Ok, we knew a political topic was going to arise eventually. I have held off the urge long enough.
So, what is everyone's opinion on the conflict in Libya, and for that matter, the entire Middle East? I personally think that the UN should have acted sooner when the rebels were nearing Tripoli, not when Benghazi was about to fall. Also, the US should stay out of it. We are already stretched thin, and in mountains of debt, to bother dealing with a conflict in yet another North African/Mideast country. The cost so far is already in the hundreds of millions if not billions now.
Gadafi deserves what he's getting, agreed. But couldn't we have just let France deal with this? They are closer, and it is more of their concern than ours.
One of the purposes of the United Nations is guarrantee people aren't slaughtered needlessly. We are part of the UN, so... we can't just stand by and let innocent lives be taken, even if there is no surplus of money. We don't just fulfull our duties to the UN whenever it's conveniant, do we?
I would consider a huge budget deficit enough reason to take a break from UN duties for a while. There are other countries just as capable as us without deficits, or with very small ones.
So what you are saying is, your money is more important than the mindless slaughter in the Libyan Civil War?
The National Transitional Council requested assistance, the UN responded (exceptionally late). The US is part of the UN, so it is right for the US to move in. Yes, France, Lebanon and the UK have moved in too. So have numerous other countries. But there is no good reason for the US to stay out of things, especially when noses couldn't be kept out of Iraq.
The thing is though that America has proved time and again that if it leaves something alone or lets something slide it turns into hell in a hand basket within days (External affairs that we dabble in and abandon and internal affairs such as the economy I feel are sufficient examples). Plus, without the US acting in part with the other member nations of the UN in such situations can you honestly say that things will get done / resolve in a beneficial way?
why have war games when you can have the real thing? besides, war is good for business, plus i want to depopulate the world by 2/3, so it is good for that, too.
Yes, and I'm all for depopulation, but do so in more populated countries liek China and India. But them to war, not an already drained country and a worthless desert land.
What makes it our business what Libya does to it's own people? Libya did not attack us, or anyone allied to us. I think we should respect their privacy.
Oh you can revolt, and even have civil war and the UN won't do anything, if done right. It's the bombing of innocent civilians and opening fire into crowds of protestors that bring UN intervention.
Oh my God, our country (The USA) pisses me off. We need to mind our own damn business and stop being the police of the globe. It's too much of a hassle, I mean I just don't get it. What the hell are we trying to do? Make ourselves look good by involving ourselves in the matters of other countries? Pfft, screw it all. That makes us look dumb, I think. We need to keep to ourselves and when the time comes where WE are involved with something, then we can take action. Other than that, no.
Clavin12 wrote:What makes it our business what Libya does to it's own people? Libya did not attack us, or anyone allied to us. I think we should respect their privacy.
Again, look at Lybian foreign relations. His son has stated that if Lybia had nuclear weapons, the first thing they would do would be to destroy Switzerland (because his other son and daughter-in-law were arrested there for beating servants).
Sabre Tank wrote:We need to mind our own damn business and stop being the police of the globe.
The NTC specifically requested UN assistance.
Red Devil wrote:best thing to do is arm them and let them do it.
Didn't quite work out in Afghanistan, did it? The Base, Students and all that. Al Queda and the Taliban respectively, for those of you who don't know the Arabic translations
Sabre Tank wrote:Oh my God, our country (The USA) pisses me off. We need to mind our own damn business and stop being the police of the globe. It's too much of a hassle, I mean I just don't get it. What the hell are we trying to do? Make ourselves look good by involving ourselves in the matters of other countries? Pfft, screw it all. That makes us look dumb, I think. We need to keep to ourselves and when the time comes where WE are involved with something, then we can take action. Other than that, no.
This.
NATO has no right to be the policeman of the world -- and in this case I doubt that even NATO is doing it just for the good feelings of altruism. Like Iraq, Libya has a nice supply of oil. It would be in NATO's best interest to try to install itself into a new government once the old one has become unfriendly to its goals.
Again, look at Lybian foreign relations. His son has stated that if Lybia had nuclear weapons, the first thing they would do would be to destroy Switzerland (because his other son and daughter-in-law were arrested there for beating servants).
This is irrelevant, because it would never happen (nuking Switzerland). Something said during an angry moment could hardly be considered national policy.
