McCain, Lieberman Fault Obama’s Response to Libya

[sasha031]

Two key Senators on foreign policy criticized President Barack Obama on Sunday for not taking a more aggressive stance toward Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s crackdown on political protesters, with one calling for arming Libyans to form a new government.Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain said Obama should have strongly condemned the Libyan dictator as soon as the political uprising began this month, despite concerns about putting Americans in Libya at risk.

People in Libya and other nearby nations experiencing political upheaval “are looking to America for leadership, for assistance, for moral support and ratification of the sacrifices they have made in defense of democracy,” he said. “America should lead.”

Sen. Joe Lieberman, the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, agreed on “State of the Union” that the United States should have come out early with a stronger response. “I wish we had spoken out much more clearly and early against the Gadhafi regime,” the Connecticut Independent said.
Now is the time to step up action against Gadhafi, said Lieberman, who endorsed giving weapons to citizens who are trying to form a new government.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/-203670-1.html
:puke:

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Geez, the Marine's Hymn is just a song . . . .

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.


Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job --
The United States Marines.


Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

[no_hypocrisy]

Dupe. Sorry. Don't know what happened.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Dupe. Sorry. Don't know what happened.

[Angry Dragon]

3. the two senators that lead the flip-flop party

Anyone hear the Libyans cry out for the US to step in??

[SoCalDem]

4. and in other news, water remains wet n/t

[Frustratedlady]

5. And, if he had said/done anything before all the Americans were safe...

The Bobbsey twins would have been screaming from their sandbox.

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Enuf, already.

[AndyTiedye]

13. They Would Have LOVED to See it Turn Into Another Hostage Crisis

so they could use it to destroy Obama's chances of re-election, just like they did to Carter years ago
(when the Tee Vee did "America Held Hostage" every night while Bush I and his henchmen were making
backroom deals with the Iranians and otherwise sabotaging every effort to free the hostages).

[GoCubsGo]

6. The warmongers are mongering for another war?

So, what else is new?

[spanone]

7. elections have consequences

[Scottybeamer70]

8. Heh.......

This "group of two" thinks it is the majority.
Every time I think they can't get more disgusting,
they always top the last time.

[Arkana]

9. Here's a gun, Joe. Get on the front lines.

Otherwise STFU.

[Puregonzo1188]

10. And yet they weren't for similar actions in Egypt.

Part of the reason why even though I'm deeply supportive of the people's desire for democracy in Libya I'm skeptical of the calls for intervention.

[OnyxCollie]

17. Because Egypt isn't an OPEC member

with 4.4% (46 billion barrels) of the world's crude oil reserves.

http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm

Egypt has only 18.3 billion barrels. You gotta pick your battles wisely.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/08/egypt-oil-and-gas-reserves-record-highest-ever-figures-.html

But I'm sure their calls for intervention are based on only the best intentions.

[bluestateguy]

11. And just like with Egypt and Iran, it's not always all about us

and it's not our responsibility to supposedly promote democracy around the world. That's not in the Constitution.

And that message goes for not only the neo-cons, but the neo-libs and the progressives too.

[AndyTiedye]

14. For LiEberman it is All About Israel

[moondust]

12. And 18 months ago they wanted to sell Gaddafi military equipment.

8/14/2009

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — A delegation of U.S. senators led by John McCain met with Libya's leader Friday to discuss the possible delivery of non-lethal defense equipment.

The visit and Washington's offer of military equipment was another sign of the improving ties between the former longtime adversaries.

~snip~

"As we move ahead with the many ways in which the United States and Libya can work together as partners, there remain areas where real work needs to be done," McCain said. "The status of human rights and political reform in Libya will remain a chief element of concern."

The U.S. State Department's 2008 human rights report on Libya says problems include reported disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests and the detention of political prisoners. The report also cites a lack of civil liberties, restrictions on freedom of religion and discrimination against women and ethnic minorities.

~more~

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-08-14-libya-relations_N.htm

The American delegation also included Sens. Joseph Lieberman, Susan Collins and Lindsay Graham.

[LiberalAndProud]

15. McCain and LIEberman, huh?

If the face of the opposition is any indication, Obama is on the right track here.

[ThoughtCriminal]

16. Is this the sort of response they think would be better?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12799651/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa/

5/15/2006
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration said Monday it will restore normal diplomatic relations with Libya for the first time in over a quarter century after deciding to remove Moammar Gadhafi’s country from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.