How to Create a Disaster [#syria #intervention]

The international community is playing with fire when they support foreign interventions, and there will be years of debate over whether NATO’s intervention in Libya essentially created a civil war there that led to 30,000 Libyans being killed.  Conversely, without intervention, the international community risks seeing the Syrian government commit another massacre similar to the Hama massacre in 1982, where 20-40,000 Syrians were killed.

I wrote this back in December, 2011.  These words are still haunting me. 

This was after the US put a coalition together to intervene in the Libyan conflict.  The result of that conflict and our intervention was a death toll of 30,000 Libyans — but the question is whether more would have perished without intervention?

Syria isn’t Libya, but, unfortunately, I think we have an answer to that question. When you know that Syria, unlike Libya, had a history of killing tens of thousands of its civilians before their civil war began, the question goes from being merely academically inquisitive to burning; searing.  The question brands itself onto your conscience, and the shame rises up like steam that brings tears to your eyes.

I’m not for intervention in Syria now, I’m for it yesterday.  A year ago, or more.  Back when intervention would have made a positive difference.  I can’t think of positive aspects to the intervention being offered now.  By not wanting to take the situation seriously - as seriously as Libya was regarded, at least - Obama has painted himself into a corner by allowing over 100,000 Syrians to die before Assad’s chemical weapons attack.  Obama didn’t build coalitions in case the Syrian conflict escalated to this point, and now even Britain isn’t with us.  (Let that diplomatic blow sink in for a minute.)  Since 2011, violence in Iraq has skyrocketed and the world might see two full blown civil wars in the region, a destabilized government in Egypt, and blowback in Lebanon.  Israel might feel threatened and stage an attack.  What happens then? 

This is a nightmare scenario.  If Obama thinks it can be avoided by dropping a few bombs on Syria - likely killing more civilians than anybody else - then he’s out of his fucking mind. 

This is what happens with you let problems fester.  This is what happens when you see a wound and don’t treat it properly.  And this won’t just set back the whole MidEast region a couple generations of development, but it will also cause more people to lose faith in the US government. 

We certainly got the change that we voted for.  I’m not sure what happened to the hope, though.

Devastating Moment for Mitt Romney

Bless Candy Crowley for correcting Mitt Romney on his false assertion that President Obama did not call the Benghazi attack an "act of terror the day after the attack.

Obama in the Rose Garden.

"No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation."

This is what happens on national television when Romney continues to distort the truth and tragedy for political gain. Sooner or later, he was going to get busted for it.

Update: Taegan Goddard compared Romney to Gerald Ford on not knowing what Obama said on the embassy attack.

Romney was most effective when pointing out what Obama promised and what actually happened over the last four years. He scored many points But he lost most of them by not knowing his facts on what President Obama said the morning after the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya. Obama acted like a president in the exchange while Romney was much less. It was Romney's Gerald Ford moment.

Benjamin Kirby sees Romney's Benghazi moment has a huge failure.

For the record, I saw the Romney crash-and-burn moment as him saying the words, "Am I incorrect in that regard?" as Candy Crowley shut him down on Libya and what was said by President Obama.

Herman Cain's Libya Failure

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips finally comes to the realization that Herman Cain is clueless. What gave it away.

Tonight there is a video from the Journal Sentinel online that show an interview with Herman Cain. Forget the sexual harassment allegations. Forget Mark Block’s gross incompetence. Herman Cain needs to leave the race because he is not qualified to be President.

Phillips cites an an example that Cain does not even have a basic understanding about Libya.

Candidates have something called briefing books. These are prepared by staffers and contain, among other things, topics candidates are expected to have at least a passing knowledge of. Cain may not be expected to know the name of the President of Montenegro or the Prime Minister of Moldavia, but Libya is a question that will obviously come up.

This video is what Phillips is referring to. Cain asks the intervierer if President Obama supporting the uprising and overthrowing Moammar Kadafi. The fact that Cain doesn't know this is embarrassing. Cain goes on to say that he would be more deliberate in assessing information than Obama. Somehow I seriously doubt that.

