For Once, Republicans Are Right

By Carl

 

What the fuck ARE we doing in Libya?

Congressional Republicans called on President Barack Obama to more fully explain the goal of the allied military action in Libya and how it will be accomplished.

“Before any further military commitments are made, the administration must do a better job of communicating to the American people and to Congress about our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved,” House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, said in a statement yesterday.

The U.S. and allied forces hit Libya’s air-defense systems and created a no-fly zone over the country, according to Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. The United Nations Security Council on March 17 authorized the use of “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians.

Now, I'm sure the Republican interest is purely from the standpoint of "what's good for America" and would have zero to do with political grandstanding and posturing, with a little saber-rattling thrown in for good measure. After all, that would be exploiting a situation for political gain, something we surely can't have when the nation is at war and Obama is a War President.

After all, why would the Republicans hate America?

While it's heartening to me to see that there is a genuine coalition involved...hell, even Germany and France have taken sizable roles in Libya, and Qatar has supplied its Air Force...it still distresses me to see America taking a couple of pot shots at a nation which is a zero-threat to American interests.

And no, I'm not ignoring Lockerbie. Gaddafy made nice with the Bush administration. You'd think we can let bygones be bygones, since that was touted as The Bush Doctrine In Action. Apparently, the Republicans think so too, and are giving full-throated support to our ally, Muammar.

And in truth, does it matter to the Libyans on the ground whether the Tomahawk missile that just pounded their land was fired by an American, a Brit, an Egyptian or a Saudi? A, it's all American anyway, and B, it still kills innocents.

(crossposted to Simply Left Behind)