HASC Chair Questions No-Fly Goals

Sarah March 21st, 2011 at 6:05 am

Where are the anti-war protestors?

Editor, DoD Buzz March 21st, 2011 at 10:23 am

Some readers have tried posting generalized and hateful comments about ethnic and religious groups. These will not be tolerated and will be deleted. Please offer your own cogent, rational and insightful comments about policy and politics. Feel free to be cutting, biting and powerful, as long as you aren’t offensive.

Drake1 March 21st, 2011 at 12:45 pm

The whole no– fly zone is a half hearted attempt to take sides in a Libyan civil war, dressed up as a humanitarian mission. Without committing ground forces, Gaddafi can outlast us. If he falls we have no idea about how the rebels we have thrown our lot in will rule the country…that’s if they rule.

The President should have resisted the short sighted wishes of those in the Congress and our
allies to drag the U.S. into another Middle Eastern war. This will no doubt set a bad precedent for us in a region that is still suffering from social instability.

Moreover, at a time of growing deficits and debt, should we even be entertaining additional wars of choice?

Guest March 22nd, 2011 at 6:44 am

The situation is so different in Bahrain that they attempt to compare is ridiculous. Bahrain has outsiders trying to attempt a religious coup against the kingdom. Your lack of knowledge about the situation is “pretty sad”

BOOMER March 22nd, 2011 at 7:24 am

Civilians are being killed by the government period, it doesnt matter who is stirring them up to turn against them, just as in yemen and syria which is what the colation claims is it’s true purpose. yet they have not even threatened to impose sanctions on them. It’s al just two face politics and I was stationed in Bahrain for a while so I’m pretty familiar with whats going on there with religious groups and has been for a while.

BOOMER March 22nd, 2011 at 9:13 am

I guess he didnt hear the part that the US is in charge of the operation and directing all the air stikes so where is the EU leadership in this abortion when it comes time to lay blame?????

Formula March 23rd, 2011 at 10:58 am

Where is Saudi.…they have a ton of F15’s. It’s time for Saudi to stand up and start monitoring and policing their own region. The US is doing enough for the world and all we get is bad press from the very nations we are protecting. Time for the US to pull the plug and let Europeans take care of Europe and let the Middle East take care of itself. At least Qatar stood up. I’m with BOOMER, I was in the Military too and the Middle East collectively has plenty of fire power, they need to start using it.

Wally March 23rd, 2011 at 9:15 pm

not only did Bush invade a soverign country — not a first for the USA—Mexico ‚Phillipines , for example ..he and Cheney trashed the constituton by getting a WAR POWERS ACT **************, Cheney thought the U.S President should be POWERFUL, and not have to do such silly things as requensting permission from a bunch of sniviling bureaucrats

Tom March 23rd, 2011 at 9:35 pm

Totally agree. Meanwhile, we’re gutting our capabilities, reforming our military to serve the interests of the United Nations and not the country. The Constitution is being utterly trampled on by those in charge who have little use for it as it gets in the way of their own goals. The roles and powers prescribed therein are regularly being ignored. I wonder when we can expect to see the formation of Obama’s call for a “civilian national security force equal in size and budget as the military.”

Tom March 23rd, 2011 at 9:51 pm

How did Bush invade Iraq ILLEGALLY? He went to Congress and Congress agreed. Why? Because the duplicitous French refused to do anything about Iraq’s failure to comply with its commitments? CLUE: We recovered documents proving what we knew, that France’s Jacque Chirac, who was buddy buddy with Saddam Hussein, had cut a deal. While France continued to claim publicly that it supported continuing the sanctions against Iraq, it was actually doing all it could to end them behind the scenes. This was in accordance with the deal they cut with Hussein. If they 1) prevented the U.S. from leading an attack, and 2) succeeded in getting the sanctions dropped, French companies would get exclusive drilling rights in the new oil fields in western Iraq. The French were undermining everyone in a corrupt behind-the-scenes double deal. The French didn’t want us going in messing up their deal and they most certainly did not want the Iraqi people finding out they had sold them out in a back-room deal with Hussein.

Tom March 23rd, 2011 at 10:04 pm

Love the reference to Mexico. I hear this a lot. The mean nasty Americans invaded the peaceloving Mexicans. I’ve read some revisionist history on it too. It was all our fault. Really? Have you ANY clue what actually triggered the war? Have you ever actually read about how the Mexican government, once it successfully won its independence from Spain (that was in 1820, by the way, 37 years AFTER the U.S. became a nation) claimed all territories claimed by Spain, but over which it had no hold, and this started the problems between us? Did you ever actually read about what happened to cause us to finally invade that “sovereign” country? Probably not.

