"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within." Will Durant
(To offer perspective, and hopefully convince any passing reader that I am truly not governed by racist intentions, I will illustrate how I came to be concerned about and involved with politics.)
I began the year 2008 as a music student at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and a struggling file clerk for a medical mal practice lawyer whose firm didn’t begin to pay enough. It was the end of my sophomore year and I was drifting further and further from the cookie-cutter mold of a good student, because I simply didn’t want to be one anymore. In hindsight, it was no surprise that I chose to cut my losses. With losses cut and job quit, I still didn’t go directly home from school. My aunt had picked me up and helped me move out of a rental house, she then made the mistake of saying “You can stay with me as long as you want to.” So I did. I stayed with my aunt in her crowded house with two of my favorite kids in the world for an entire month. During that month I did a few things, mainly cleaning, cooking, and watching the news, lots of it. All news channels were broadcasting almost around the clock coverage of the all out war between Senators Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. I was beginning to pull for Sen. Clinton, because she was a woman, and at the time, I thought that would be cool. I wasn’t the least bit concerned about the Republican candidate, due to the news coverage or lack thereof. During my extended stay Sen. Clinton lost the Democratic nomination to Sen. Obama, I was incredibly disappointed, but I kept watching. My opinion of Sen. Obama started at nothing, I had no idea who he was and subsequently didn’t care much. The added benefit was given to Sen. Obama by leaving out a natural disdain he accumulated for ruining my dreams of girls finally “officially” ruling the world. So with the proverbial heavy sigh I began to take a vested interest in the 2008, Presidential Campaign.
Come back again to get: "The rest of the story."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The chaos and confusion created by an ill planed engagement
Gates: Other Nations Should Arm Libyan Rebels
Mar 31, 2011 – 10:51 PM
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. should avoid developing a closer relationship with Libyan opposition forces, defense leaders said Thursday, telling an often hostile Congress that foreign nations must now take over airstrike responsibilities and any effort to train and equip the rebels.
With the U.S. role in Libya at a turning point, the next critical decision is how, if at all, the U.S. chooses to support the opposition forces, particularly in the face of the ongoing budget crisis at home. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he is opposed to arming the rebels, a step his boss President Barack Obama has not ruled out.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 31
Carolyn Kaster, AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday that it is up to other nations to arm Libyan rebels.
Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was time to turn the bulk of the conflict over to NATO.
The U.S. turned over control of the military operation to NATO Thursday, just hours before Gates and Mullen addressed Congress.
"The question of what kind of assistance to provide to the opposition is clearly the next step in terms of non-lethal or weapons," Gates told senators. "All the members of the coalition are thinking about that at this point, but as with our government, no decisions have been made."
Gates and Mullen said that if the rebels are to get arms and training, countries other than the U.S. should provide that assistance. And they stressed that the U.S. still does not have enough good information about who the disparate opposition forces are.
"My view would be, if there is going to be that kind of (training) assistance to the opposition, there are plenty of sources for it other than the United States," Gates told the House Armed Services Committee.
Many lawmakers were angered by what they said was the administration's lack of candor with Congress ahead of the Libya mission. Several complained that the mission is expensive and ill-defined. The ongoing scope of U.S. military action drew heated debate among senators unhappy that the Pentagon will no longer be conducting airstrikes in the coming days - leaving that key combat responsibility to allies such as the French, British and Canadians.
Mullen said that after April 2, U.S. aircraft will be available to help with airstrikes if requested by the NATO commander. Senators objected, with some suggesting that the U.S. is abandoning the campaign just as strongman Moammar Gadhafi is regrouping and routing the opposition forces.
"For the United States to withdraw our unique offensive capabilities at this time would send the wrong signal," said Sen. John McCain, top Republican on the Senate Armed Services panel. He said the U.S. must not fail in Libya and said he spoke as someone experienced in a lost conflict, a clear reference to his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
Photos From Libya
AP
500 photos
Previous
Next
Libyan rebels fire rockets against forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi at an area some 20 kms from Brega on Thursday. Libyan rebels fought running street battles for Brega, with forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi driving around and shooting at people.
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Photos From Libya
Libyan rebels fire rockets against forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi at an area some 20 kms from Brega on Thursday. Libyan rebels fought running street battles for Brega, with forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi driving around and shooting at people.
AP
AP
The White House, meanwhile, said arming the rebels is still under consideration, but press secretary Jay Carney said he saw "no contradiction" between that and Gates' remarks. He added, "what the president said is that he has not ruled it in or out."
As yet, none of Obama's top advisers have publicly advocated a significant expansion of the U.S. role aiding the opposition.
The vigorous debate, which stretched throughout the day on Capitol Hill, underscores the tensions across the U.S. government over how best to aid Libyan civilians and accomplish the administration's goal of ousting Gadhafi, without committing America to a costly war the public doesn't understand and many don't support.
