The Stafford Voice

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Libya

Obama And The Tipping Point

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There is no denying that America is facing a tipping point. And, at some point, enough will have been enough. But, on which front? Troops are still engaged in operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now they face a possible operation in Libya as the turmoil continues.

Look, everyone knows that Qaddafi is a mad-man. He has killed his own people, and will continue as long as he is around. So, what does the future hold? Well, as fate would have it, we have a model that isn’t that old. And, if things continue the way some say, we are following it almost to a tee.

In 1991 we ‘stopped’ Saddam, but he stayed in power. What happened next? Well . . . We’re still there. We finally went in and got him, and now he’s a goner. But, with all the money that was spent to get him and liberate the Iraqis, and all the money that we are having to spend to re-build the country, we are amounting a huge amount of debt. And that’s exactly what they want. Hit us where it hurts, and that is in the pocket.

Well, the Iraq war was sold as a short strategic mission. Same as what we are told about Libya. Oops! Sorry, a ‘kinetic military action.’ What’s the difference? Nothing! One is simple to define, while the other is just an Orwellian attempt to appear neutral.

And, that neutrality is what will lead to the tipping point of sending in ground troops. Which questions, Why Libya? (Couldn’t he have just told the United Nations to take a hike?) The answer is simple. It is a strategy by the Obama machine to gain some level of popularity in an unfavorable upcoming 2012 election. His action, or lack of in most cases, is almost a mirror image of Bush. All that he opposed for Iraq, is leading him to accept the fact that his foreign policy approach to apologize is one if ignorance.

With so much Middle Eastern turmoil, and lack of direction from Obama, and his administration, in his laid back ideology has brought America to its knees. Once seen as a dominant global superpower, America is now seen as the whipped sister that the left has wished her to be for years.

So, as it seems, America has finally reached a tipping point as Obama; the Emperor without clothes has humpty-dumptied his way off the great wall, and is dithering his way off the golf course and into campaign mode, and for what? A kinetic military action, aka war, without any real direction to save himself for a 2012 run?

F-15 Crashes; Cost of Libya War Goes Up

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F-15 Eagle CrashA United States F-15 Eagle crashed in Libya as coalition forces continued a third night of air strikes. It is being reported that the crew was recovered, without any injuries. But, that’s not the end of it.

The under reported part of this war, is just that. Is it war or is it not? That question remains unanswered, along with what the real mission is. Obama is still wishy-washhy on the subject.

But what about the cost? The initial blast of 114 Tomahawk Missiles cost a staggering $70M at $500,000 a piece. And with the crash of this F-15, it will add another $30M! Bringing the current cost to $100M! Would it not have been easier to just give Gaddafi the money to go away? After all, we don’t even know if all this effort will out him or not.

H?T to David Dayen @ FireDogLake

Boehner to Obama: ‘Define the Mission’

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John Boehner has expressed the concern of most Americans to President Obama over involvement in Libya. And that is, “Define the mission.”

Politico reports Boehner as saying:

“The president is the commander-in-chief, but the administration has a responsibility to define for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what the mission in Libya is, better explain what America’s role is in achieving that mission, and make clear how it will be accomplished,” the Ohio Republican said in a statement. “Before any further military commitments are made, the administration must do a better job of communicating to the American people and to Congress about our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved.”

Operation Odyssey Dawn: War on Libya

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Operation Odyssey Dawn
Dept. of Defense | March 19: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

With the approval from the United Nations, the coalition forces have begun their attack against Muammar al-Qaddafi and his forces. The United States is leading attacks as more than 100 Tomahawk missles were launched toward the shores of Libya, hitting more than 20 intended targets including surface-to-air missiles, early warning sites, and key communication modes.

President Obama authorized limited military action against Libya Saturday.

“We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy,” Obama said in a statement from Brazil.

The president also reiterated that the U.S. will not be deploying ground forces into Libya.

“What we are doing in necessary, it is legal, and it is right,” said British Prime Minister David Cameron. “I believe we should not stand aside while this dictator murders his own people.”

“It is now necessary to open the stores and arm all the masses with all types of weapons to defend the independence, unity and honor of Libya,” Qaddafi said in a speech broadcast on Libya state television, according to Reuters. He also warns that weapons depots are being opened to arm the Libyan people in defense.