Allow me to propose a question, what was Reagan’s nick- name while in office? Give up, can’t remember? The Teflon President; nothing ever stuck to this man, no matter how in the wrong he was. During his 100th birthday celebration, Republicans fawned and drooled all over him. Recently a local radio program Brad and Britt in the Morning( by the way great program minus the commercials )was asking callers who are their two favorite presidents. Of course Reagan came in first place much to my chagrin. Okay, what does this have to do with Libya? Read on and you’ll understand why.

What is up with the no-fly zone?  Is President Obama the person Sade sings about in the song Smooth Operator? U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said “a no-fly zone would have to begin with an attack on Libya’s air defenses and would require a big operation in a big country, also a no-fly zone works in conjunction with an act of war”

Will NATO/America run it?

Cost?

What is the mission? Helping insurgents, or getting Kadaffi out?

No boots on the ground; how long will we be there?

If we don’t get Kadaffi will we look weak again?

Under the U.S. Constitution Congress has the power to declare war, while as Commander–in-Chief Obama  has operational control of the military. Our meddling in Libya is a bit disturbing. President Obama had the right idea, wait it out. We waited out Egypt. Now we don’t hear anything about the government’s activities or civil disobedience. Now Libya is the new Egypt. Why Obama? Level with us, was it that sweet crude oil or simply for humanitarian reasons? At least he wants to shift the combat burden to Britain, France and other NATO allies. The American people knows he can’t come out and say “hey it’s for that sweet crude oil that contains less sulfer and is cleaner to refine”. We understand Kadaffi is a dictator and a spoiled child. Look at how he reacted to the uprising in Libya, this is must read.

Then he comes out in support of ousted Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali saying he was pained by the fall of his government. He claimed protesters had been led astray by Wikileaks’ disclosures detailing the corruption in Ben Ali’s family and his repressive regime”. Here is a man who speaks passionately about the mistreatment of people, yet when there’s an uprising in his backyard he puts his military on his own people.

Reagan vs. Obama on Bombing Libya

There’s a contrast of hypocrisy at play. You may say, Reagan did it in response to the loss of American lives both civilian and military at a bombing of a night club in Germany in 1985. Reagans action were based on a good and noble moral principle. I understand a few Americans died, then we bombed a dictator. Yet when that same dictator mows down his own people, that’s another issue.

Kadaffi has been a world thug for awhile, why are we so taken aback now? Everyone has an opinion, who’s right, who’s wrong? In this case I say Obama is right in his decision. On the other hand it seems wrong. We’re already embroiled in two forgotten wars. The mission hasn’t been clear. His speech wasn’t excactly conclusive. Now there’s mention of Al-Qaeda  amongst the rebels. The CIA is currently involved. We’re still questioning who the rebels are.

When Reagan bombed Kadaffi in 1986 Kadaffi plotted and bombed flight Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scottland. Reagan left him in office and a large hole in security and the punking of America, so much for the tough cowboy image of Reagan. Some 20-years later we have to deal with his leftovers. Maybe, just maybe, we can get a win for the Libyan people.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there but at the same time there is lots of good information. There’s more to this story than people want to know or to tell. I’ve found two sources about this issue that are relevent. Take time to read this.  Secondly go out and buy Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky and read chapter 3: Libyan and American Terrorism.

Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad. ~Aldous Huxley

John Jones

The NON-Conformist