The Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya should be one of the richest countries in the world. The ratio between its size (twice that of Texas) and population (about that of Indiana) should have resulted in untold per capita wealth, in the fashion of Norway. Add in its vast petroleum reserves (the sheer size of which is still not quite known), long beautiful coastline, proximity to Europe, and stunning Roman antiquities (among the best in the world), and compare that to its current desolation and poverty, and the full extent of the nightmarish five decades of Qaddafi becomes clear. And then we must factor in the global misery Qaddafi has wrought with his support of terrorism and assassination abroad.
In other words, with Libyans in full revolt, it is hard to understand why someone has not provided them aid to slay this monster, particularly because, while we do not know what follows, we can assume (a) it will be hard to be worse than Qaddafi, and (b) to the degree that we show some empathy and support in ridding the world of this thug, we might have an iota more influence with the succeeding government than we otherwise might have by our present hands-off policy.
And when our past silence about Libya is seen in the context of prior American apologies to Iran and promises not to “meddle” when hundreds of thousands were protesting to end that theocratic nightmare, and yet again in the context of the embarrassing efforts at “outreach” to the Syrian government that is destroying a democratic Lebanon and an expert in political assassination, it is hard to know what the United States is thinking. What is it about Iran, Syria, and Libya that seems to earn either a weird respect or at least caution from the Obama administration, which otherwise seems to be quite bold in its serial pressures and criticism of democratic and allied Israel? And is this confusion a preview of what to expect when an ailing Castro passes on and thousands of Cubans begin to rejoice?
Others have said it, but I'll repeat it. Like most liberals, Obama just can't bring himself to criticize anyone who is anti-American.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRe: "In other words, with Libyans in full revolt, it is hard to understand why someone has not provided them aid to slay this monster."
How about the French, Italians and Spanish provide that aid? Libya is in their backyard and they are big customers of Libyan oil.
And re: "we might have an iota more influence with the succeeding government than we otherwise might have by our present hands-off policy."
Right, Iraq and Afghanistan have drained the U.S. of perhaps 2 Trillion bucks and tens of thousands of causalties.
And what kind of "influence" has that "hands on" policy bought us? Maybe half an iota in those dysfunctional countries. And negative iotas around the globe.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWith a population estimated at over 11 million, I'd like to think that more than "thousands" of Cubans would rejoice once Castro kicks the bucket.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRe: "What is it about Iran, Syria, and Libya that seems to earn either a weird respect or at least caution from the Obama administration, which otherwise seems to be quite bold in its serial pressures and criticism of democratic and allied Israel?"
I think we all know the answer to that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTwice the size of Texas, less people than Indiana, vast petroleum reserves, long beautiful coastline, proximity to Europe(Russia), and stunning Eskimo antiquities, and compare that to its current desolation and poverty, and the full extent of the nightmarish five decades of statehood becomes clear.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think what we are seeing is the just the presidential manifestation of the typical liberal college professor mindset. Obama is never more certain of himself and of what is right than when he is acting in opposition to the Republican party; he is never more uncertain than when reacting to the enemies of Western values.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere is a simple answer to the question of what Barry, Angela, Nicolas, David and that simpleton in Spain can do--whatever George Bush did is verboten to them!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo, no harsh words, no no-fly zones, no ground troops; all that remains is TALK--in the UN, in the Media, in flatulent speech after flatulent warning--which was NOT GWB's way and therefore the only recourse.
Qaddafi will stay in power, become more radical, destroy western interests wherever he can, and the Saudis Iranians Pakistanis and Egyptians will applaud him if not assist.
This is the what happens when one has POWER and is unwilling to pay the price, or have not the determination to use it!