"I know that I am preoccupied with avoiding mission creep and avoiding having an open-ended, very large scale American commitment in this," said Gates. "We are in serious budget trouble."
Related Stories
* Gadhafi's Rule Relying on Wavering Tribal Support
* Libyan Woman Faces Lawsuit After Claiming Rape [VIDEO]
* Gadhafi in Groucho Glasses? Even al-Qaida Thinks He's a 'Lunatic'
* The Mystery Behind Gadhafi's Birth: Some Say He's Jewish
The defense leaders also made it clear to Congress that there will be no U.S. military ground forces in Libya. They would not comment on reports that the CIA has small teams working with the Libyan rebels.
The military leaders told Congress the rebels remain a largely unknown quantity, but Gates defended the U.S. intervention, saying the opposition is a better alternative than Gadhafi. Gates said Gadhafi has been a persistent and dangerous enemy, but he also acknowledged that efforts to oust the Libyan leader may not work.
"You could have a situation where you achieve the military goal and not achieve the political goal" of regime change, Gates said.
He added that the U.S. had considered the possibility of a prolonged stalemate. And although he said the United States could not accept a reorganized Libyan government with Gadhafi in power, he steered around the question of what the U.S. could do to prevent that.
Gates said that he believes political and economic pressures eventually will drive Gadhafi from power, but the military operation will help force him to make those choices by degrading his defense capabilities.
The defense leaders struggled to avoid being dragged into the increasingly bitter conflict between Congress and the White House over authorization for the military operation.
In fact, Obama gathered congressional leaders at the White House and by telephone the day before the mission began to inform them of his decision. The Senate also unanimously approved a resolution March 1 backing the no-fly zone.
Sponsored Links
Responding to the complaints, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg told a separate House panel on Thursday that "stopping a potential humanitarian disaster of massive proportions became a question of hours, not days. And so we acted decisively to prevent a potential massacre."
Separately, the State Department said the U.S. was not involved in the defection of Gadhafi's top diplomat, Moussa Koussa, although a U.S. diplomat had talked with Koussa.
"He's obviously been a part of the Gadhafi regime for many, many years," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "I obviously don't want to talk about what conversations we may be having with him and what kind of intelligence we may be able to gather from him, but he certainly has a wealth of information to share, should he decide to."
Mar 31, 2011 – 10:51 PM
READING THIS NOW
532
people
Others Are Reading
453
Huge Pumps From US to Help in Japan Nucl...
299
Montana Rep. Alan Hale Says DUI Laws Are...
278
The Mystery Behind Moammar Gadhafi's Bir...
264
Bronx Zoo Cobra Found in Its Reptile Hou...
261
'Albany Seven' Claim $319 Million Mega M...
186
Moammar Gadhafi in Groucho Glasses? Even...
Text Size
12361
Donna Cassata and Lolita Baldor
AP
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. should avoid developing a closer relationship with Libyan opposition forces, defense leaders said Thursday, telling an often hostile Congress that foreign nations must now take over airstrike responsibilities and any effort to train and equip the rebels.
With the U.S. role in Libya at a turning point, the next critical decision is how, if at all, the U.S. chooses to support the opposition forces, particularly in the face of the ongoing budget crisis at home. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he is opposed to arming the rebels, a step his boss President Barack Obama has not ruled out.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 31
Carolyn Kaster, AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday that it is up to other nations to arm Libyan rebels.
Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was time to turn the bulk of the conflict over to NATO.
The U.S. turned over control of the military operation to NATO Thursday, just hours before Gates and Mullen addressed Congress.
"The question of what kind of assistance to provide to the opposition is clearly the next step in terms of non-lethal or weapons," Gates told senators. "All the members of the coalition are thinking about that at this point, but as with our government, no decisions have been made."
Gates and Mullen said that if the rebels are to get arms and training, countries other than the U.S. should provide that assistance. And they stressed that the U.S. still does not have enough good information about who the disparate opposition forces are.
"My view would be, if there is going to be that kind of (training) assistance to the opposition, there are plenty of sources for it other than the United States," Gates told the House Armed Services Committee.
Many lawmakers were angered by what they said was the administration's lack of candor with Congress ahead of the Libya mission. Several complained that the mission is expensive and ill-defined. The ongoing scope of U.S. military action drew heated debate among senators unhappy that the Pentagon will no longer be conducting airstrikes in the coming days - leaving that key combat responsibility to allies such as the French, British and Canadians.
Mullen said that after April 2, U.S. aircraft will be available to help with airstrikes if requested by the NATO commander. Senators objected, with some suggesting that the U.S. is abandoning the campaign just as strongman Moammar Gadhafi is regrouping and routing the opposition forces.
