Scourge of War Boards

Maybe this will be a bad topic............

It makes no sense to me why we are bombing Libya? Are we now the policemen of the world? Can we be the policemen of the world? What is our objective in Libya? It will be a war where we again have no exit strategy or one that takes 10 or 15 years to pull off. Can we win one of our other wars first?

I am against the whole thing. We are just going to mess up the entire region.

I tend to shy away from Political topics.....but I will throw this out there.....NY Cavalry......you yourself should know that, especially in the last more than half-century (not too mention the last 200 years), the United States has been more than willing to become the "Global Police Squad".....and has endeavored in Police/Military Actions.....for example:

Korea 1950-53 (Harry S. Truman himself called this a "Police Action")
The Lebanon Crisis of 1958
Vietnam 1959(?)-75
Multinational Force in Lebanon 1983-84
Invasion of Panama 1989
The Gulf War (never officially declared a war) 1991

This list also includes the Military Operations (i.e. "Actions) currently underway in Afghanistan and the Invasion of Iraq (2001) - Both of these Military Actions were authorized by Congress but have never formally been declared wars.

You are right in all your points.

Libya is most unclear though. Are we going for regime change or are we going to be the air force of the rebels, or did we just commit ourselves to a now fly zone with no end in site?

What of the civil rights abuses of China and N Korea? Do we go to war against them? We have a double standard.

Sometimes we go to war and do not do what it takes to win. Examples are Vietnam and Korea.

I think our military is overstretched.

Reguards

You are right in all your points.

Libya is most unclear though. Are we going for regime change or are we going to be the air force of the rebels, or did we just commit ourselves to a now fly zone with no end in site?

What of the civil rights abuses of China and N Korea? Do we go to war against them? We have a double standard.

Sometimes we go to war and do not do what it takes to win. Examples are Vietnam and Korea.

I think our military is overstretched.

Reguards

The thing with Libya is that Gadhafi-duck should have been deposed of a quarter of a century ago when he first started acting up! This is nothing but another "Military Action" - The standard.
As far as China concerned, the US is too buddy buddy - N. Korea on the other hand is a "time will tell" scenario.

regards

Sarge

They have oil.

Come on Harmon! Everyone knows Obama is bombing Libya because the Arab League ordered him to.

Iran is the U.S real target in the end (they see these uprisings as a way in). Once that happens expect to see Russia, and China get involved (not in support of the U.S). The U.S will eventually move troops from Iraq to Iran once that skirmish/invasion takes place.

Well. . . Mike. . . I think you're wrong. A ground war in Iran would make Iraq seem like a walk in the park. I doubt we are ready for the kind of casualties we'd take in Iran, or Pakistan.

We much prefer to beat up on the little guys.

Well. . . Mike. . . I think you're wrong. A ground war in Iran would make Iraq seem like a walk in the park. I doubt we are ready for the kind of casualties we'd take in Iran, or Pakistan.

We much prefer to beat up on the little guys.

Hi KG.

I hope I'm wrong...

Cheers...

This is, at the very least, a means for Obama to reclaim some of the image of the US as more of an altruistic world police than the type that we broadcast, for instance, with Iraq. France is (ye Gods!) way more into making military strikes here than we are (at least thus far). But why shouldn't we support it? The Middle East has been a terrifying prospect for us to face for a long time now, but to have numerous major power shifts, most of them peacefully? That's amazing luck (a terrifically vague term, I know) for the US and its allies.

We're getting involved here because someone(s) have run a cost/benefit analysis of the situation and have concluded this is something that could get us brownie points without endangering really any American lives. Plus the allies are actually behind doing something for once, so it would be a shame for the US not to go along and lose further favor amongst them.

Edit: Generally, Iran is not a main target or concern, at least for now. The US has other, much bigger fish to fry right now and military action against Iran would seal Obama's exit papers for 2012.