Cain states he would have learned more about the opposition than Obama. The interviewer asks Cain if Obama failed to assess the opposition. Cain says he doesn't know. This Republican field gives me more respect for the intelligence of George W. Bush everyday.

Quote of the Day

"I admire and am very proud of the way she leans back and gives orders to the Arab leaders … Leezza, Leezza, Leezza … I love her very much. I admire her and I'm proud of her because she's a black woman of African origin."

Muammar Gaddafi, professing his crush on Condoleezza Rice.

Libyan rebels showed the media Gaddafi extremely tacky crib. Gaddafi had several pictures of Rice on the wall to go along with with mermaid sofa.

Rebels in Libya Planning Major Assault

There were previous reports that Gaddafi left Libya. The Washington Post reports rebels are forming an attack on Gaddafi's compound.

Anti-Gaddafi rebels, who have spent months quietly organizing for this moment, are now within a mile and a half of Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound and are hoping to launch an assault on the headquarters as soon as rebel reinforcements arrive, said an activist who uses the name Tony.

“We’re waiting for our brothers to get here from the west, and if they get here tonight then tonight’s our night,” he said. “We are beating this dog.”

Reports are that President Obama was pulled out of his golf game to be briefed about the latest events in Libya. This sounds big. The question is if Gaddafi is still in the country?

Update: the rebels will not attack if Gaddafi and his sons leave the country.

Quote of the Day

"Candy, Candy, in the old days, when you have a war and you win, that nation is yours."

Donald Trump, advocating going into Libya and taking its oil.

Stealing another country's resources is illegal under international law. The oil belongs to the Libyan people. Trump should read article 47 of the Hague Regulations of 1907 before he makes he opens his mouth to CNN's Candy Crowley.

Art. 47. Pillage is formally forbidden.

Update: Donald Trumps attacks Eric Cantor. In the process, Trump accidently reveals that he is using the birther issue for political gain.

TRUMP: "I think it's a very bad thing for Cantor to have done because I'll tell you, people love this issue especially in the Republican Party. And there's something to what we're saying."

Republicans were afraid to dispel the birther conspiracy theory when it first came out. The GOP now has to eat this shit sandwich.

Rubio Wants Bipartisan Resolution for Force Against Qaddafi

Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Mitch McConnell. Rubio is asking for a bipartisan resolution for the use of force against the Libyan government. Rubio wants to Senate to back the removal of Muammar Qaddafi. Rubio campaigned on hawkish foreign policy views. This isn't really surprising.

MR Letter Urging Removal of Qaddafi - March 302011

Joel Award: Sarah Palin

It is time to give out the Joel Award. The award goes any celebrity, pundit, blogger or politician that purposely contradicts himself or herself.

On Fox News, Sarah Palin said she wants the Libyan conflict ended quickly.

We better be in it to win it. 'Win it' means Qadhafi goes and America gets to get on out of there."

"It's not America's role not to be out and about nation building and telling other countries how to live."

Funny but Palin supports nation building in Iraq. It makes me wonder why Palin wants to NATO air-strikes stopped ASAP.

We should be clear, however, that fewer troops mean assuming more risk. Talk of an exit date also risks sending the wrong message. We should be in Afghanistan to win, not to set a timetable for withdrawal that signals a lack of resolve to our friends, and lets our enemies believe they can wait us out. As long as we’re in to win, and as long as troop level decisions are based on conditions on the ground and the advice of our military commanders, I support President Obama’s decision.

Triangulation Man: Libya

In 2007, Boston Globe reporter Charlie Savage asked candidate Triangulation Man when the president has the authority to call for military action against Iran. Our fearless hero made it clear any military action must be approved by Congress.

SAVAGE: In what circumstances, if any, would the president have constitutional authority to bomb Iran without seeking a use-of-force authorization from Congress? (Specifically, what about the strategic bombing of suspected nuclear sites -- a situation that does not involve stopping an IMMINENT threat?)

