US Sen Lugar (R-IN) has criticized Obama for deploying U.S. forces without a clear exit strategy, repeatedly called the conflict a “war” (a term the White House rejects), and said the president violated the Constitution in intervening without a formal authorization from Congress.[1]
Barack Obama left the Senate after two years there for a presidential run, making few close friends in the chamber because of his short tenure. But before he left, Obama cultivated an unlikely bond with a Republican US Senator 29 years his senior: Richard G. Lugar. Lugar was the former Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and negotiated the START Treaty. Many Democrats have floated Lugar's name as a possible Sec of State replace to Sec Clinton - not now, not after his remarks about Libya. Talk has shifted to Sen John Kerry.[2]
“The president still has not clearly stated what our goals are or what would constitute success. He has not stated whether the United States would accept a stalemate in the civil war, nor has he put forward a plan for ending Gaddafi’s rule,” Lugar said.[3]
The intervention in Libya is to oust an enemy of the US, create a new market for American energy companies (currently Libya has been dominated by Italian, British, French and Turkish Energy companies, which is anti-competition), use blow-up missiles so the US can purchase new ones (which helps the American Military Industry), and support the US allies in the NATO and the Arab League. Oh yes, and justify the war (my bad, “conflict”) with a UNSC resolution and calling the action one of humanitarianism. The US should be a pro at these things, they practiced in Iraq.
The senator’s criticisms of Obama’s Libya policy are similar to those of other members of both parties. Lugar is obviously one of those old anti-war, pro-rule of law, anti-humanitarian and anti-capitalistic Republicans. He should be ashamed of not seeing the potential economic benefits of Libya and the potential of killing an enemy of the US - Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi.[4]
____________________________________
Barack Obama left the Senate after two years there for a presidential run, making few close friends in the chamber because of his short tenure. But before he left, Obama cultivated an unlikely bond with a Republican US Senator 29 years his senior: Richard G. Lugar. Lugar was the former Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and negotiated the START Treaty. Many Democrats have floated Lugar's name as a possible Sec of State replace to Sec Clinton - not now, not after his remarks about Libya. Talk has shifted to Sen John Kerry.[2]
“The president still has not clearly stated what our goals are or what would constitute success. He has not stated whether the United States would accept a stalemate in the civil war, nor has he put forward a plan for ending Gaddafi’s rule,” Lugar said.[3]
The intervention in Libya is to oust an enemy of the US, create a new market for American energy companies (currently Libya has been dominated by Italian, British, French and Turkish Energy companies, which is anti-competition), use blow-up missiles so the US can purchase new ones (which helps the American Military Industry), and support the US allies in the NATO and the Arab League. Oh yes, and justify the war (my bad, “conflict”) with a UNSC resolution and calling the action one of humanitarianism. The US should be a pro at these things, they practiced in Iraq.
The senator’s criticisms of Obama’s Libya policy are similar to those of other members of both parties. Lugar is obviously one of those old anti-war, pro-rule of law, anti-humanitarian and anti-capitalistic Republicans. He should be ashamed of not seeing the potential economic benefits of Libya and the potential of killing an enemy of the US - Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi.[4]
____________________________________
[1] Landler & Shanker. "Gates and Clinton Unite to Defend Libya Intervention, and Say It May Last Awhile" The New York Times 28 March 2011 p A9
[2] "US public, Congress remain skeptical of Libyan mission" DEUTSCHE WELLE 1 April 2011 accessed 3 April 2011
[3] Bacon, P. "On Libya, former ally takes on Obama" The Washington Post 2 April 2011 accessed 3 April 2011 [4] Shanker & Cooper. "Doctrine for Libya: Not Carved in Stone" The New York Times 30 March 2011 accessed 3 April 2011
[2] "US public, Congress remain skeptical of Libyan mission" DEUTSCHE WELLE 1 April 2011 accessed 3 April 2011
[3] Bacon, P. "On Libya, former ally takes on Obama" The Washington Post 2 April 2011 accessed 3 April 2011 [4] Shanker & Cooper. "Doctrine for Libya: Not Carved in Stone" The New York Times 30 March 2011 accessed 3 April 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment