Full prepared remarks of President Obama's Address to the Nation on Libya

[flying]

Ron Paul is a radical extremist. Really, who cares what he says or thinks?

A person for financial responsibility by our government & the stopping of waging wars

that only serve special interests resulting in wasting American lives. A person for upholding our Constitution as written & HE is the radical extremist???

Oh how far we have NOT come.

Statement of Congressman Ron Paul

United States House of Representatives

What If?

February 12, 2009

What if we wake up one day and realize that the terrorist threat is a predictable consequence of our meddling in the affairs of others?

What if propping up repressive regimes in the Middle East endangers both the United States and Israel?

What if occupying countries like Iraq and Afghanistan – and bombing Pakistan – is directly related to the hatred directed toward us and has nothing to do with being free and prosperous?

What if someday it dawns on us that losing over 5,000 American military personnel in the Middle East since 9/11 is not a fair trade-off for the loss of nearly 3,000 American citizens, no matter how many Iraqi, Pakistani, and Afghan people are killed or displaced?

What if we finally decide that torture, even if called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” is self-destructive and produces no useful information – and that contracting it out to a third world nation is just as evil?

What if it is finally realized that war and military spending is always destructive to the economy?

What if all wartime spending is paid for through the deceitful and evil process of inflating and borrowing?

What if we finally see that wartime conditions always undermine personal liberty?

What if conservatives, who preach small government, wake up and realize that our interventionist foreign policy provides the greatest incentive to expand the government?

What if conservatives understood once again that their only logical position is to reject military intervention and managing an empire throughout the world?

What if the American people woke up and understood that the official reasons for going to war are almost always based on lies and promoted by war propaganda in order to serve special interests?

What if we as a nation came to realize that the quest for empire eventually destroys all great nations?

What if Obama has no intention of leaving Iraq?

What if a military draft is being planned for the wars that will spread if our foreign policy is not changed?

What if the American people learn the truth: that our foreign policy has nothing to do with national security and that it never changes from one administration to the next?

What if war and preparation for war is a racket serving the special interests?

What if President Obama is completely wrong about Afghanistan and it turns out worse than Iraq and Vietnam put together?

What if Christianity actually teaches peace and not preventive wars of aggression?

What if diplomacy is found to be superior to bombs and bribes in protecting America?

What happens if my concerns are completely unfounded – nothing!

What happens if my concerns are justified and ignored – nothing good!

Edited March 29, 2011 by flying

[flying]

Kucinich and Paul better hurry in their de-funding effort. The costs are mounting up daily.

______________________________________________________

Reporting and Analysis from Anchor of Good Morning America and ABC News Chief Political Correspondent, George Stephanopoulos

GEORGE REPORTS

Cost of Libya Intervention $600 Million for First Week, Pentagon Says

March 28, 2011 6:50 PM

One week after an international military coalition intervened in Libya, the cost to U.S. taxpayers has reached at least $600 million, according figures provided by the Pentagon.

Yes I saw that...amazing isn't it? And that was the 1st week alone.

Add the over 200 million a day in Afghanistan & what is still being spent in Iraq & it is not hard to see why

the US is in a tail spin

http://costofwar.com/en/

[Jingthing]

A person for upholding our Constitution as written & HE is the radical extremist???

As he interprets it you mean. He isn't the supreme court which does interpret the constitution as its function and the radical "libertarian" wing of American politics doesn't get to say exactly how to read the constitution. It belongs to all Americans.

[coma]

Word on the street is Nato HUMINT officers on the ground in Bengazi have found elements of Al Qaida operating within the rebels ranks. This situation just goes from bad to worse by the hour.

Install the rebel government and then they will be run by the terror organistaion that the entire Western World is fighting to suppress. What a Fu__ed up world we are living in,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html

[midas]

Word on the street is Nato HUMINT officers on the ground in Bengazi have found elements of Al Qaida operating within the rebels ranks. This situation just goes from bad to worse by the hour.

Install the rebel government and then they will be run by the terror organistaion that the entire Western World is fighting to suppress. What a Fu__ed up world we are living in,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html

As it says in Alice in Wonderland " “ It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”

[flying]

As he interprets it you mean. He isn't the supreme court which does interpret the constitution as its function and the radical "libertarian" wing of American politics doesn't get to say exactly how to read the constitution. It belongs to all Americans.

What is there to interpret? The debt? The loss of life?

The undeclared wars?

Sheep need herding but fortunately the majority have eyes to see & brains to comprehend what is wrong.

Mai Ben Rai

Folks on fixed incomes watching the dollar continue to lose buying power will later wonder why.

Enjoy

[coma]

They don't declare wars anymore so that if/when they capture enemy combatants they can call them terrorist, therefore they can deny them thier rights according to the Geneva convention and send them to Guantanomo Bay.

[Ulysses G.]

Wake up. If they are not wearing uniforms, they are not entitled to the Geneva Convention anyway.

