You people do realize that what's been declared in Libya is equivalent to pre-2003 Iraq?

[ButterflyBlood]

Comparing it to Iraq is pretty asinine when it's basically what Bush replaced in Iraq. Iraq had no-fly zones in the south and north parts of it from 1991-2003, something which I find a bit preferable to giving Saddam free reign to slaughter the Shi'ites and Kurds. Ground troops were prohibited...just like the current resolution on Libya for those playing up the draft scare again ("Obama's going to draft your kids and send them to Libya!" Yes, I've seen that here). It is thus not even remotely comparable to what Bush did in Iraq, or "another war" by any means.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. The Iraq no-fly zone was possible

because of the pre-no-fly-zone "Desert Storm" which destroyed Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries, destroyed the Iraqi air force, and pretty much eliminated the Iraqi army as a force.

So I'd guess any serious start to a Libyan no-fly-zone enforcement will have to begin with the shock-and-awe of a bombardment from coalition air and sea forces.

And if a Libyan no-fly-zone doesn't stop Khaddafi, then the UN will escalate to ground forces to avoid the appearance of defeat.

As for the draft, I almost wish we would re-instate it, just to get some serious demonstrations against these wars.

[Luminous Animal]

3. Iraq was bombed regularly during 12 years of santions.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/107/iraq-was-being-bombed-during-12-years-of-sanctions

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Sort of my point, there's nothing sanitary about a no-fly-zone

It's just another name for a demilitarized zone or free-fire zone. Libyan aircraft will be shot down, of course. And anti-aircraft installations bombed. Also, any military truck convoys, and probably any large movement of troops by any means will be bombed.

And, though we may have no combat troops on the ground, we will need spotters to guide the bombers. So there will be boots, whether US special forces, US civilian "consultants", or foreign mercenaries.

It has the potential of sucking us in, like Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan.

[Luminous Animal]

2. And Iraq was bombed regularly during the no-fly zone years. Libya will be bombed.