Why???
Oil
Pacifist = A coward who expects other people to protect him/her.
Pacifist (historical) = Slave.
Ping for later...
They want to live in a world in which Evil triumphs and good men do nothing. I do not say this as an argument in support of the action Libya -- because I think that action is actually not a good policy. But as a general philosophical position, pacifism is beneath contempt.
No such thing as a pacifist, only those who think we fight for the wrong side.
> the sham that is post-modern European morality
The words Europe & morality don’t belong in the same sentence together...
Because pacifists need oil too.
Pacificism has been defined as abdication in favor of those who are not pacifists.
Europe needs lybian oil.
Eurpoe can’t survive without it.
not unless they are willing to back the Greeks in expoiting the mediteranian oil reserves.
I think we should attack then and take Barcelona.
Maybe they figure they can do it without getting an owie!
The Germans have a very good word for this in which English there is no real equal in mood and feeling: Heuchelei.
The simple translation of hypocrisy doesn't do it justice. The nuance meaning is the use of false moral pretenses to justify action or inaction. It's a “fake” moral or ethical argument and the word really hits the meaning of what is happening spot on in a way that no English word does. Sometimes you just can't translate things quite right, or you require elaborate explanations to describe one single word.
The only power they think they can defeat is madman Khadaffy and, besides, the Saudis want them to (which may be the deceding reason we are there.)
IMO....
Early on there were talks with some high up in the Libyan leadership. These talks were headed by either the Brits or the French or both with the Italians on close proximity.
On the Libyan side was the youngest son, Saif I believe, is his name. He had the trust and the confidence based on several years of ongoing progress that included the turnover of the Libyan nucs and major actions to develop a North African financial center in Libya. He was also prominent in major development projects including the Great Man Made River Project.
The Americans were not involved. Obama and the State Department were peripheral. The business was that of Euro companies, not Americans.
Early on there was an article stating pretty much the above. I don’t have the link.
Something happened. The negotiations failed, collapsed, ended. By this time, it was no longer possible to return to the status quo. Various Libyans had committed and could not go back.
I suspect the old man reneged or decided it was not the course he wanted to follow. He gave the deal the finger and said go screw yourselves. Libya is mine. Saif had no choice. He went along.
The Euros are now determined to save their investments and went to the UN to get the permission. Obama reluctantly went along. His or the State Departments interest is not deserting the Brits.
Meanwhile, money talks. Even though bombs dropped and missiles flew, the money men can still salvage the situation. Bribes and treachery, shunned by Americans and forbidden by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, remain valuable tools in much of the rest of the world. I think money will rule the day and resolve the conflict
UN drill?
Pacifism only works when you know the other parties are absolutely not determined to either seize control of your lands, or just simply exterminate your people remorselessly. Since there are parties willing to do exactly that, there will need to be some people who fight and fight hard.
Other than that, pacifism in politics is mostly a claim to be made just for show, as was the case in Iraq. As for Libya, they never really cared about Iraq, they only cared about smearing the current administrations of both GW Bush and Tony Blair, and whatever other political leaders were taking part in the conflict.
Its well past the time for the USA to get out of NATO. The cold war ended 20 years ago.
We can have bilateral agreements with the UK and Germany if necessary. Otherwise, there is really no benefit, and great risk, to “guaranteeing” security for 35+ European nations. Does anyone really want to go to war for Spain?