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Wolfowitz: Obama slowness on Libya is 'a devastating image'
The Hill ^

Posted on 02/26/2011 5:16:20 PM PST by Sub-Driver

Wolfowitz: Obama slowness on Libya is 'a devastating image' By Bridget Johnson - 02/26/11 04:45 PM ET

Former deputy secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said he's been "mystified" at how the White House has handled the bloody crisis in Libya.

"We've been just way too slow," Wolfowitz said in an interview airing Sunday on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS." "And that slowness, we're going to pay a price for, for a long time.

"Al Jazeera, which is no friend to the United States but which has become, with some justification, a hero of these revolutionary movements is taking the -- showing a picture of the White House or the president, why is the U.S. being so silent?" he said. "Why is it being as silent as these people? And then it shows pictures of the people who have been killed in the protests. It's a devastating image."

The former Bush administration official, who also served as president of the World Bank, was asked if the U.S. applying pressure to endangered leaders in the region would rattle countries such as Saudi Arabia and spread a message that Washington is angling for regime change.

"I don't think that's a legitimate reason to stand by a man who's slaughtering his own people," Wolfowitz said. "And I have a lot of criticisms to make of the Saudis, but I don't believe they're capable of this sort of butchery.

"We'd be in a much better position to say, look, with all its faults, Saudi Arabia doesn't treat its subjects as trash," he continued. "It doesn't kill them, brutalize them, and threaten to take them back to the Stone Age. So let's put Saudi Arabia in one category. We'd be in a much better position to do that if we were clear about Gadhafi."

Of the Bush administration decision to normalize relations with Libya in return for the country giving up its weapons of mass destruction, Wolfowitz said the White House gave Gadhafi "a lot by, in effect, saying you won't suffer the fate of Saddam Hussein."

"Some move was appropriate," he said of the restoration of relations. "I think we went too far. And I think the Obama administration continued that.

"Al Jazeera is having great fun showing pictures of Hillary Clinton meeting with Mutassim Gadhafi who is, I don't know which of his sons is the most hideous, but this is the National Security Advisor, he's a pretty bad man," Wolfowitz said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: foreignpolicy; libyacrisis; obamunism; wolfowitz
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To: Sub-Driver

“And I have a lot of criticisms to make of the Saudis, but I don’t believe they’re capable of this sort of butchery.”

While protests rock the Arab world, what have you heard from Saudi?

None!—the religious police, the secret police, are everywhere, and not the slightest dissent is allowed.

Lots of women were on the streets in Eqypt. Some have been killed in Libya. They are not even permitted on the streets in Saudi-land.


21 posted on 02/26/2011 6:09:08 PM PST by saltus (God's Will be done)
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To: Red Badger

He was slow on Libya because they donated huge sums of money to NOI Farrakhan and his good friend Rev. Wright.

By delaying condemnation he gave Khaddafi time to hide his assets.


22 posted on 02/26/2011 6:15:35 PM PST by Carley (WISCONSIN STREET NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ARAB STREET. UGLY AND VIOLENT)
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To: Sub-Driver

Premier Hussein is not doing anything about Libya, because he is letting people like Tom Donilon make the decisions about what the American response will be. Hussein couldn’t figure his way out of a wet paper bag much less craft policy on Libya.


23 posted on 02/26/2011 6:15:52 PM PST by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts)
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To: Texas Eagle

The maoist sent the teleprompter to Wisconsin in his place.


24 posted on 02/26/2011 6:18:05 PM PST by Carley (WISCONSIN STREET NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ARAB STREET. UGLY AND VIOLENT)
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To: Fresh Wind

Yes,the world burns and Obama says. . . P A R T Y! Next up; this weekend; Gladys Knight!


25 posted on 02/26/2011 6:34:01 PM PST by cricket (Osama - NOT made in the USA. . . .and Obama, not made in the USA either.. .)
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To: Carley

Some of those assets, probably have Obama’s intials on them. Yes, ‘time’ means something. . .


26 posted on 02/26/2011 6:35:44 PM PST by cricket (Osama - NOT made in the USA. . . .and Obama, not made in the USA either.. .)
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To: Sub-Driver
Col. Oliver North mentioned that Obama's decision to move our Navy out of this Middle East area - lest they think this might be a 'provocation' - only confirmed our weakness by lack of power presence. (And so it was as well; there were NO ships to move in and protect and rescue American citizens. Someone, did dial, for America; 1-800-FERRY BOAT' however.

Who knows. this well might have had a different 'middle' or ending; save for Obama's concerns for our enemy and their possible 'misinterpretations' of our efforts; and every step of the way, it seems; the enemy's feelings are paramount.

Of course, we know what they understand; and it is not 'weakness'; but rather, it is the threat of power, that moves this enemy in the right direction!

Good God Almighty; we are headed to 'third world' status! We are now, damn close to No. 2; and No. '3' place, in sight. . .

27 posted on 02/26/2011 6:50:15 PM PST by cricket (Osama - NOT made in the USA. . . .and Obama, not made in the USA either.. .)
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To: Sub-Driver

My name is
My name is
My name is
O B A M A

...and yes, you do have to be kidding.


28 posted on 02/26/2011 8:06:19 PM PST by Eddie01
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To: Sub-Driver

‘This government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead.’

Teddy Roosevelt Secretary of State John Hay, speaking to the 1904 GOP National Convention.


29 posted on 02/26/2011 8:30:47 PM PST by Lucius Cornelius Sulla (No Better Friend, No worse Enemy!)
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To: Truth29
Talk to any women in Saudi Arabia??

Or anybody that gets caught with a Bible?

30 posted on 02/26/2011 9:04:36 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Of course Obama loves his country. The thing is, Sarah loves mine.)
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To: Pining_4_TX

I think you about nailed it.


31 posted on 02/26/2011 9:16:23 PM PST by yup2394871293
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To: Fresh Wind

Skiing in Vail.


32 posted on 02/26/2011 9:19:21 PM PST by BunnySlippers (I love BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: turfmann
"Benedict Arnold "

Well,lest we forget, Arnold was a true hero and patriot before he fell. Without him we would have not won the Battle of Saratoga.

At the end, dying in Great Britain, he regretted the choices he made and asked to be buried in his American General's uniform.

1. Obama is no hero.

2. Obama will never regret what he has done.

33 posted on 02/27/2011 8:19:04 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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