Obama: U.S. has launched military action in Libya

March 19, 2011

The U.S. fired more than 100 cruise missiles from the sea while French fighter jets targeted Moammar Gadhafi's forces from the air on Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat.

The U.S. military said 20 sites were hit as the missile strikes targeted air defense installations on or near the Mediterranean coastline, many in the western half of the country that is Gadhafi’s stronghold. The French said they were focusing on the rebel-held east.

President Barack Obama said military action was not his first choice.

"This is not an outcome the U.S. or any of our partners sought," Obama said from Brazil, where he is starting a five-day visit to Latin America. "We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy."

The strikes, which were aimed at enforcing a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone, were a sharp escalation in the international effort to stop Gadhafi after weeks of pleading by the rebels who have seen early gains reversed as the regime unleashed the full force of its superior air power and weaponry.

Read more: http://www.rgj.com/article/20110319...unched-military-action-Libya?odyssey=nav|head

 

Good job for pledging to go to war with Gadhafi, Obama. Kudos to you.

 

yea because 2 wars and 13 trillion dollar debt isn't enough. We need a third one. Obama is bluffing! He knows we can't afford that but has to say something. Let the other countries do it.

 

Well we've got no choice really. The only entity that's decisively made a move so far is Ban Ki-Moon and the United Nations.

 

What do you mean we have no choice. The option of doing nothing is always a choice!

 

The rebels lost and Gadhafi's forces were winning. That's why Obama feels the need to intervene.

 

Here we go.... I thought we were broke. I think it would be cheaper to take out Gadhafi but will be costly & a difficult task tho.......

 

We could always ask the Chinese to fund the war for us and we'll pay them back in the future.

 

By the way archangel, in addition to the US, France and England have also invaded Libya, by request from the United Nations so they can overthrow Gaddahfi. The war won't last long and the United Nations can be the ones who finance it for all of the countries. So assume for now that we're still in two wars.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/03/20/bergen.libya.us/
Why Libya 2011 is not Iraq 2003

By Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst
March 20, 2011 6:23 p.m. EDT

 

I think getting ivolved in Libya and helping out the rebels with miltary action might or might not benefit America in long run, because we do not know who these rebels are??? (they can be muslim brotherhood run by radiacal islam/Al-Qaeda). I think taking out Gadhafi and setting up a governance model run by benevolent dictator might be some benefit to the US and to the western world in long run as it will provide some stability.

 

lol... i knew what happened after they said the UN approved No Fly Zones. I just shook my head in disbelief. I suggest some light reading for everyone here, like the average cost of a 'current' generation Tomahawk cruise missile (among others). Then google the cost of having military fighters patrol the skies like in Kosovo. The good news is that Obama wants to hand over the lead in the operation to other countries. THAT is what we need to do, since we're spearheading Iraq/Afghanistan missions.

Did you read one of the later stories? A UK missile took out a building in his compound. The UK/US both deny targeting him, but his officials declare that they're trying to strike the head of the snake. Like they would admit to trying to assassinate him earlier on to save money.:smt025

We have a long history of helping out rebellious people against cruel governments, in their civil wars. Korea....Vietnam....Iraq




I just hope that this can benefit us in the long run, you know.

 

yea, I was surprised but glad to see he is handing it over. This is getting ridiculous with the cost.

 

as of 2010, 569k/missile for the T-Hawk

multiply that by the number of times its been used, and well....

...it's time to let them fight their own war


artyman:

 

we better withdraw that peace prize he got in advance...

 

why did he get it again? That is like giving a heisman trophy to a potential candidate before the season starts. It cheapens the award.

 

haha yeah, noone understand it... I think they gave it to him to put some pressuro one him to not start wars all over the world... I don't get it tho

 

We're Americans we love wars. Now we gotta go rescue Yemen, oh shieet, I forgot they got no oil.

 

haha yeah just what I was thinkin.. norway wud be a great target tho...

+ Norwegians talk funny so they wud be enough entertainment so u wudn't have to send some playboy bunnies to the soldiers

 

Norway, it is!

Ja
Ja
Ja, lol.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/liby...-taxpayers-millions-dollars/story?id=13193525

U.S. Military Intervention in Libya Costing Taxpayers Millions