Louis March 23rd, 2011 at 10:10 pm

All this talk about what’s right and wrong, needs to stop those that do not vote are the biggest whiners. Our government works for us the people. Make our vote count and see what happens. We have the power to remove any government official with a vote. We are all at fault for what happens by our government. Remember America is not one race, we are the People for the people. Vote come together.

Michael Kern March 23rd, 2011 at 10:57 pm

Whats the beef here? The “War Power’s Act” We had a UN resolution which involves establishing a No Fly Zone over Libya. So the POTUS tasked the Navy to plaster all of the SAM Sites in Northern Libya. This open’s up for England and France to do whatever they want with the no fly zone. Granted I have no idea what the USAF is doing sending F-15 and F-16 from Aviano Italy other then justifing their existance but we can get out of this Libya deal anytime now. Leave a Surface group in the Gulf of Sidra [The Ole Line of Death] to do SAR for the Brits and French No Worries. As for the War Powers Act first of all why is someone blaming Bush and Chenny for that? Don’t get me wrong I cant stand either of them but the War Powers Act was established in 1973. As for the War Powers Act why don’t we examine that the question is WHY didn’t Justice White be more specific and deal with INS vs Chadha instead of leaving it open and ambigious.? Also keep in mind fellas the only branch of service that is provided for in the Constitution is the NAVY, Look it up HAHA

Brian Sinykin March 23rd, 2011 at 11:55 pm

I am a 68 year old disabled Veteran. I am tired of the traitorous statements made by those in the Republican Party. Are you Americans first or are you just a Republican. Doing the opposite of bush Bush, Obama took action only after the United Nations counsel voted to to enforce a no fly zone. If you cannot stop making these kind of statement I think you should resign for not living up to your oath of office.

DLI9 March 24th, 2011 at 12:30 am

You mean the EU marxist dictatorship? I’m English so I know all about that bunch. For the EU read The Germano-French Empire: as they benefit by far the most from the existence of the EU; with Jose Manuel Barroso as the “Emperor” of the EU. He even openly calls it an “empire”! 3 British prime ministers in a row: Major, Blair and Brown have all committed High Treason by signing away vast swathes of our sovereignty, and Brown broke his election promise to have a referendum to see if we wanted the “Lisbon Treaty/European Constitution” (they are one and the same thing). However the French and the Dutch voted against the “Constitution” so the EU re-named it the Lisbon Treaty and made certain that only politicians got to vote for it, by signing it. In ’98 Blair had the death penalty for Treason abolished in Britain. Then he committed High Treason by signing the “Nice Treaty” (well he was a lawyer and presumably wanted to avoid death by hanging). Britain is no longer a country with heavy industry; because that’s for Germany. Our agriculture is rapidly declining due to EU imposed quotas, because agriculture is for France. If you really want to see what the EU is about, is I suggest you have a look at YouTube and the British UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party). There’s something very sinister about German politicians ranting on in German about “the project” that is the: unification of Europe whether the European peoples want it or not, which generally speaking — they don’t; and with the “Speaker” siding with those he approves of and silencing those he doesn’t. “Herr Poterring” (a German) is particularly guilty of this fault. The EU is a marxist, dictatorial, organisation that doesn’t understand, or want democracy in Europe. Even Gorbachev said he couldn’t understand why the EU was constructing the Soviet Union in Western Europe, when it had failed so badly in Eastern Europe. The “law makers” are elected by nobody and aren’t unaccountable to anybody; however they do pay themselves huge sums of money. They even make laws which their previous laws say are illegal to make! Now in Britain around 70–75% of our laws are made by a foreign power: the EU. Nobody asked for this, but the politicians want it. I can’t imagine why. But it you look at a lot of ex-politicians e.g. Blair, they have miraculously become millionaires. The EU hates the USA. Fact. The French like to call the EU a “counter balance to the power of the United States” which is of course a dream of theirs, not actual reality. At the same time they’ll crawl, fawn, and lie to the United States, (and everybody else) until they get what they want. The EU will keep its head right down I guarantee it, they are very busy with completely different plans.

John In Jacksonville March 24th, 2011 at 8:51 am

In terms of policy — we all realize there’s an amazing and never-before-seen breath of democratic reform blowing over the Arab world, its already toppled tyrants in two countries and several more are teetering. Ghadafi is fighting it with bullets, the military, and mercenaries who snipe unarmed civilian protesters in the head and chest from concealed rooftop positions. His elite armor was a couple hours away from assaulting Benghazi with orders to “show no mercy.” POTUS had to make a decision — do we let this democratic movement end in another Rape of Nanking, or do we intervene? He made his decision and I think that decision does credit to the ideals our nation is founded on. Many nations are working now on next steps. But we saved thousands of lives, and there’s frank gratitude across parts of the world that rarely feel that way toward the West. Let’s stay positive as we work out the hand-off to the Arab League and European Union to take the situation to the next stages.