[powderpuff]

What jing & his ilk will never comprehend is that the TEA parties want the insane spending closed down. They don't much care who or how they just want it stopped. Military adventures aside. Obama is a pacifist at heart. No war is worth fighting.

Obama represents the "Let's spend ourselves into oblivion" wing of the left wing kook party.

[snarky66]

... very many people wouldn't vote for him only because of a 57 state blooper.

My favorite was when he said he had closed Guantanamo.

He just babbles. Incoherent nonsense.

[bangkokeddy]

I said that America's role would be limited; that we would not put ground troops into Libya;

In Libya, CIA is gathering intelligence on rebels

The Obama administration has sent teams of CIA operatives into Libya in a rush to gather intelligence on the identities and capabilities of rebel forces opposed to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, according to U.S. officials.

The information has become more crucial as the administration and its coalition partners move closer to providing direct military aid or guidance to the disorganized and beleaguered rebel army.

Although the administration has pledged that no U.S. ground troops will be deployed to Libya, officials said Wednesday that President Obama has issued a secret finding that would authorize the CIA to carry out a clandestine effort to provide arms and other support to Libyan opposition groups.

...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-libya-cia-is-gathering-intelligence-on-rebels/2011/03/30/AFLyb25B_story.html

[flying]

Supply of arms to rebels possible despite embargo

[coma]

Maybe they will let poor old Victor out of jail to arm the rebels.

[flying]

Maybe they will let poor old Victor out of jail to arm the rebels.

It is all double speak isn't it?

Arms embargo to the side certain countries want out....free arms to the other side regardless of ties to enemies still being fought in other countries yet again.

Once again money to be made supplying tools of the trade.... Then later money many times over to be spent to retrieve those weapons

one bullet at a time.

You couldn't make this sh!t up....

Edited March 31, 2011 by flying

[bangkokeddy]

Libya rebels downplay Al-Qaeda charges

(AFP) – 10 hours ago

BENGHAZI, Libya — A spokesman for Libyan rebels fighting Moamer Kadhafi's regime on Wednesday played down allegations by a top NATO commander that there may be Al-Qaeda fighters in their ranks.

"We don't have this organisation in Libya because their culture is different from ours," Colonel Ahmed Bani told reporters in the rebel stronghold Benghazi.

"If there are any Libyans who were associated with Al-Qaeda around the world and are now in Libya, they are fighting on behalf of Libya. If," he emphasised.

...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3eosJqnKGgH2rAa4ywXGmAtZ5zA?docId=CNG.1c55d652e61ad9ac029d2769b1927b97.371

[coma]

Maybe they will let poor old Victor out of jail to arm the rebels.

It is all double speak isn't it?

Arms embargo to the side certain countries want out....free arms to the other side regardless of ties to enemies still being fought in other countries yet again.

Once again money to be made supplying tools of the trade.... Then later money many times over to be spent to retrieve those weapons

one bullet at a time.

You couldn't make this sh!t up....

It is blatant and pathetic hypocracy in its purist form. And the west wonders why the developing world dislikes them so much.

Edited March 31, 2011 by coma

[flying]

Then the oil they didn't go there for........

US To Purchase Oil From Libyan Rebels, Thereby Funding "Flickers" Of Al Qaeda

Libyan Rebel Council Forms Oil Company to Replace Qaddafi’s

U.S. says Libyan rebels may sell oil

[coma]

Wake up. If they are not wearing uniforms, they are not entitled to the Geneva Convention anyway.

What about the rebels in Libya. They aren't wearing uniforms either therefore,as you put it, they are not entitled to the Geneva Convention also. Therefore Gaddafi has every right to dispose of them as he please's. Right. Talk about waking up. :jerk:

[meom]

I said that America's role would be limited; that we would not put ground troops into Libya;

In Libya, CIA is gathering intelligence on rebels

The Obama administration has sent teams of CIA operatives into Libya in a rush to gather intelligence on the identities and capabilities of rebel forces opposed to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, according to U.S. officials.

The information has become more crucial as the administration and its coalition partners move closer to providing direct military aid or guidance to the disorganized and beleaguered rebel army.

Although the administration has pledged that no U.S. ground troops will be deployed to Libya, officials said Wednesday that President Obama has issued a secret finding that would authorize the CIA to carry out a clandestine effort to provide arms and other support to Libyan opposition groups.

...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-libya-cia-is-gathering-intelligence-on-rebels/2011/03/30/AFLyb25B_story.html

No surprise really with the rebel commander Khalifa Hifter coming straight out of Langley.

[hammered]

Wake up. If they are not wearing uniforms, they are not entitled to the Geneva Convention anyway.

Go read the Geneva Conventions in totality. It covers a lot more than just dudes in uniforms although in fairness mercenaries do seem to be excluded although not armed local civilians.

[chuckd]

No comment necessary...on my part.

