optimal result in Libya would be the rebels’ winning on their own, sending a message to others in the region — especially the Iranians — that it’s possible for a determined populace to overturn a hideously repressive regime. That’s not going to be. The question now is whether Qaddafi crushes the rebels with impunity and consolidates his terroristic, anti-American rule.

It is in the interest of the United States that this not happen.

Qaddafi is a murderer of Americans with whom we still have a score to settle. If he survives after we and our allies sought his ouster (even if ineffectually), he will be even more unpredictable; he would be foolish not to restart his WMD programs as insurance against foreign intervention against his regime in the future. Moreover, the United States has staked its credibility on his ouster with President Obama’s repeated categorical statements that he must go. If Qaddafi re-establishes control quickly, it’ll be a blow to U.S. credibility. Finally, a Qaddafi victory will mean a humanitarian and refugee crisis, certainly affecting Egypt, and perhaps Europe.

[Sanguine]

This is a tough(ish) one. I just don't want to see American blood spilled in Libya. Just flat don't.

[Casino67]

This is a tough(ish) one. I just don't want to see American blood spilled in Libya. Just flat don't.

 

If they can hold the mission to just a no-fly zone no one of our pilots are in that much danger. We just have to control mission creep. No American died in the Bosnian bombing, maybe the same can be said of Libya should we go there.

[Argyle58]

This is a tough(ish) one. I just don't want to see American blood spilled in Libya. Just flat don't.

 

If they can hold the mission to just a no-fly zone no one of our pilots are in that much danger. We just have to control mission creep. No American died in the Bosnian bombing, maybe the same can be said of Libya should we go there.

 

While we did not lose any pilots in the former Yugoslavian campaigns, we did have two aircraft shot down by ground forces, an F16 and an F117 stealth fighter. Only luck and trained rescue personnel saved the pilots. They would probably have survived capture there, but almost certainly wouldn't in Lybia. I don't see where involving ourselves in Lybia enhances our national security....time to let someone else be the police force for the world.

[Casino67]

This is a tough(ish) one. I just don't want to see American blood spilled in Libya. Just flat don't.

 

If they can hold the mission to just a no-fly zone no one of our pilots are in that much danger. We just have to control mission creep. No American died in the Bosnian bombing, maybe the same can be said of Libya should we go there.

 

While we did not lose any pilots in the former Yugoslavian campaigns, we did have two aircraft shot down by ground forces, an F16 and an F117 stealth fighter. Only luck and trained rescue personnel saved the pilots. They would probably have survived capture there, but almost certainly wouldn't in Lybia. I don't see where involving ourselves in Lybia enhances our national security....time to let someone else be the police force for the world.

 

IMO, our national security would be threatened by Europe losing Libyan oil, which is a large supplier. They would have to acquire it elsewhere, which would delete supplies we get from the ME. And since we won't drill our own, the price would skyrocket and maybe even effect the military operations we are involved in.

 

I agree, someone else should get involved and not wait for us to act. Last I heard, England and France had an airforce. And I think they may also have aircraft carrier(s) in their navy to support them. Would think that the request of the Arab Union for no-fly would give them political cover. Quadaffy is saying it will be over in 48 hrs. In ninety-six hours we will be ready. Day late and a dollar short.

[SrWoodchuck]

This is a tough(ish) one. I just don't want to see American blood spilled in Libya. Just flat don't.

 

If they can hold the mission to just a no-fly zone no one of our pilots are in that much danger. We just have to control mission creep. No American died in the Bosnian bombing, maybe the same can be said of Libya should we go there.

 

While we did not lose any pilots in the former Yugoslavian campaigns, we did have two aircraft shot down by ground forces, an F16 and an F117 stealth fighter. Only luck and trained rescue personnel saved the pilots. They would probably have survived capture there, but almost certainly wouldn't in Lybia. I don't see where involving ourselves in Lybia enhances our national security....time to let someone else be the police force for the world.

 

IMO, our national security would be threatened by Europe losing Libyan oil, which is a large supplier. They would have to acquire it elsewhere, which would delete supplies we get from the ME. And since we won't drill our own, the price would skyrocket and maybe even effect the military operations we are involved in.

 

I agree, someone else should get involved and not wait for us to act. Last I heard, England and France had an airforce. And I think they may also have aircraft carrier(s) in their navy to support them. Would think that the request of the Arab Union for no-fly would give them political cover. Quadaffy is saying it will be over in 48 hrs. In ninety-six hours we will be ready. Day late and a dollar short.

British naval & air assets have been more than decimated by their Labour government, with scrapping & de-commissionings daily, slashing of funding and cancelling of new ships, planes & projects. They are concentrating more on domestic programs & social spending. I think they have only one active aircraft carrier.

 

The French naval & air force is smaller than the British, with only one carrier.

 

This could be a NATO campaign, but the US would still be expected to provide most of the assets needed, and probably not with a mandate from the United Nations, which is corrupt & unable to pick it's own nose without squabbling.

 

IMO:Any "No-Fly" campaign should be mounted by an Arab [saudi] force.....as they have the money to finance the operation & the reasons for doing it, too. We could provide planes, parts and support from the rear, with the gear.

 

They may be unwilling to be aggressive to a fellow OPEC member, but when you think about it, it's oil market protection.