Richard Haas, John Brennan, CAN'T JUSTIFY THE INTERVENTION. Wonder Why?

[Distant Observer]

What is it that Richard Haas, President of the Council on Foreign Relations and John Brennan, Deputy National Security Advisor, know that made them warn against intervening in Libya?

Could it be that the rebels are based in groups with long running political grievances that had little to do with the facebook social-media social welfare protests and more to do with violent, regional and tribal power struggle.

Could it be that there is a FACTUAL BASIS for Gaddafi’s claim that militant al Qaeda affiliates in North Africa are intermingles in the broad rebellion?

Could it be that no one really know whether the pro or anti-Gaddafi segments of the population for the MAJORITY?

Could it be that a likely result of Western support for the rebels is the break-up and destabilization of Libya into warring factions for generations to come?

Could it be that we just don’t know enough to be launching a military intervention with likely consequences of blood, death and hatred.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703386704576186371889744638.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/03/18/brennan-u-s-wary-of-terrorists-in-libya/?mod=google_news_blog

[tabatha]

1. No, it was because

Rice, Power and Clinton thought there was a humanitarian crisis and the Libyan people begged for a BFZ.

[rfranklin]

5. But the people in Bahrain can beg forever and it will fall on deaf ears...

We find that dictatorship just fine.

[tabatha]

7. No, I do not find that dictatorship fine.

Hopefully, like Tunisia, Egypt and now it appears like Yemen, they will resolve it themselves.

Gaddafi was not interested in giving an inch.

[TomClash]

6. But never in Palestine or Bahrain nt

[amandabeech]

2. Could be.

I hate to agree with Haas, but this time I do. I am extremely skeptical.

Plus, our military is stretched to the max. That's why Gates and Mullen didn't want this and advised Obama to leave this alone.

Unfortunately, Obama was persuaded otherwise.

[northoftheborder]

3. I'm not sure about this one. Results might be unexpected consequences, although......just not sure.

[silver10]

4. Exactly!!

The American people are sick of war, and all the people of the world we've bombed are sick of our involvement.

All the shitty conflicts we get pulled in are all the same - people dying at the hands of their dictators, we go in and try to "save them" and we create more hatred, my chaos, my misery, more strife. Not to mention our poor soldiers dying or getting maimed too.

But the war machine needs to go on - fuck the fucking war machine.

Awesome OP.

[islandmkl]

8. there is no 'one man's war machine'...

they all participate in the endeavor...they being everyone with a military...

if you want Q to stay in power, say so...and state why and how you think that is a good thing for Libya...

what is happening now may not be a 'good' thing...let alone the best thing...

but what exactly would you like the international community to do here?

let him kill every single opponent...with all of THAT'S collateral damage...or try to get him out...

there is a certain time when choices cannot be calcualted for the unforeseen future result...

a lot of mideastern nations could stand some uprisings...and, for better or worse, let the chips fall where they may...

[Arkana]

9. Can they dispute that Gaddafi needs to go?

What is your argument? That we should leave him alone despite the scads of evidence that he's a bloodthirsty psychopath who's murdering his own people because they dared stage a peaceful rebellion against him...because someone worse might come along and take his place?

Pose that question to the rebels--ask them if they'd roll the dice on that one.

[Distant Observer]

11. Pls provide independent evidence re "bloodthirsty psychopath" and "peaceful rebellion"

[damntexdem]

10. Should it be that we should calmly listen to their arguments ...

but meanwhile should support the intervention?

I think that it should.