_______________________________________________________

Obama in 2002: Toppling Brutal Dictator a ‘Dumb War’

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

By Matt Cover

(CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama, as an Illinois state senator in 2002, said that using military force to topple a murderous dictator amounted to a “dumb war” and should be opposed.

The “dumb war” Obama was criticizing was the planned invasion of Iraq and the murderous dictator was its leader, Saddam Hussein. Obama, speaking at an anti-war rally in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2002 said that while Saddam was a brutal tyrant, that was not enough to justify using military force to remove him from power.

“Now, let me be clear – I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein,” said Obama in his speech. “He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied U.N. resolutions, thwarted U.N. inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity. He's a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him.”

"... After September 11th, after witnessing the carnage and destruction, the dust and the tears, I supported this administration's pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance, and I would willingly take up arms myself to prevent such tragedy from happening again," said Obama. "I don't oppose all wars. ... What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne."

Rest of story here: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-2002-toppling-brutal-dictator-dumb

Edited March 31, 2011 by chuckd

[chuckd]

No spasm. My computer dropped through the ozone hole for about ten minutes.

Edited March 31, 2011 by chuckd

[flying]

(CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama, as an Illinois state senator in 2002, said that using military force to topple a murderous dictator amounted to a “dumb war” and should be opposed.

There it is again

More double speak.....Biden was just the same on that issue.....Yet today? Even dumber since they have the benefit of hindsight is openly supported. Is it they got dumber? Is that possible?

[Ulysses G.]

"I don't oppose all wars. ... What I am opposed to is a dumb war.

Obama, Libya is a dumb war.

[flying]

Wow That Was Fast! Libyan Rebels Have Already Established A New Central Bank Of Libya

The rebels in Libya are in the middle of a life or death civil war and Moammar Gadhafi is still in power and yet somehow the Libyan rebels have had enough time to establish a new Central Bank of Libya and form a new national oil company. Perhaps when this conflict is over those rebels can become time management consultants. They sure do get a lot done. What a skilled bunch of rebels - they can fight a war during the day and draw up a new central bank and a new national oil company at night without any outside help whatsoever. If only the rest of us were so versatile!

Full Article At Link Above

[midas]

He's obviously severely jet lagged in that clip. Old (non) news, give it a rest.

Why give a rest ? The guy is lying just like all his Administration does..

just like Ben Shalom Bernanke does every time he makes an appearance

Obama said " I said that America's role would be limited; that we would not put ground troops into Libya; that we would focus our unique capabilities on the front end of the operation, and that we would transfer responsibility to our allies and partners. Tonight, we are fulfilling that pledge."

but then there is this report :-

400 US Marines in Greece for Libya deployment

Around 400 US Marines have been dispatched to a US base in Greece ahead of deployment on warships off Libya, an American military spokesman said today.

"The operation is part of forces reposition in the region... with regard to Libya," said Paul Farley, spokemsan for the US Souda base on the island of Crete.

He said the troops from North Carolina arrived at the base on Wednesday and would later join two US warships in Mediterranean.

The USS Kearsage and the USS Ponce steamed into the Mediterranean en route to Libya yesterday, the Suez Canal Authority said.

The Kearsage amphibious ready group, with about 800 marines, a fleet of helicopters and medical facilities, could support humanitarian efforts as well as military operations.

Edited March 31, 2011 by midas

[dananderson]

Ron Paul is a radical extremist. Really, who cares what he says or thinks?

Ron Paul seems to have forgotten his vote on March 1st on a Senate resolution. "(7) urges the United Nations Security Council to take such further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Libyan territory;" You can read the entire rez here http://voices.washingtonpost.com/2chambers/2011/03/senate_passes_libya_resolution.html

[Jingthing]

The guy is lying just like all his Administration does..

just like Ben Shalom Bernanke does every time he makes an appearance

Ben Shalom Bernanke

Ben Shalom Bernanke

Ben Shalom Bernanke

midas doesn't want us to forget the guy is a Jew. Interesting agenda, midas. 'Nuff said.

[Steely Dan]

The guy is lying just like all his Administration does..

just like Ben Shalom Bernanke does every time he makes an appearance

Ben Shalom Bernanke

Ben Shalom Bernanke

Ben Shalom Bernanke

midas doesn't want us to forget the guy is a Jew. Interesting agenda, midas. 'Nuff said.

Well they run the banks you know, and the media.

[coma]

Over the last week it has been the rebels doing ALL the attacking with the pro gaddafi forces conduct a classic defence. That being the case then rebels do not need protection. They have moved out of thier safe haven provided by the UN mandate and are on the offensive. First it was about protecting the people. Now it is about assisting the people to kill the other half of the population that doesn't agree with the USA objectives and intentions.

How long will it take for the US voters/ taxpayers to get the hump with this military intervention ? If it is inside 2 years then Mr Obama can start cleaning out his desk in the Oval Office.