PDA

View Full Version : President Obama Takes A Big Risk And Scores A Big Win For Democracy



Cigar
03-24-2014, 11:28 AM
President Obama Takes A Big Risk And Scores A Big Win For Democracy-And No One Gives a Damn
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/imagecache/860x/images/roosevelt_ddg-80.jpg

President Obama pulled off a master stroke this week. He deployedU.S. military force in support of an infant democracy that desperately needs our help. The result was a resounding success, a vivid illustration of how the United States can put its unchallenged power to positive ends. He did it, once again, by sending in the SEALs, the U.S. Navy’s famous special forces. But this time they weren’t double-tapping a terrorist. Instead they seized a mysterious tanker that had skipped out of Libya with a shipment of oil that one of the country’s rogue militias was trying to sell on the open market. By doing it the SEALs foiled a potentially game-changing challenge to the authority of Libya’s hard-pressed government – one of the very few in the Arab world to have actually been elected by its own country’s people.

The reaction in Washington: a giant yawn. Deafening silence from Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who are always quick to demand U.S. military action in situations where it will usually make things worse. Fox News barely noticed. Nor was there a word of praise from the president’s liberal allies on Capitol Hill. Even the New York Times ran a perfunctory report. And as for the rest of America: Well, hey, the NCAA tournament is getting under way, and there are big controversies from the world of reality TV that need attending to. The collective disinterest is even more appalling when you consider that the country we just helped is Libya. You remember, right — the place where our ambassador was killed by terrorists two years ago? The president’s critics never tire of bringing that up, since they can use it to score political points against him

Oil is Libya’s lifeblood. The economy entirely depends on it; turn off the taps and everything grinds to a halt. Make no mistake: This was not “leading from behind.” This was an act of daring from a president who’s often typecast as too passive for his own good. But it was also a smart, calculated move — a truly surgical operation of a kind that probably only the United States could have pulled off with such confidence. It sends exactly the message that needs to be sent: If you try freelancing with oil resources that rightfully belong to the Libyan people, you won’t get far.

More here: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/03/18/sealed_and_delivered_in_libya_0

Heyduke
03-24-2014, 11:48 AM
Instead they seized a mysterious tanker that had skipped out of Libya with a shipment of oil that one of the country’s rogue militias was trying to sell on the open market. By doing it the SEALs foiled a potentially game-changing challenge to the authority of Libya’s hard-pressed government – one of the very few in the Arab world to have actually been elected by its own country’s people.



Would these be the same rogue militias that were armed and provided with air support by the French and Hillary/Barry? And to say that Libya's government is elected by the people is extremely dubious.

"Under the cover of “humanitarian intervention” and “protecting the civilians”, the Libyan people became victims of an imperial offensive by the US – NATO air attacks. Aside from destruction of the modern infrastructure in Libya that takes years to re-build, the intervention caused thousands of deaths and injuries."

"Now the so called National Transitional Council (TNC) claims it has control over most of Libya except a couple of cities that are under the control of Gaddafi‘s supporters. TNC is composed of about 40 handpicked compradors who are participating in a puppet government to serve the interests of the West."

The article cited by the OP would be like some apologist piece where the author lauds Obama for condemning Egypt's recent execution of 500+ Morsi supporters (when previously Obama and Hillary naively supported the ouster of Morsi, thereby enabling the military takeover in Egypt).

texan
03-24-2014, 11:49 AM
They stopped a stolen oil tanker with an armed war ship? WOW that took some real gonads. When will he create some jobs?

Cigar
03-24-2014, 11:53 AM
Just as I thought ... Mission Accomplished :laugh:

Carry-On :grin:

Peter1469
03-24-2014, 12:49 PM
That was last week....

Paperback Writer
03-24-2014, 12:52 PM
And by what right did they have to do this? OH, I keep forgetting you're the world's police force.