Bat March 24th, 2011 at 9:50 am

Once again the Administration has acted without consent of Congress to use deadly force to achieve self directed goals. Having no imperative to seek Congressional approval the US dives head first into another broilling sea of discontent. how can Congress define launching bombs and missiles as ‘Humanitarian Aid’ . Obama must be out to prove he deserves Nobel Peace Prize and title Exhulted Royal Poobah !.

JCitizen March 24th, 2011 at 11:35 pm

The Obama administration is running scared; all the “work” they did to fix the economy is seen as going down the shiter because the conflicts have ballooned the price of oil. Everyone was seeing the economy about to tank big time. They are in a panic!

JCitizen March 24th, 2011 at 11:53 pm

They were hoping the US would sucker into it; so they could feign cooperation, and then claim it was all the “Great Satan”, and that they never had anything to do with it. Trouble is, Obama played their hand until it was almost too late, the they got caught up supporting the no fly zone. Now they ARE in trouble, because they got the whole area in this mess by allowing extremism, so now they have no idea what to do about chaos! I can’t help thinking it is funny. But then I always did like chaos.

We could be missing an opportunity to finally look like the good guys to peoples in the Middle East. We better think carefully, as we will live with the mistakes for 2000 years like everyone else folks over their hate.

JCitizen March 25th, 2011 at 12:16 am

Many say folks in the Middle East don’t know what to do with freedom. I think we are going to find out whether we like it or not. If it turns out good; don’t be surprised if they look on Bush as a foreign hero!

JCitizen March 25th, 2011 at 12:32 am

I totally agree. It is about time the Western world and Middle East realize the value of policing up bullies and murderers. The best thing about it is, that it will force Europe and many other western countries to recognize the value the US has been having to shoulder all on its own. Maybe they will learn to appreciate it, and wake up and realize it is in every bodies interest, and the economy of the world — in fact.

Michael Kern March 25th, 2011 at 12:56 am

It was challenged to the US Supreme Court as I stated [poorly I guess] in INS vs Chadha. Justice White gave an ambigous ruling on it and left us holding the bag. Thats the MAJOR problem with this country the US Supreme Court NOT doing THEIR JOBS.

Dick LeGrande March 25th, 2011 at 3:57 am

They didn’t start a “war”, as bush and company put it. Theres a difference here, your boy(bush)invaded Iraq with reason, other than to finish what “daddy” started, sent in ground troop’s in and the whole shebang. Now this is a no fly zone, the only thing thats needed is a coupla well placed rockets with a warning sign on em.

Dick LeGrande March 25th, 2011 at 4:07 am

We’re not in Libya, just a few bombs are. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHhahahahahaha!!!!!!!

JCitizen March 25th, 2011 at 3:19 pm

Any educated person can read the Constitution and see that the President is not only tasked with commanding the Armed Forces, but is to be unfettered in his/her duty to foreign policy and treaties. I really don’t think I need the Supreme Court to tell me that quite frankly. When you read the letters of our forefathers on discussions leading up to the ratification of the Constitution, you clearly see their intent, and I wholeheartedly agree with their original intent. It will never be obsolete!

BreakTheCycle March 26th, 2011 at 11:20 am

i agree with you that the Iraq War is much larger in scope. However we need to correct some serious errors in your logic. first off you need to consider that war against Iraq has been ongoing since the first Desert Storm. Clinton attacked Iraq during Desert Fox. It’s not accurate to characterize Bush & Company as starting the Iraq War. Second, no no no do not call Bush “my boy” no way. What are you, from the ghetto or something? Third I think you meant to say “invaded Iraq with NO reason”. Fourth this is likely going to evolve into more than a no fly zone, look at the latest headlines on arming the rebels. Your final comment on coupla well placed rockets is pretty childish and ignorant. Since this was posted 4 days ago, Obama is starting to get some criticism from the anti-war left, like Kucinich. Still, the point remains — there is a double standard that slants negative against Republicans vs Democrats use of the military, dick.

Apollo March 27th, 2011 at 7:53 am

The second reason for going in was the fact that our economy was teetering ever since the “freedom wave” began sweeping over the middle east. Oh BTW, they want freedom, that’s NOT democracy. We need to stop trying to force DEMOCRACY on people when we butcher it well enough at home.

I’m no fan of our POTUS but he was the one with the hard decision here. He was dammed if he do/dammed if he don’t. At least he chose the dammed that halted wholesale slaughter of innocents. My support now is with our fighting men and women. May they all come home to their families. Oh and can we stop turning EVERY thread here into a F-35 debate?!?! Let it live or die on its own. Beatching about it here isn’t going to make a bit of difference to the program. AV-8Bs were used because they were the best option for the close air support that was needed around Benghazi. They are good enough now, against and aged and largely ineffective SA threat.