Hugs From Libyans

[thewiseguy]

This may be a first for the Arab world: An American airman who bailed out over Libya was rescued from his hiding place in a sheep pen by villagers who hugged him, served him juice and thanked him effusively for bombing their country.

Even though some villagers were hit by American shrapnel, one gamely told an Associated Press reporter that he bore no grudges. Then, on Wednesday in Benghazi, the major city in eastern Libya whose streets would almost certainly be running with blood now if it weren’t for the American-led military intervention, residents held a “thank you rally.” They wanted to express gratitude to coalition forces for helping save their lives.

Doubts are reverberating across America about the military intervention in Libya. Those questions are legitimate, and the uncertainties are huge. But let’s not forget that a humanitarian catastrophe has been averted for now and that this intervention looks much less like the 2003 invasion of Iraq than the successful 1991 gulf war to rescue Kuwait from Iraqi military occupation.

This is also one of the few times in history when outside forces have intervened militarily to save the lives of citizens from their government. More commonly, we wring our hands for years as victims are massacred, and then, when it is too late, earnestly declare: “Never again.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/opinion/24kristof.html?_r=3&emc=eta1

Also from the same article:

“Opinion was unanimous,” Michel Gabaudan, the president of Refugees International, told me on Wednesday after a visit to Libya. Mr. Gabaudan said that every Libyan he spoke to agreed that the military strikes had averted “a major humanitarian disaster.”

“Men, women and children, they are ecstatic about the role of the coalition but worried that it may not continue,” he said.

[old mark]

1. K&R- I read about this on the BBC site last night.....They WANT us there...nt

[whoneedstickets]

2. Obama, he's getting the greif now, he can claim the credit later..

I'm thinking there will be some crow eaten among liberal critics. The fact that he acted independently (imperially according to some) while lining up Arab league, UN, NATO and EU allies will give him some global credibility.

edit: sentence structure

[ClarkUSA]

3. +1000

Well-said.

[originalpckelly]

9. We can never really know with certainty how it will go,

but this is a wholly and totally different situation than Iraq. Actual Libyans, living there, got the ball rolling on this intervention.

And non-intervention would have caused our nation to look cold and ruthless.

[inna]

4. Sorry, I don't believe this. The same NYT that was trumpeting the Iraq war. nt

[thewiseguy]

5. You do not believe what?

Al Jazeera had a story on the Benghazi rally yesterday. Unless you think they are in it too.

[originalpckelly]

10. Didn't you know, it's a big conspiracy?

Even Gaddafi is in on it!

[inna]

14. I don't believe the "intervention" has wide popular support among the Libyans.

As for AJ, I don't think they've been terribly supportive of the "intervention", from the start.

[Turborama]

17. Did you believe Gaddafi when he said "Libyans love me"?

Speaking to a small number of reporters, Gaddafi said: "All my people love me. They would die to protect me."
http://itn.co.uk/519c10e1222fa4d213fae81a919514b3.html

Al Jazeera English have had 3 reporters in 3 cities in Libya (including Tripoli and Benghazi) since day one. If you had been watching Al Jazeera English from the start you'd see that they have been carrying out excellent investigative journalism, as per usual.

Click on the banner below for their special Spotlight section on Libya...
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/libya/">

Plus, keep an eye out for Josh & pinnboy's very informative threads which comtains lots of material from AJE. Here's the latest one: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x730234

[inna]

19. LOL, of course AJ is excellent, and no, I do not believe Gaddafi (sp?) LOL

[bobbolink]

6. Here's one photo... 15,000 celebrants!

[Frustratedlady]

7. Isn't that the welcome George wanted? n/t

[nosmokes]

8. the dead Libyans are very enthusiastic!

[originalpckelly]

11. When there would be way more dead Libyans...

I think the remaining Libyans are indeed very thankful.

[nosmokes]

13. pure conjecture on your part.

I'm not even saying this( going into Libya) is necessarily a bad thing, but let's put all the cards on the table, get a vote from Congress first and go in with a real plan.This will turn into a grade AA cluster-fuck just like the two we are already involved in.What exactly are our motives for being in Libya?And don't try and sell me the truckload of humanitarian shit. If that were the case then we'd be involved militarily in about thirty-five countries right now and we wouldn't have enough funds or mental capacity to do anything else.

[originalpckelly]

16. The intervention has support from Congress.

The Senate ratified the treaty creating the UN, and in there it describes the security council and all of its abilities, and Chapter VII describes the role of military intervention in the world under the auspices of the UN.

If you want bi-cameral approval, then amend the US Constitution, until then, all actions taken under the treaty are legal.

The debate occurred on an international level. If you want the UN to end, get the US of the UN like the CONSERVATIVES want to.

[Waiting For Everyman]

12. Oh, you mean the dead Libyans from the air strikes that occurred

where, exactly? The Libyan state guides for journalists are looking for the site. Can't find it. Must be around Tripoli somewhere. Pls, help them out...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x566677

:rofl:

[LanternWaste]

18. I imagine you're referring to the ones Gaddafi murdered, yes...?

I imagine you're referring to the ones Gaddafi murdered, yes...?

[Modern_Matthew]

15. And the sugar coating begins. These feel good stories are sensationalized to help us swallow WAR. nt