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Ok, so we've been sorta involved in the whole Libya thing for awhile now.  I did a poll a few weeks ago and couldnt find anyone who felt we should be over there.  Even with Kadaffi's past, most (including myself) dont want to be involved.

Personally I felt that since it is in Europe's backyard and its Europe's oil, and Europe is criticized us from time to time for intolerance or being un-PC, then I think Europe should carry its own weight and handle this situation itself.  The USA has enough on its plate with Iraq, Afghanistan (and its looking like we're gonna have to deal with Pakistan soon).  We're already bombing in Pakistan.

I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of being the one to lead the way.  I want to get out of the Middle East and focus on making friends and trade partners in the Americas.  I would love the US to help build up tourism, trade, and good diplomacy in Central and S America.  I'd love to be as close friends with Brazil as we are with Canada.  And I'd love to see that part of the world become as safe to travel as it is in Canada.

I'm glad Pres. Obama has insisted we do not put boots on the ground in Libya.  I dont know who those people are or if they'll turn on us as soon as they can.  I dont mind helping with US intel or in a supplementary role, but I'm just as happy to let France and the UK lead the way on thins.  Let THEM build up a coalition of the willing.  This is in their backyard.  France didnt lift a finger to help us with Iraq either.  Spain tucked tail and ran years ago.  So as far as I'm concerned, let them handle this problem.  I dont wanna go into Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt or Syria.  We can stay friends with Israel but they wont need military help anyway.  Egypt is making a terrible mistake if they think they are going to invade Israel.  We can provide diplomatic help and supplies and resources liek that.  But I dont think Iran or anyone can defeat Israel.  As a matter of fact, diplomacy is probably the only reason Israel hasnt already regained its ancestral lands.

We (the US) need to resolve the Cuba situation once and for all.  We need to enact fair (not necessarily free) trade practices with the nations in the Americas.  We, along with friends we make in S. America, could probably see the overthrow of Hugo Chavez soon if we handled things correctly.  (And I'm not meaning militarily).

There is oil here in this hemisphere.  There is trade to be had in this hemisphere.  And just to be honest with ya'll...many of the nations in Central and S. America are Christian Nations.  While our relationships with one another could be much better...we arent seen as the 'Great Satan' there like we are in the Middle East.

I'd like to get away from our dependence on the Middle east once and for all.  Stay friends and allies with Israel, but let the rest over there fight and kill one another like they've been doing for thousands of years.

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Originally Posted by Dennis Young:

Personally I felt that since it is in Europe's backyard and its Europe's oil, and Europe is criticized us from time to time for intolerance or being un-PC, then I think Europe should carry its own weight and handle this situation itself.  

Well, most of the pushing on this has been from the UK and France, with most of the bombing having been done by french, british planes - as far as I can see from the news the US involvement to date has pretty much been the predator drones that are now being used.  

Who really needs to step up on this is the Arab League. They were the ones that were originally requesting the no-fly zone from the UN Security Council after suspending Libya from the League, but they haven't done anything since.  The AL nations easily have enough planes and hardware to do the job themselves (especially Saudi Arabia who pretty much bought their entire air force from the US), but they don't want to be seen to be involved themselves as it may set an unfortunate precedent for the likes of the Saudis, who are seeing internal rumblings of their own: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55363

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Agreed.  The Arab league is perfectly happy to let Westerners fight and die for their cause.  Then, to thank us, they vote against us at every opportunity in the UN, criticize the West for its decadence, call the US the 'Great Satan' and jack the price of oil up to strangle us economically.

I see where Italy has finally decided to get off it's duff and participate.  I guess now that the others Western countries have pretty much made it safer to fly there, they'll fly a few sorties now so they can say they were part of the coelition.  

I can see, however, why Europe might feel the need to take care of the situation since their oil is at risk.  Personally I'm more concerned with what will happen in Egypt and the Suez canal.  But I'll be honest, I'd be perfectly happy to see the UK, France, Germany and the European countries handle the Middle East and let us stick to our own backyard (the Americas). We're not gonna get anywhere dealing with those Arabs.  they hate us, will lie and deceive to get what they want (it in their Koran btw) and we just can trust them.  Take Iran for example.  We tried our best to help them set up the Freely elected govt they asked for, but their military and police is as corrupt as the one in Mexico.  One cant know if that policeman in Baghdad is on the take or not.  Same in Afghanistan.  I hear their president is corrupt and dealing with the Taliban even as we fight them.  And We're the ones keeping him in power!  

I'm through with em.  We killed thousands of Al-Quaida already.  Lets bring our troops home.

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Originally Posted by Dennis Young:

I see where Italy has finally decided to get off it's duff and participate.  I guess now that the others Western countries have pretty much made it safer to fly there, they'll fly a few sorties now so they can say they were part of the coelition.  

Well, to be fair to them, the last time they got involved in North Africa they got their arses kicked :-P What's the old joke about Italian tanks in WWII: they came with 5 gears; 1 forward and 4 reverse, and the forward gear was only in case they got attached from behind :-P  

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Lol!  Well, if their troops flop like their soccer team, they're in trouble.