"For the United States to withdraw our unique offensive capabilities at this time would send the wrong signal," said Sen. John McCain, top Republican on the Senate Armed Services panel. He said the U.S. must not fail in Libya and said he spoke as someone experienced in a lost conflict, a clear reference to his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
Photos From Libya
AP
500 photos
Previous
Next
Libyan rebels fire rockets against forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi at an area some 20 kms from Brega on Thursday. Libyan rebels fought running street battles for Brega, with forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi driving around and shooting at people.
(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=985579&pid=985578&uts=1301607123
http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf
Photos From Libya
Libyan rebels fire rockets against forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi at an area some 20 kms from Brega on Thursday. Libyan rebels fought running street battles for Brega, with forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi driving around and shooting at people.
AP
AP
The White House, meanwhile, said arming the rebels is still under consideration, but press secretary Jay Carney said he saw "no contradiction" between that and Gates' remarks. He added, "what the president said is that he has not ruled it in or out."
As yet, none of Obama's top advisers have publicly advocated a significant expansion of the U.S. role aiding the opposition.
The vigorous debate, which stretched throughout the day on Capitol Hill, underscores the tensions across the U.S. government over how best to aid Libyan civilians and accomplish the administration's goal of ousting Gadhafi, without committing America to a costly war the public doesn't understand and many don't support.
"I know that I am preoccupied with avoiding mission creep and avoiding having an open-ended, very large scale American commitment in this," said Gates. "We are in serious budget trouble."
Related Stories
* Gadhafi's Rule Relying on Wavering Tribal Support
* Libyan Woman Faces Lawsuit After Claiming Rape [VIDEO]
* Gadhafi in Groucho Glasses? Even al-Qaida Thinks He's a 'Lunatic'
* The Mystery Behind Gadhafi's Birth: Some Say He's Jewish
The defense leaders also made it clear to Congress that there will be no U.S. military ground forces in Libya. They would not comment on reports that the CIA has small teams working with the Libyan rebels.
The military leaders told Congress the rebels remain a largely unknown quantity, but Gates defended the U.S. intervention, saying the opposition is a better alternative than Gadhafi. Gates said Gadhafi has been a persistent and dangerous enemy, but he also acknowledged that efforts to oust the Libyan leader may not work.
"You could have a situation where you achieve the military goal and not achieve the political goal" of regime change, Gates said.
He added that the U.S. had considered the possibility of a prolonged stalemate. And although he said the United States could not accept a reorganized Libyan government with Gadhafi in power, he steered around the question of what the U.S. could do to prevent that.
Gates said that he believes political and economic pressures eventually will drive Gadhafi from power, but the military operation will help force him to make those choices by degrading his defense capabilities.
The defense leaders struggled to avoid being dragged into the increasingly bitter conflict between Congress and the White House over authorization for the military operation.
In fact, Obama gathered congressional leaders at the White House and by telephone the day before the mission began to inform them of his decision. The Senate also unanimously approved a resolution March 1 backing the no-fly zone.
Sponsored Links
Responding to the complaints, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg told a separate House panel on Thursday that "stopping a potential humanitarian disaster of massive proportions became a question of hours, not days. And so we acted decisively to prevent a potential massacre."
Separately, the State Department said the U.S. was not involved in the defection of Gadhafi's top diplomat, Moussa Koussa, although a U.S. diplomat had talked with Koussa.
"He's obviously been a part of the Gadhafi regime for many, many years," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "I obviously don't want to talk about what conversations we may be having with him and what kind of intelligence we may be able to gather from him, but he certainly has a wealth of information to share, should he decide to."
Letter to Congress regarding President Obama's intent in Libya
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 21, 2011
Letter from the President regarding the commencement of operations in Libya
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
March 21, 2011
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
At approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on March 19, 2011, at my direction, U.S. military forces commenced operations to assist an international effort authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and undertaken with the support of European allies and Arab partners, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and address the threat posed to international peace and security by the crisis in Libya. As part of the multilateral response authorized under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, U.S. military forces, under the command of Commander, U.S. Africa Command, began a series of strikes against air defense systems and military airfields for the purposes of preparing a no-fly zone. These strikes will be limited in their nature, duration, and scope. Their purpose is to support an international coalition as it takes all necessary measures to enforce the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973. These limited U.S. actions will set the stage for further action by other coalition partners.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorized Member States, under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya, including the establishment and enforcement of a "no-fly zone" in the airspace of Libya. United States military efforts are discrete and focused on employing unique U.S. military capabilities to set the conditions for our European allies and Arab partners to carry out the measures authorized by the U.N. Security Council Resolution.
Muammar Qadhafi was provided a very clear message that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. The international community made clear that all attacks against civilians had to stop; Qadhafi had to stop his forces from advancing on Benghazi; pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiya; and establish water, electricity, and gas supplies to all areas. Finally, humanitarian assistance had to be allowed to reach the people of Libya.
