Are Liberals for War in Libya?

A liberal kid I know has a facebook status supporting the US and the Coalition's offensive forces in Libya. I just don't seem to get it. Liberals adamantly oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so why are they all for this?

The French also seem to have the opposite position than 2003. I remember once-upon-a-time an effort to rename French fries as "freedom fries" because the French didn't support the war. Now, the French couldn't get to Libya quicker. I understand the Sarkozy is under pressure to move closer to the right because of the upcoming elections in France. Plus, I'm sure that immigration policy might tie into the mix.

What do you guys think of all this? Is it fair to oppose two wars and be for a third? Do liberals actually support an offensive? Why are the Europeans so quick to jump at the chance to topple the Col.?

 
Best Response

I actually lived in Libya and had family there for a long time. No kidding.

The Libyan situation is a bit different.

This time, the West was very reluctant, and right now would feel there isn't a lot of choice.

With Libya, the uprising initially looked like it would end up similarly like Tunisia and Egypt: a bit of violence, but overall a relatively peaceful overthrow.

But Gaddafi responded as violently as a dictator could.

And for a while, it seemed like the "opposition" (not really a group, but just a mass of unorganized and fed up citizens) were able to push back, taking over most of the country except for Tripoli (the capital).

But Gaddafi managed to tactically push back, street by street.

And meanwhile, while Libya may not be the world's top oil producer, it's light sweet crude is amongst the best quality in the world, and disruption will have real effects on the world supply.

So in order to stop this from happening, what the US did this time rather than UNILATERALLY go in, they waited, and waited, and waited, until they could no longer wait.

They pushed for NATO support first. Then UN support. And even managed to get the Arab League to help foot the bill. Politically, it helps the legitimacy when it's not only the "West" or the UN, but also Libya's fellow Arab leaders who are basically saying 'Gaddafi has to go'.

And this does make it different than Afghanistan and Iraq (both of which are different).

Afghanistan started out as a response to 9/11, but has since been mired in a stalemate militarily.

Iraq was a unilateral decision by Bush/Cheney. To the rest of the world, it was an unprovoked act of war. The Libyan situation actually has broad support because the situation on the ground and circumstances are very different - the circumstance for intervention is more similar to Kosovo than Iraq or Afghanistan.

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

Can you provide a poll showing that Democrats/liberals are for the war in Libya?

I think our intervention in Libya is beyond hypocritical. How can we, with a straight visage, complain about the internationally recognized president of a country attacking people rebelling against his rule? The very fact that republicans like Gingrich, Santorum, Palin (snicker), etc can attack Obama for not wanting waste American Capital in some stupid middle eastern country just shows how unconservative republicans are. Obama has been attacked by these stupid characters for not wanting to unilaterally wage a war because, there is an election coming up, and republicans lack the intellectual capacity to understand that there is nothing to be gained in Libya. And how sure are we that the rebels want democracy? How are we sure they will be pro-western? How are we sure that Libya won't become a haven for terrorists like Iraq is today?

One should support war based on the merits. The Iraq war was immensely popular until it became clear that the administration lied about Hussein's capabilities. The war in Afghanistan, while initially justified, rapidly grew into a nation building exercise. I am against all three. I would imagine most liberals would be against the war also.

I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment. -Styles P
 

LIBOR, are you serious?

Lying to invade a sovereign country and simultaneously destroying our reputation across the globe is not the same thing as supporting a change in regime that the Libyan people are protesting (and getting shot) for.

This is almost a troll thread its so bad.

 

First off, to think that there's a big difference between libs/cons as far as foreign policy goes is laughable.

There are some interesting things to note, however...

Clinton intermittently launched cruise missiles at Iraq throughout his two terms. He also ran a massive carpet bombing campaign against a nation which fought alongside us in two World Wars in order to support Islamist separatists. His administration also ignored every red flag related to al-Qaeda and his minions bashed Bush endlessly for going after them. If we go back to Carter before him we see the same inconsistent dare I say, liberal idiot approach to policy with the Muslim world.

As with everything else...they are confused, yet always know what's best.

 

Stupid as hell that we are doing this. Why is the only question I have. Gaddafi and the rebels probably like the US jst as much as the other. We know Gaddafi sells oil to us, he's stopped his WMD/terrorist stuff. If we had done this last week when were the rebels were...well....WINNING,I'd be all for it. But why are we doing it now? The rebels are losing and the best case scenario is either we go to a protracted war and win it all for the rebels or we leave a divided country and have both sides hate us for fucking them over. I'd rather have Gaddafi just roll train and win back his country. I hate the guy, but we are being retarded here.

Reality hits you hard, bro...
 

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Reality hits you hard, bro...

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