The Sage of Main Street
03-24-2014, 01:45 PM
President Obama Takes A Big Risk And Scores A Big Win For Democracy-And No One Gives a Damnhttp://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/imagecache/860x/images/roosevelt_ddg-80.jpgPresident Obama pulled off a master stroke this week. He deployedU.S. military force in support of an infant democracy that desperately needs our help. The result was a resounding success, a vivid illustration of how the United States can put its unchallenged power to positive ends. He did it, once again, by sending in the SEALs, the U.S. Navy’s famous special forces. But this time they weren’t double-tapping a terrorist. Instead they seized a mysterious tanker that had skipped out of Libya with a shipment of oil that one of the country’s rogue militias was trying to sell on the open market. By doing it the SEALs foiled a potentially game-changing challenge to the authority of Libya’s hard-pressed government – one of the very few in the Arab world to have actually been elected by its own country’s people. The reaction in Washington: a giant yawn. Deafening silence from Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who are always quick to demand U.S. military action in situations where it will usually make things worse. Fox News barely noticed. Nor was there a word of praise from the president’s liberal allies on Capitol Hill. Even the New York Times ran a perfunctory report. And as for the rest of America: Well, hey, the NCAA tournament is getting under way, and there are big controversies from the world of reality TV that need attending to. The collective disinterest is even more appalling when you consider that the country we just helped is Libya. You remember, right — the place where our ambassador was killed by terrorists two years ago? The president’s critics never tire of bringing that up, since they can use it to score political points against him Oil is Libya’s lifeblood. The economy entirely depends on it; turn off the taps and everything grinds to a halt. Make no mistake: This was not “leading from behind.” This was an act of daring from a president who’s often typecast as too passive for his own good. But it was also a smart, calculated move — a truly surgical operation of a kind that probably only the United States could have pulled off with such confidence. It sends exactly the message that needs to be sent: If you try freelancing with oil resources that rightfully belong to the Libyan people, you won’t get far. More here: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/03/18/sealed_and_delivered_in_libya_0

The Chickenhawk Party will spin it that the Admirals had to beg Obama on their hands and knees 16 times before he let them do this.

Ransom
03-24-2014, 01:49 PM
And by what right did they have to do this? OH, I keep forgetting you're the world's police force.

How many reminders do you need, Yorktown?

patrickt
03-24-2014, 01:57 PM
That might be the funniest thread title you've ever come up with, Cigar.

Paperback Writer
03-24-2014, 02:00 PM
How many reminders do you need, Yorktown?

Of what? That you believe yourself the police, judge, and jury of the world? None of us need reminders of that, Rancid.

Professor Peabody
03-24-2014, 10:44 PM
President Obama pulled off a master stroke this week. He deployedU.S. military force in support of an infant democracy that desperately needs our help.

Too bad that dumbass along with Hillary Clinton didn't do that with Benghazi.

The U.S.S New York was in the Gulf of Aden at the far end of the Red Sea. With all the security warning the Clinton State Dept had, the USS New York could have been stationed offshore in Benghazi LONG before the attack.

USS New York (LPD-21) - Aircraft carried: Launch or land, two CH-53E Super Stallion, two MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, four CH-46 Sea Knight, four AH-1 SeaCobra or four UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/AH-1W_Super_Cobra_assigned_to_HMLA_167.jpg/800px-AH-1W_Super_Cobra_assigned_to_HMLA_167.jpg

http://www.phibetaiota.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/benghazi-compound.jpg

texan
03-25-2014, 01:33 PM
Nobody cares about the non story of Benghazi where we stranded american people in a war zone thinking the panic room would save them. Its just a non story that we didn't have an asset that could get there in 8 hours.

I mean come on what do people expect in a war zone, protection?

Now get me another Tee Time.

The Sage of Main Street
03-25-2014, 05:10 PM
Nobody cares about the non story of Benghazi where we stranded American people. It's just a non-story that we didn't have an asset that could get there in 8 hours.

I mean, come on.

Now get me another Tee Time.

After Bush losing 3,000 Americans on 9/11 and thousands more in his What So Proudly We Halliburton wars, it seems kind of petty to concentrate on the kind of foreign-policy mistakes Obama has made.

"Now let me talk about my hungover joyrides in the Heir Guard, playing Snoopy and the Red Baron."