Why Are We Attacking Libya?

I couldn't believe what I read in the papers this past Saturday Night, That The United States, just barely out of Iraq and still in Afghanistan has yet taken military action against yet another Muslim country!

You know my thing is domestic! We have enough that needs to be taken care of right here in the U.S. of A. without spending one red cent on the affairs of another nation in the middle east. Is President Obama once again caving in or trying to appease the Republican majority in congress? I certainly hope not.

Anyway, a coalition of American and European forces bombed Libyan targets by air and sea Saturday in the first phase of a military campaign to drive Moammar Gadhafi from power.

French warplanes fired the first shots in the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war, destroying government tanks and armored vehicles in the region of the rebels' eastern stronghold, Benghazi. Hours later, British and U.S. warships and submarines launched more than 110 Tomahawk missiles against Gadhafi's air defenses around the capital Tripoli and the western city of Misrata, which has been besieged by Gadhafi's forces, Pentagon officials said.

Early Sunday morning, several loud explosions were heared in Tripoli, followed by what sounded like bursts of anti-aircraft fire, CNN reported. The aim of the coalition's operation, dubbed "Odyssey Dawn", (I gotta admit, they do come up with some catchy titles for these operations )was to enforce a United Nations-sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya and stop Gadhafi from attacking overwhelmed rebel forces in the east.

"This is not an outcome the U.S. or any of our partners sought," President Barack 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."


Less than two hours after President Barack Obama spoke, Mommar Gadhafi, who has ruled Libya for 41 years, said in a telephone call to Libyan state TV that he will arm civilians to defend Libya from "colonial, crusader" aggression.

"It is now necessary to open the stores and arm all the masses with all types of weapons to defend the independence, unity and honor of Libya," Gadhafi said. He is indeed delusional and I won't argue that he is a tyrant....but he is of no threat to the United States or any of it's European allies that I can see.

For their part, The Republicans and the Tea Party crowd are trying their hardest to find something that the President has done wrong...Unlike George W. I will give President Obama credit for going to the United Nations and making sure that this was an international -unilateral action. The U.S. seems to be giving the French and the British Air support and nothing more.
No troops of any nation are on the ground in Libya.

Thing is...Can the rebels do their part to flush Ghadafi out? Could Ghahafi prolong this thing into a years long campaign?? Another post for another day. The Left and progressives are upset with the president's move period...I have already heard the rumblings on Facebook and Twitter denouncing not only this move, but questioning his commitment to a progressive agenda. Again, I ask the question...Is he trying to out Republican the Republicans?I just don't know right now.

I still can't understand why the U.S. is involved in this....I hope this doesn't lead to yet another protracted uber-war... Stay tuned!