Libyan rebels capture parts of tripoli

NightRychune · Post by **NightRychune** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:07 am

the iraq (and afghanistan!) and libya regime change objectives are far more similar than you realize, I think

We invaded Iraq because the United States wanted to give middle eastern states reason to fear us, and deposing saddam hussein was the easiest way to send that message. We intervened in Libya and not all those other places because the United States wanted to send the message that it supported democratic revolutions, and given our tight bonds with monarchies like bahrain and qatar, and the "strategic importance" of yemen in the "war on terror," Libya was the easiest place to intervene to send that message. Both of these actions also included sensationalist pretext - Iraq had the threat of WMDs, Libya was sold on the pretense of "If we don't intervene Benghazi is going to be razed and all these innocent people are going to die!"

On top of that, by the standards we've set for the success of intervention in Libya, the invasion of Iraq was a colossal success within a week of the fall of Baghdad. The immediate disaster was averted, and the capacity of their rulers to perform mischief outside of their countries was destroyed, even if they weren't captured or dead, and we stood up for the ideals we wanted to stand up for! Who cares that we've spent an enormous amount of money on our large-scale construction and deployment operations in Iraq, and who cares that we've progressed from "deposing a hostile regime" to "nation-building"? And, if you think Libya will be neatly bundled up and resolved anytime soon, you're foolish - it'll probably be completely out of the media by the end of the year, sure, but the country will be far from an idyllic bastion of democracy, and who's to say the new ruling body, the NTC, will be kind and benevolent leaders? Nouri al-Maliki is certainly a corrupt mother$#@!er, and Hamid Karzai isn't any better!

here's the bottom line, though: our concerns with appearance - looking tough, altruistic, responsible, or credible - have led us to wage war in places where we have very little, if anything, immediately at stake, and fighting wars for narrative or for the sake of image is foolish. and there's the other problem with all of this: soldiers and bombs cannot build a successful, strong government

Dorjan · Post by **Dorjan** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:51 am

NightRychune wrote:QUOTE (NightRychune @ Sep 2 2011, 09:07 AM) and there's the other problem with all of this: soldiers and bombs cannot build a successful, strong government

Not like our governments are anything to write home about

lexaal · Post by **lexaal** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:09 pm

NightRychune wrote:QUOTE (NightRychune @ Sep 2 2011, 11:07 AM) he invasion of Iraq was a colossal success within a week of the fall of Baghdad.

Adaven · Post by **Adaven** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:07 am

Iraq and Afghanistan was the U.S. shoving Op's into enemy sectors so that they would get distracted DM'ing in their home and stop trying to SB our Expansion complex.

takingarms1 · Post by **takingarms1** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:37 am

Dorjan wrote:QUOTE (Dorjan @ Sep 2 2011, 07:51 AM) Not like our governments are anything to write home about

I realize this was said in jest but I'm wondering just how badly you take what you have for granted... kids these days...

Dorjan · Post by **Dorjan** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:23 am

TakingArms wrote:QUOTE (TakingArms @ Sep 3 2011, 12:37 AM) I realize this was said in jest but I'm wondering just how badly you take what you have for granted... kids these days...

Actually, the country I live in is great. Don't get me wrong, I'm lucky. Second of all, because we have a great nation our leaders are doing such a @#(!ty job. None of these dictators could ever get into power here or where you are being a) the army would just kick their heads in if they tried it and b) we would riot right away. It just can't happen BECAUSE of the country.

So I wonder, do you really think your Government is making the most out of what you have? Don't you think THEY are taking for granted the position they're in? Maybe you should think before typing next time kiddo.

Post by **FreeBeer** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:42 am

Dorjan wrote:QUOTE (Dorjan @ Sep 2 2011, 08:51 AM) Not like our governments are anything to write home about

Well, you could write home.. but they've $#@!ed up the postal service, so who knows if it'll get delivered?

edit: typo

germloucks · Post by **germloucks** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:43 am

Conspiracy thread begin!

9/11 was a myth

Bush was the anti-christ

Obama is the anti-christ

Bachman is the anti-christ

JFK never existed

.................

Profit !

Camaro · Post by **Camaro** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:11 am

Since this topic is devolving rapidly anyways...

End the Fed!

Ron Paul 2012!

NightRychune · Post by **NightRychune** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:07 am

in the words of my favorite detective alonzo

I RUN @#(! AROUND HERE, YOU JUST LIVE HERE