Should we intervene militarily in Burma or Sierra Leone?

[Hugabear]

Or do they not count because the UN hasn't authorized use of force? This isn't about mistakes in the past, this is about people being slaughtered right now. If we're going to act on the principle of saving lives, then why not intervene in these countries and other places where people are currently being killed? And if UN permission is so damned paramount, then why aren't we leading the charge?

This point has been raised a few times, but I still haven't seen a good explanation.

[Wilms]

1. How many ICBM's do we have left?

:shrug:

[The Straight Story]

2. Should we have intervened in WW2 before we did? SHOULD we in the places you mention? Would YOU?

If you see a neighbor being attacked and they may die, would you call the police and wait or jump in to save them using whatever tools you had?

Do you think we should just look the other way and say 'it has nothing to do with the US, so not our problem'?

What would YOU do - and yeah, if we do it one place, why not another? Are you for jumping in where you can, only sometimes, never?

[Xicano]

4. "Neighbor"? You can see Libya from your window?

:shrug:

[The Straight Story]

8. I can't see Japan either - but I consider them my neighbor and want to help them right now

But hey, maybe you only care about people you can see out your window.

[Hugabear]

5. All I'm asking for is intellectual honesty

If you really want us to intervene every time a bad government starts killing its people, then we're going to have to DRASTICALLY increase our defense budget, and increase our presence around the world. Are you willing to see that?

[The Straight Story]

6. I didn't say either way - I asked when you are willing to, are you now, or never?

We can't all the time, but we can sometime - do you think we never should because we cannot always?

[jacquelope]

12. NO USE OF MILITARY POWER unless America is threatened!

No way, no how, no compromise. Not with my tax dollars, and not with my blood, or the blood of my sons, or daughters.

Period.

[Poll_Blind]

23. +1

Why is it so hard for some people to get that simple concept?

PB

[silver10]

28. +1

[Hugabear]

18. If there is legitimate genocide against a helpless population, perhaps then

This doesn't meet that standard, not even close. Is it bloody, yes. Is it ugly, yes. Internal civil wars tend to be like that. However, there's no evidence that Gadhaffi is rounding up entire groups of people for extermination.

[joshcryer]

10. If you cared about intellecutal honesty you'd know that we've tried to intervene in Burma.

:puke:

[Hugabear]

16. I must have missed the headlines about military strikes in Burma

When did that happen?

[joshcryer]

22. You must've missed the headlines that Russia and China vetoed it.

[Hugabear]

25. So what you're saying is we have to have their permission to protect genocide victims

Ok

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. If MY PRESIDENT says it's so, thy will be done!

:sarcasm:

[jacquelope]

13. LOL!!! n/t

.

[joshcryer]

7. If with UNSC I believe we shouldn't be cowards and back out. Unfortunately China+Russia vetod!

http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/128-the-crisis-in-burma/793-burma-resolution-in-security-council-vetoed-by-russia-and-china-implications-for-r2p

[vaberella]

9. Why not Darfur...? n/t

[The Northerner]

11. How about in Chechnya? Somalia?

[Catherina]

14. or the Ivory Coast. People are being brutally slaughtered there right now

The "fun" of shooting unarmed women with tank ammo starts at 3:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JI7zkhap7E

warning graphic.

We're not intervening in Libya because we care. It's all about profit. All roads we take lead right back to profit.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/liby-m19.shtml

[MedleyMisty]

15. I'm glad you didn't stop posting

I know that you're one of the most informed people on the board about this, and so I am very much willing to listen to you.

I really don't want it to be about stopping the revolution, but I do know that our government would want to do that. I find that motivation much easier to believe than the idea that it's only about oil. I hope that if it does turn out that way, the Libyans keep fighting for freedom. And that everyone else does too. The corporations cannot win.

[Catherina]

27. Thanks MM. I hope so too that the Libyans keep fighting for and get their freedom

And not just the Libyan people but all of them.


Things are heating up dangerously right now. Iran
Xinhua: Iran calls on Saudi Arabia, UAE to leave Bahrain "immediately" http://bit.ly/gUEWFH
11 hours ago

SultanAlQassemi Sultan Al Qassemi
Al Arabiya: The Saudi consulate in Tehran has been attacked.
16 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

SultanAlQassemi Sultan Al Qassemi
It seems increasingly likely that #Libya will be split in to two countries with Tripoli & Benghazi as separate capitals.
16 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

[DeSwiss]

17. K&R n/t

[ProSense]

19. UN condemns mortar attack on Ivory Coast market

here.

[Hugabear]

24. A strongly worded letter...that will surely put them in their place

Why not authorize military strikes against the warlords?

[Rage for Order]

20. Quit being such a stupid hippie peacenik!

:eyes:

:sarcasm:

[progressoid]

21. Are they politically, militarily, or economically important?

:shrug:

[Teaser]

26. sure, why not.

sounds cool.