Although Qadhafi's Foreign Minister announced an immediate cease-fire, Qadhafi and his forces made no attempt to implement such a cease-fire, and instead continued attacks on Misrata and advanced on Benghazi. Qadhafi's continued attacks and threats against civilians and civilian populated areas are of grave concern to neighboring Arab nations and, as expressly stated in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, constitute a threat to the region and to international peace and security. His illegitimate use of force not only is causing the deaths of substantial numbers of civilians among his own people, but also is forcing many others to flee to neighboring countries, thereby destabilizing the peace and security of the region. Left unaddressed, the growing instability in Libya could ignite wider instability in the Middle East, with dangerous consequences to the national security interests of the United States. Qadhafi's defiance of the Arab League, as well as the broader international community moreover, represents a lawless challenge to the authority of the Security Council and its efforts to preserve stability in the region. Qadhafi has forfeited his responsibility to protect his own citizens and created a serious need for immediate humanitarian assistance and protection, with any delay only putting more civilians at risk.
The United States has not deployed ground forces into Libya. United States forces are conducting a limited and well-defined mission in support of international efforts to protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster. Accordingly, U.S. forces have targeted the Qadhafi regime's air defense systems, command and control structures, and other capabilities of Qadhafi's armed forces used to attack civilians and civilian populated areas. We will seek a rapid, but responsible, transition of operations to coalition, regional, or international organizations that are postured to continue activities as may be necessary to realize the objectives of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.
For these purposes, I have directed these actions, which are in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.
I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.
BARACK OBAMA
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 21, 2011
Letter from the President regarding the commencement of operations in Libya
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
March 21, 2011
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
At approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on March 19, 2011, at my direction, U.S. military forces commenced operations to assist an international effort authorized by the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and undertaken with the support of European allies and Arab partners, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and address the threat posed to international peace and security by the crisis in Libya. As part of the multilateral response authorized under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, U.S. military forces, under the command of Commander, U.S. Africa Command, began a series of strikes against air defense systems and military airfields for the purposes of preparing a no-fly zone. These strikes will be limited in their nature, duration, and scope. Their purpose is to support an international coalition as it takes all necessary measures to enforce the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973. These limited U.S. actions will set the stage for further action by other coalition partners.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorized Member States, under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya, including the establishment and enforcement of a "no-fly zone" in the airspace of Libya. United States military efforts are discrete and focused on employing unique U.S. military capabilities to set the conditions for our European allies and Arab partners to carry out the measures authorized by the U.N. Security Council Resolution.
Muammar Qadhafi was provided a very clear message that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. The international community made clear that all attacks against civilians had to stop; Qadhafi had to stop his forces from advancing on Benghazi; pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiya; and establish water, electricity, and gas supplies to all areas. Finally, humanitarian assistance had to be allowed to reach the people of Libya.
Although Qadhafi's Foreign Minister announced an immediate cease-fire, Qadhafi and his forces made no attempt to implement such a cease-fire, and instead continued attacks on Misrata and advanced on Benghazi. Qadhafi's continued attacks and threats against civilians and civilian populated areas are of grave concern to neighboring Arab nations and, as expressly stated in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, constitute a threat to the region and to international peace and security. His illegitimate use of force not only is causing the deaths of substantial numbers of civilians among his own people, but also is forcing many others to flee to neighboring countries, thereby destabilizing the peace and security of the region. Left unaddressed, the growing instability in Libya could ignite wider instability in the Middle East, with dangerous consequences to the national security interests of the United States. Qadhafi's defiance of the Arab League, as well as the broader international community moreover, represents a lawless challenge to the authority of the Security Council and its efforts to preserve stability in the region. Qadhafi has forfeited his responsibility to protect his own citizens and created a serious need for immediate humanitarian assistance and protection, with any delay only putting more civilians at risk.
The United States has not deployed ground forces into Libya. United States forces are conducting a limited and well-defined mission in support of international efforts to protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster. Accordingly, U.S. forces have targeted the Qadhafi regime's air defense systems, command and control structures, and other capabilities of Qadhafi's armed forces used to attack civilians and civilian populated areas. We will seek a rapid, but responsible, transition of operations to coalition, regional, or international organizations that are postured to continue activities as may be necessary to realize the objectives of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.
For these purposes, I have directed these actions, which are in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.
I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.
BARACK OBAMA
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Make No Mistake About It
I am currently 22 years old, I am starting this blog because Facebook.com has begun to filter my comments regarding political topics. My intention is to offer logic and reason. If there is a topic that has not been well covered by sources in my purview, I will probably be writing about it. It has become very difficult to feel that one can make a difference in national policy, because the U.S. is such a vast nation and our national governing body is so removed. Change by the average citizen is possible, yes, plausible, no. So I will do what I can, and that is to write.
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