Obama rules out 'land invasion' in Libya

[bemildred]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama Wednesday categorically ruled out a land invasion to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi as coalition forces launched a fifth day of air strikes against government military targets in the North African nation.

And Obama said the U.S. this week will be pulling back from its dominant role in the international campaign aimed at preventing Gadhafi from attacking civilians.

In international attacks early Wednesday, missiles from F-15 fighter jets destroyed Gadhafi missile sites around Tripoli. In two cities where pro-Gadhafi troops have besieged civilians, the international force struck a government ammunition depot outside Misrata and other planes hit ground forces outside Ajdabiya, officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

Residents in Misrata said coalition attacks forced government troops to withdraw tanks there.

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/obama-rules-out-land-882511.html

[bowens43]

1. we are peefectly capable of murdering peoeple from hundreds of miles away

no need for bots on the ground

[katnapped]

2. He'll capitulate with himself soon enough.... n/t

[Demeter]

Excellent turn of Phrase!

and that's exactly what I was thinking.

[arcane1]

3. I read that a little differently

"ruled out a land invasion to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi"

Is it just me, or does it seem like it's now a given that we're trying to kick him out of power, rather than merely helping the rebels?

[Igel]

17. It's getting there.

Give it time.

It started out as preventing the imminent massacre that so many feared, with a dash of with making sure that people know that when we speak we mean business when we order other countries around.

Then it morphed into protecting the armed civilians as they attempted to retake a city, and now it's explicitly to help the armed civilians working on behalf of a provisional government to do battle and occupy--uh, liberate--territory that they previously lost.

As I've said before, soon the Libyan militias' defending themselves against the incursions by the armed, government sponsored civilians will constitute cease-fire violations that demand retribution and attacks; then, if things still don't go well, Western troops will be invited in--thus obviating the "no occupation" clause of the UN resolution. They will fight from the tops of APCs and tanks, from helicopters and the like, so no actual US troops will have boots on the ground during actual combat. Then when boots need to exit the APCs and tanks during combat, it will be roadway, sidewalks, the interior of buildings and "ground" will be taken as synonymous with "soil." This will be widely construed to have been the sagacious and farsighted interpretation always intended for the phrase.

[Bragi]

22. Good assessment! /nt

[Poll_Blind]

4. * Offer not valid in case of downed pilots, rescue missions, military advisors or 'whatever'

PB

[nyy1998]

5. What's wrong with saving downed pilots? nt

[Poll_Blind]

10. What do you have against the troops to make you say such a thing?

:shrug:

PB

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Qaddafi is thrilled with this

Mr. Rogers goes to war.

[South End Liberal]

7. Million$ for Bomb$

I've read various sources that on the first day of the air strikes alone, US forces launched 112 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which cost about $1 million to $1.5 million each, from ships stationed off the Libyan coast. That totaled $112 million to $168 million.

I've also read that once the spending on these air strikes hits $1 BILLION, the Pentagon will have to go to Congress for emergency funding.

If the major oil companies want access to Libya's oil so damn bad, why don't they spend their own multi billions in profits to buy the stuff instead? And don't tell me this is about democracy for the Libyan people when people in Bahrain, Yemem, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and yes, Palestine, are oppressed. Don't forget, when our country invaded Iraq, the soldiers protected the oil ministry building but let looters destroy the museum housing centuries of priceless artifacts. Priorities, you know....

[JJW]

8. We didn't plan to go into Iraq either

During the 90's with no fly and sanctions, the US didn't plan to put boots on the ground in Iraq also.

[The Magistrate]

9. Still, Sir, Someone Will Have To Do A Training Mission, Double-Quick

The insurrectionists do not seem to be in shape to move into vacuums the air strikes create, at present....

[bemildred]

12. That would be wise.

However I would suggest that now that it has been made clear that Ghaddaffi will not be allowed to win, the dynamics of the situation may change, his support may start to dissipate again. But prudence would dictate that the rebels not rely on that sort of unearned advantage.

[daleo]

14. Gaddafi's supporters may feel boxed in, and fight all the harder

Victors in civil wars are rarely as magnanimous as Lincoln was, and their opponents know it.

[The Magistrate]

15. That Is Doubtless the Hope, Sir

It may be that wrecking loyalist units will restore the dynamic of the first stage of the outbreak, but when people first came boiling out to fight, they had not been shot over much. Now people know what can happen to them, and the original enthusiasm may not prove recoverable....

[Dawgs]

11. Obama rules out 'tax cuts for the rich' in America

Fool me once...

[daleo]

13. Afghanistan turned out to require massive ground troops

This could be the same, especially troops needed to secure oil fields and related infrastructure. If a civil war drags on, interfering with business, you can be sure the oil industry pressure to "do something" will be fierce.

[Baclava]

18. Bosnia started out with an 'Air War Only'...the US ended up with 20,000 troops on the ground

Rachel called Libya a "War-zone" tonight, yes, and a "War" is going on - the covers have been pulled back, finally.

We're deep in it.

[daleo]

23. Yeah it's a war zone and we're in it

It's just willfull blindness to deny that plain reality.

[Baclava]

19. We should have learned all we need to know about Afghanistan from the Russians

No Blood for poppies!

[Rage for Order]

16. An `"invasion" is different from an "occupation", you see

An invasion is performed to conquer; an occupation is performed to help.

[Vinee]

20. I suppose that means the resistance we're supporting has already pledged their allegiance.

If not, what the fuck was the point of all of this?

[Javaman]

21. For now. nt

[Safetykitten]

24. "categorically" even.