OBAMA: The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.

As Commander-in-Chief, the President does have a duty to protect and defend the United States. In instances of self-defense, the President would be within his constitutional authority to act before advising Congress or seeking its consent. History has shown us time and again, however, that military action is most successful when it is authorized and supported by the Legislative branch. It is always preferable to have the informed consent of Congress prior to any military action.

As for the specific question about bombing suspected nuclear sites, I recently introduced S.J. Res. 23, which states in part that “any offensive military action taken by the United States against Iran must be explicitly authorized by Congress.” The recent NIE tells us that Iran in 2003 halted its effort to design a nuclear weapon. While this does not mean that Iran is no longer a threat to the United States or its allies, it does give us time to conduct aggressive and principled personal diplomacy aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

If there is one thing we learned about Triangulation Man is that he would never take the Republican Party position on domestic or foreign policy.

Bill Kristol

"No, we cannot leave Gaddafi in power," Kristol agreed. "And we won't leave Gaddafi in power."

"The immediate military mission, Admiral Mullen correctly described but the political goal is to remove Gaddafi and ultimately military assets will serve that political goal."

John McCain

“We can't risk allowing Qaddafi to massacre people from the air, both by helicopter and fixed-wing [aircraft]."

Our hero quickly moved to the right of center to please Republicans. Triangulation Man's efforts led to House Speaker John Boehner to publicly criticize the Libya policy.

“All of these concerns point to a fundamental question,” Mr. Boehner writes, “What is your benchmark for success in Libya?”

Mr. Boehner, who issued a short statement on Libya over the weekend, ratcheted up his criticism of Mr. Obama’s handling of operation as Democrats and Republicans continue to voice concerns about the cost of the mission and the president’s decision not to pursue approval from Congress before authorizing military force.

In his letter, Mr. Boehner writes that he is “troubled that U.S. military resources were committed to war without clearly defining for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what the mission in Libya is and what America’s role is in achieving that mission.”

Obama ordered the no-fly zones over Libya. Republicans now refuse to support the policy. Boehner is willing to sound like a peace activist to garner political points against Obama. Another sore point for Congress is Obama ordered the air-strikes without congressional approval. Polititifact ruled that Obama did a full flip flop from his 2007 position.

The use of military force against Libya should be argued on the merits of the operation. However, Obama's flip flop smacks as a president attempting to appear tough on foreign policy. Either Obama was telling voters what he thought they wanted to hear in 2007 or he has developed a contempt of Congress since becoming president. The politically smart thing would have been to force Congress to vote on the use of military force against Qaddafi. This would have forced Republicans and Democrats to take a position and own it. Apparently, Obama had little confidence that his powers of persuasion and military strategy would be approved. That does not inspire confidence.

Update: John Bolton was in Palm Beach, Florida today. Bolton was highly critical of Obama's handling of Libya. Anyone want to place bets on Bolton would have still criticized Obama, if the President didn't order the no-fly zones.

Nic Robertson Calls Out Fox News

CNN foreign correspondent Nic Robertson accuses Fox News of lying about the other networks coverage of Libya. Robertson said he sees the Fox News team "more at breakfast" than coverage the Libya story.

Silly journalist, Fox News doesn't do journalism. One of Fox News' host plays with puppets. Asking Fox News to do journalism is like asking Kevin Smith not to be a slacker.

Pro-Democracy Rally For Libya In Tampa

There is a Facebook page for a pro-democracy solidarity rally that took in the Temple Terrace area of Tampa.

Quote of the Day

"Late evening with Col. Qadhafi at his "ranch" in Libya - interesting meeting with an interesting man."

John McCain, in a August 15, 2009 tweet.

Two Libyan pilots flew their planes to Malta to seek political asylum. The pilots said they could not carry out orders to bomb protesters. CNN reports the Libyan miltary has opened fire on the protesters from helicopters. protesters. several hundreds of protesters have been killed.

Why people still take John McCain seriously on foreign policy and national security issues is beyond me?