(no subject)

[404.livejournal.com]

Seeing that the US and other nations are in Libya targeting Gadhafi, and at this point stifling the Libyan government’s ability to fight the rebels back, how long do you think the rebels have as an ally the US and co.? The cost of the air operation will easily be in the hundreds of millions, even billions, and seeing that the Obama admin will not be asking Congress for Libyan air strike funding, who will pay for the major operational costs?

Further, let’s play a game: suppose even with the no-fly zone set up, the pro-Gadhafi troops still retake Benghazi and the other rebel strong holds and rout the opposition, what should the coalition do? This whole no-fly zone deal came about two weeks too late for the rebels to be any serious contender, when they had Gadhafi on the ropes. So I bet if Gadhafi survives the rebels, the coalition has a big problem on their hands: a leader of a country that is willing to do anything to stay in power and an international response that is not willing to take him out.  If that then occurs, what should be the response of the UN?

Comments

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Gaddaffi was never on the ropes.

[404.livejournal.com]

More than he is now. So now what?

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

So now what?
I've already thoroughly explained the process of appointing Political Task Forces For Not Imposing A UN Draft Provisional Government For The Purposes Of Not Telling Libyans What To Do And Most Certainly Not Getting Involved.

[404.livejournal.com]

So you could have saved the time and not replied. Gotcha, fozzy bear.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

You could've not posted and increased efficiency in time saving by 3000 percent. But who's to say what is wasteful or not wasteful?

[404.livejournal.com]

Nah, I actually had a viable question, you just responded with "I told you so," which does not help.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

No, I responded with the most likely course of events: Europeans squabbling about the best way to impose their version upon Libyans.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

But who's to say what is wasteful or not wasteful?

I am.

[capthek.livejournal.com]

"The cost of the air operation will easily be in the hundreds of millions, even billions"?

" This whole no-fly zone deal came about two weeks too late for the rebels to be any serious contender"?

I think the UN will basically bomb Gadhafi for a few weeks and if the rebels are not strong enough to take him out them will just stop and keep other things in place.

Anyway, how does the coalition have a big problem on their hands? There are several nations who will do anything to stay in power and that have not had a international response willing to take them out. This isn't really such a huge change in world affairs.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

The response is shifting towards NATO now. Enough with the unilateral decisions by separate countries. The Arab League is getting pissed off already, and the AU didn't grant the support Sarko was relying on (final proof that France is no longer relevant in Africa, and perhaps some underlying evidence for the silent Chinese dominance there, but I could be going too much on a stretch).

How to pay for it? Libyan oil, methinks. Not that the West doesn't have some nice experience with that.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

The Russian reaction today was pretty strong, Maestro Putin called it "a crusade."

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

He's preaching to his own domestic choir.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Wow, start out with a wrong statement and just go from there huh.

I should try making a post like that.


"Seeing as Republicans are creating a conspiracy to institute a theocratic monarchy..., how should we feel about their position on abortion?"

[404.livejournal.com]

Where is the wrong statement?

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Nobody is targeting Kadaffy.

[404.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's right. Those cruise missiles are going after his plastic miniature army men collection.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

By "Targeting Kaddafi" I would assume you mean targeting Kaddafi.

[404.livejournal.com]

They are targeting his ability to wage war against the rebels, you are quibbling over semantics. Stop.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Its not just semantics. Its an important distinction, especially since we nailed the presidential building. Its what people have been talking about all day, emphasizing we hit it because it's a command center, not because we're trying to kill Kaddafi.

If that's not what you meant, I certainly do believe you though.

[404.livejournal.com]

I hadn't hard about that. Not been keeping up the news much today, but yeah, I was not insinuating that an assassination attempt was occurring (though it would in the long term probably be the best option).

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

You tell me. Doctor, heal thyself!

[dwer.livejournal.com]

irony.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

derp.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

derp.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

derp.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

derp.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

No, I made a valid point back when I pointed out the irony of you complaining about other people being unable to see past the propaganda. This latest has simply been you reaping what you sowed.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

there's a difference between laughing with, and laughing at.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

Oh, no. They taught me quite well how to deal with your type.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

No, we're only waging Operation Not A War with cruise missile strikes on his forces and the infamous flying tanks.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

No they didn't. :P They blew up an admin building in his presidential compound that housed a military command center.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

As far as financial costs, if we stick to the current frame, the American contribution is probably measured in hundreds of millions, not billions. Cruise missiles and recon mainly. The US is not as involved in the actual military involvement as countries like France are. The US's costs are mainly in cruise missiles. The surveillance would be surveying something else if it wasn't doing this.

Besides, its just more money to the military industrial complex isn't it? Probably good for the economy as long as we aren't having out toys blowed up.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

"No Fly Zone"



These must have been some of them fancy flying jeeps I keep hearing about.

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

The US military is currently working on making flying Humvees. No joke. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer_%28flying_car%29)

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

It's either them, Cobra, or the Decepticons. I can't keep track. They all seem to run together.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

If that happens, my guess is it'll be something like the post linked there only it won't be fun and games and Operation Not A War will be very, very unpleasant for everyone involved, especially the Libyans:

http://underlankers.livejournal.com/356810.html?thread=1723594#t1723594

[mrsilence.livejournal.com]

Gaddafi was never in any real danger of losing.

He was merely pulling back and concentrating his forces while the rebels spread their meager forces thinly trying to defend every major town.

This is what happens when you have a Colonel and a well-trained general army staff running the show on one side and a disorganised rabble on the other, no matter how well intentioned.

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

How do we pay for it? When has the U.S. ever actually paid for the wars it has waged? No, writing IOUs doesn't count.

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

Where's my money, man? WHERE'S MY FREAKING MONEY!?