[J m HofMarN]

So, I'm curious to hear the thoughts around here on this subject. I myself am a fan of intervention to keep things on an even keel and protect civilians. Some right wingers are trying to argue for non interventionism (snort! chortle!) or, even more bizarrely, that this war is being waged only for oil (and the last two they supported were about...?) but then there are left wingers who suggest that it's a conspiracy to something something something, or possible just that it's being waged only for oil.

I actually support this action, and one of the main reasons is that Obama is finally doing something forcefully and with resolve, and that's a good sign. Also, this isn't the US or NATO going and creating trouble, it's them backing an independence movement and protecting people from the purges that would occur if Gadhaffi won, so even if their interest in supporting the rebels is for the oil, it's not like they're actively imposing a state of war just to control oil prices or something.

[civilian_number_two]

Right wingers have to oppose it because Obama is for it. If Obama were for teaching Creationism in schools and for banning gay marriage, they would oppose that. American politics is EXACTLY that intelligent.

[J m HofMarN]

The main argument that I've heard against intervention so far is that all the rebels are actually Al Qaeda in disguise. I love arguments based entirely on racism.

[Zatoichi]

I wish I knew more about what was actually going on over there, so I could weigh in. But I agree that at least this time it isn't us stirring things up ... for once. Since lately it would seem its what we do.

Also, worst war for oil ever. In '01 weren't we paying something around $2-2.35? We're up to $4-4.25 now, and its supposed to be getting up to $5 sooner than later. I'm glad I've been doing a hell of a lot more walking these days.

[J m HofMarN]

Quick update here: I know the war is over, but the Libyan rebel army was pretty interesting. Before Gadhaffi had ever fallen they were manning the border posts and keeping order. I spoke to a few of their fighters while I was at the Salloum crossing and they seemed like OK people, certainly not the American stooges some people made them out to be. Most of them didnt really have uniforms, but there was that air of a chain of command there. My one criticism is that they had the border closed to anyone without official business or invitations to Libya, and weren't accepting volunteers at that post.