[CommanderSock]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

I'm curious as to when someone's going to say this is Obama's war for oil?

Because Obama sat on his hands for a long time, and quite frankly, the world can see he doesn't really want to be there. It was Cameron and Sarkozy that dragged him out by the arm like an unwilling spouse to Libya.

I'm sure he did it because the right would tear him a new one if he didn't. They would paint him as weak (as opposed to indifferent, which is what he really seems).

[andyt]

We're all indifferent - if you look at the list Martin posted earlier, I doubt any of us would support going to war with all those countries, because it would be doomed to failure.

Obama is indecisive on this issue, because it isn't very clear cut. We should try not to get dragged into every conflict that's going, just let people sort it out for themselves. But, getting rid of Gadaffy could also have an upside in promoting democracy in the region, and seems to have at least some chance of success. More if we'd acted earlier.

[Guy_Fawkes]

I dont remember seeing anything that said the rebels are intent on putting a democratic government in place.

[andyt]

True enough. But if they put something in place that more closely reflects the will of the people, that seems like a good thing to me. If just another Gadaffy type takes over, then our efforts will have been in vain - assuming the original is ousted.

[CommanderSock]

Obama was in a tight spot. The Hawks from inside want to him to act, the Hawks from the outside want him to act, problem is, his base are liberals and they weren't really interested.

So, it's a fine balance for him.

If he didn't act, we'd hear more bitching about how he has abandoned his allies (France and Britain), because it's them who are pushing for such massive intervention.

And history has proven everything France touches turns to shit, if France and Britain went on their own and it turned into a disaster, it would all come back to Obama, and how he 'left them out in the cold'. "The Kenyan who hates Europeans because his daddy got tortured by them", I bet Danesh Desouza is already halfway through the new essay.

[martin14]

Guy_Fawkes Guy_Fawkes:

I dont remember seeing anything that said the rebels are intent on putting a democratic government in place.

No, quite the opposite I imagine.

[Guy_Fawkes]

I agree, I think Libyan would be quite happy if they had a charismatic despot in place. As long as the oil flows to Europe, France and Britain wont object.

[CommanderSock]

Not gonna lie though, I'm a new world isolationist.

If Europe were invaded by China tomorrow I'd be damned if I stick my neck out for them. I'd oppose intervention.

I pretty much oppose any war that doesn't have to do with us actually being directly threatened.

[Guy_Fawkes]

I'd support intervention in that case, now if Tibet or Kazakhstan was invaded by China I would oppose intervention.