So what happens if airstrikes and no-fly zones don't work?

[Hugabear]

What happens if, after a month or so of airstrikes and no-fly-zones, Gadhaffi is still in power, and is still inflicting losses on the rebels?

[Rage for Order]

1. I think the Arab League will probably take it from there

They'll put boots on the ground and restore order, all while protecting the rebels




Do I even need the :sarcasm: ?

[NoTimeToulouse]

3. I certainly expect the thousands of Arab princes to be the first in.

[rpannier]

2. If the rebels haven't won this (or at least be back to where they were a week ago) in a month

The rebellion will likely be finished

[gratuitous]

4. IF they don't work?

The no-fly zone isn't supposed to work. The limited bombing isn't supposed to work. It's just window dressing, a pre-game formality before the mayhem begins. Like playing the national anthem before a Cubs game. As soon as the preliminaries fail, it'll be time for the troops to invade. There's your jobs program, nation. Want a job? Join the military.

[readmoreoften]

19. +1

[Ikonoklast]

5. What if they do?

What if rat tasted like pumpkin pie?

[Hugabear]

11. If they work, bravo - I certainly won't miss Gadhaffi

IF the military action works as planned, and the rebels manage to overthrow Gahdaffi, then bravo.

However, I have a hunch it ain't going to be that easy. Gadhaffi hasn't remained in power this long by accident. He still has loyal forces, and no desire to negotiate. He'll still be able to inflict losses on the rebels. He'll still be able to inflict losses on the no-fly-zone pilots.

So what happens if this military action doesn't work? Would you be in favor of escalation, of committing ground troops? Or should we at that point back away and hope that sanctions and diplomatic measures work?

[readmoreoften]

22. That would be fantastic.

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. Sanctions

They worked so well elsewhere.

[tabatha]

7. I don't do this often - but I think I have just put you on ignore.

[Hugabear]

10. I think I'm going to cry

Sorry if tough questions bother you

[Sonoman]

14. Why?

Really.

I have been hanging around here for years, and I believe that you are one of the most well-balanced posters on this site (let's face it, tabatha, there are plenty of crazies}.

What set you off?

Sonoman

[DJ13]

8. Then the same culprits as Desert Storm get to spend more lives & resources in another war

Theres nothing our country or the EU would like better than another shared "war" to distract their citizens with.

The spending also tends to juice economies, which is a shame because that amount could just as easily be spent without the killing by reinvesting in their lower classes instead.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Then we'll be greeted as liberators! Boots on the ground! Boo-yah!

PB

[JVS]

12. I'm sure we'll figure out a way to get suckered into an expensive and long-term commitment.

[gateley]

13. Unrec - not for your question, which I think is valid, but for the responses assuming

this is just a precursor to war. It must be hell being so negative all the time.

[readmoreoften]

20. Gosh, why would we think that? Historical precedent may be a clue.

:shrug:

[joshcryer]

23. There's no historical precedent for an entire countries military to defect to revolutionaries...

...to fight mercenaries that that countries "leader" hired to kill them.

[Name removed]

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[gateley]

25. It's not Bushco at the helm, and we're not doing this alone. There are a lot of

differences here, but you guys have your minds made up. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but you're automatically blaming this administration for doing something that hasn't occurred yet. Why not wait and see how it goes?

[joshcryer]

27. Compiling a list, so far it's 11 countries for a NFZ.

11 countries, mind you. 11. Iraq NFZ was done just by 5 countries with the US as the primary partner. 5 countries had a NFZ over Iraq for a decade. 11 countries can do this in a few days and if the revolutionaries can push can have this thing wrapped up in a few weeks.

[gateley]

36. I'm sure that's what they'd like, too. I sure hope we can help!

I read where Gates was concerned about their (Gaddafi's) anti-aircraft weapons, I think primarily on the northern coast. On DU I've read that their military is poorly trained, it'll be a piece of cake. But also that the mobile anti-aircraft weapons are of primary concern - the fixed ones we can take out, the mobile ones they can move around.

When we watch TV and movies and the military and/or intelligence agencies are so high tech and have everything covered, I always think "yeah, they WISH they were that together" - but I DO think we have the smarts, equipment and technology to accomplish this quickly and precisely. *we need a fingers crossed smiley!*

[Zanzoobar]

28. You're correct that it's not a precursor to war. It's actual war.

Dropping bombs on a country, or engaging in other aggressive acts such as espionage and restricting a country's military movement, by any other name, is war.

Call it what you will.

[joshcryer]

15. That won't happen. I cannot suspend my belief enough to theorize what would happen if it did.

[Shiver]

16. Then we call him funny names and make fun of his hair.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. They'll send in Petraeus in with another surge to find the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Or, maybe they could resurrect Custer to surround Gadhaffi on the Little Big Horn.

[ButterflyBlood]

18. Then Libya joins the ranks of North Korea in world popularity and friends

pretty much.

[readmoreoften]

21. Good. Then if we leave, the rebels will finally have a chance to win.

After we cut off Gaddafi.

But they will never win if we put boots on the ground. And I'm strongly concerned that they will revote to do so if it gets bad.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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[Zanzoobar]

26. It will work. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Our goal in Libya, as well as the Middle East and other regions, is not to conquer, but to destabilize.

We hardly care who thinks he is King. It's the eternal percolation we require.

We are willing and able, and for the most part we are very successful. It will work.

[Bosonic]

29. All the cheerleaders for this shiny new war

should write a short letter, describing their satisfaction at the decision and their hopes and dreams for the future. Then put it in an envelope marked "DO NOT OPEN FOR 9 MONTHS". That baby will be a sobering read.

[Scuba]

32. If Americans don't start getting a clue, we'll be there forever, because....

a) no war was ever finished with air power. It takes boots on the ground.

b) oil

[Ikonoklast]

35. Japan says you're wrong.

[eridani]

33. Then the game is over. The rebels want no foreign boots on the ground, period n/t