In a nationally-televised speech on March 28, President Obama defined the American military mission in Libya as humanitarian: We would enforce a no-fly zone to prevent Libyan forces from bombing civilians. I support that specific, limited mission. Last week, the president wrote in an op-ed with his British and French counterparts that “to succeed, Qaddafi must go and go for good.”
It is apparent that our military is engaged in much more than enforcing a no-fly zone. What we are watching in real time is another example of mission creep and mission muddle. In an op-ed in today’s Boston Herald, former U.N. ambassador John Bolton rightly notes that Obama has set himself up for “massive strategic failure” by demanding Qaddafi’s ouster “while restricting military force to the limited objective of protecting civilians.” Military action cannot be under-deliberated and ad hoc. The president owes it to the American people and Congress to immediately explain his new Libya mission and its strategic rationale.
— Mitt Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts and author of No Apology.
Why should BHO explain his Libya strategy (or is it strategery?) to Congress?
They don't seem to be too terribly interested in what is going on.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo they don't seem too interested in Libya, but I understand Orin Hatch wants Congress to hold hearings into the NCAA's BCS system.
Football first, then war - I guess.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy do you support a no-fly zone over Libya? What is in it for Americans? Do you know who the rebels are? Are they better or worse than the mad-dog? How long would you keep a no-fly zone in effect? Why Libya and not Syria, Bahrain, or Yemen? Can we really effect anything significant with a no-fly zone?
Thanks for telling us you support a no-fly zone, Mr. Romney. Please tell us why you do.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell said Mr. Romney...
We watched with amusement as Mr. Lane of the Washington Post try to equate this fiasco provided by the Obama Administration with the effort to liberate Iraq. It was a joke, one of the most bizarre moments encountered on Fox's Special Report.
Mr. Krauthammer wisely rebuked such nonsense. The sophistry of Sec. Clinton, President Obama, etc., has made nearly any other operation in US History look ideal in comparison. Not only did the Bush Administration lead the World with 40 other Nations to remove a brutal Dictator who supported terror in three weeks, with incredibly low casualties, they did so with US Congressional authorization.
Hillary, Barack, etc., originally rejected any concept of a 'no fly zone', then rushed after the humanitarian imagery began to impact their image in negative terms. The flip flopping is obscene, but the incompetence is far more troubling. They were stuck on their sophomoric "no meddling" political facade, created long ago to debase the Bush Administration - exploiting fashionable winds for personal political gain.
It is truly pathetic, as their policies make absolutely no sense. Why bomb Libya, while ignoring the brutal oppression in Iran, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, etc?
Sadly, we had a very poor offering representing the GOP in the last Presidential run, which completely ceded the entire issue of the essential need to fight for freedom in this World - as well as the need for US Leadership in the Globe. The Maverick Ticket only offered regretful apologies for some of the most admirable Republican Leadership post 9-11. When Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden were bashing the USA's incredible efforts to bring a needed intervention to the heart of the Middle East, and aid the formerly oppressed People of Iraq create their own Democracy, we watched an absurd response, a baffling 'poll driven' embarrassment. The portrayal of the USA as the bad guy was mindlessly enabled on the Global Stage of the US Presidential Race. It was a tragedy for all.
And we see the mindless results today, with a disastrous "smart power" which has been exposed as having utterly no clue. The Senate should be calling Mrs. Clinton in to explain - perhaps even requesting her to step down. The Obama Team missed the entire revolution in the Region pushing for Freedom and Democracy. Instead of focusing on the genuine concern with Iranian Nuclear Power, she and the Obama Team were obsessed with Israel building on it's own land. The US State Department and the Obama Administration even remained silent when the Iranian despots slaughtered their own people. Hillary told us Mubarak was stable, and laughably that the dictator in Syria was a "reformer". It is one big Clinton-Obama mess, as Libya has become the ultimate symbol for their incompetent confusion.
We must 'change' this folly in 2012.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse...don't forget the NATO "boots on the ground" (not that any of us believed that nonsense)
Just how many combat troops do we covertly have in Libya? Inquiring minds want to know. (that would obviously not include any of Obama's bootlicking sycophants in the mainstream media)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh don't worry Mitt. It's just the US protecting savages.
Our friends the rebels are beheading black Africans. Hey wouldn't the Bamster be concerned about that since his Dad was a black African?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOld Fan for President!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHey there, Mitt,
So you support a no-fly zone to stop Gaddaffi-Duck (I'm Despicable!) from bombing civilians?
How's that going to stop him from waltzing into Misrata and slaughtering them by hand?
Mitt. Mitt. Mitt. Wars are fought to win, or not at all.
I'd rather hear you explain the existence or non-existence of a vital American interest, than hear you posture concern for Libyan civilians. Lots of civilians are being slaughtered all over the world, after all.
Are you proposing a "responsibility to protect" policy then? Romneybama for president! I could walk into the voting booth with a blindfold.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRomney has called it correctly--mission creep and mission muddle. All because Obama is so politically shy and hesitant to engage any enemy that he cannot even accurately define the mission. All Obama knows is that he was shamed into a Libya action but cannot defend it or describe it.
How did this guy become president when he is so without leadership qualities to be a commander in chief? Will someone please take the young child, Obama, by the hand and show him how to be a man?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWasn't it a former Democratic administration that got us in Viet-nam? All of this sounds very familiar. It's Obama's lack of any coherent foreign policy that has gotten us into this mess. Who knows what price we will have to pay to get out.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI guess not much.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWe are just in a support role in Libya. Shouldn't have any agenda other than the official one under which we entered the conflict.
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