The most interesting thing about Libya is a lot of those that had no problem with our invasion of

[still_one]

Iraq, where the "coalition" was not as unanimous as it is in this endeavor, seem to have a problem with this.

The interesting thing is those that are most consistent are the liberals and progressives. They were against are invasion of Iraq, and they are also against this

It is the right that seem to have the most problems with this, but not the Iraq invasion.

That tells me as far as the right is concerned it is more about politics, and perhaps racism.

The media is also leading the charge with the most criticism on this action, while during the Iraq invasion they were the biggest cheerleaders. That also says volumes about where the media's conflict of interest lies

[Fumesucker]

1. *Everything* on the right is about politics..

The racism is just incidental, despicable but incidental.

[aquart]

2. PLEASE don't speak for me.

I marched against Iraq which was a pure war of aggression. I have no problem with this mission. I am certain we had an engraved invitation. I AM A LIBERAL.

I have no idea what color the Libyans are. With 120 or so tribes I have to assume a variety of origins and DNA.

They tried to fight. They asked for help. Did they get the help because they have oil? YES. Did they get decades of a dictator because they have oil? YES.

You don't see a difference between Libya and Iraq. I do. Don't you DARE tell anyone what you think I think.

[still_one]

7. The people in Sudan asked for help also. So did other areas, but the UN wasn't so accommodating

could it be because China would have vetoed the Sudan?

How about those governments favorable to the U.S. that are doing aggressive behavior? If I remember in some of those places there were elections and the parties that won were not favorable to the U.S. so we conveniently decided not to recognize that election

hmmmmm

[bobbolink]

17. THANK you!

In fact, assigning motivations to other DUers is against the rules.

So much for "peace". :(

[TorchTheWitch]

3. the right believed that Iraq had WMD's and was connected to Al Quada

thereby responsible for 9/11. And most of the idiots still believe it. Therefore, there belief is that Iraq was not only a legitimate threat to the US from WMD's but that they should be retaliated against because of 9/11.

[joshcryer]

4. That's not consistent, that's completely contridictary.

[treestar]

5. Republicans are complete hypocrites to be against this

Progressives against it are consistent only if they are willing to tolerate the deaths that would happen if we did not intervene, and only if they can declare that they would support Obama if he did not intervene, no matter what happened in Libya.

[pampango]

6. One poll: Liberals 65-32 in favor of NFZ; 49-48 split barely in favor of targeting

Gaddafi's troops.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/03/21/rel5a.pdf

If you have other polls that show a different result, please post. They may indeed be more "accurate" and show that liberals and progressives are "against this".

[still_one]

8. Interesting, of course the actions are not actions of a NFZ, but both targeting and a NFZ /nt

[bobbolink]

13. But, you see,, calling us names negates us, and makes the "numbers" more to their liking.

Thanks for the poll results... for once in my life, I am NOT in the minority.

[fittosurvive]

9. What are you talking about? That is utter nonsense.

I was opposed our involvement in Iraq. However, Congress debated the question and voted to authorized the use of military force. You can say what you want, but that process was far more consistent with what the Constitution requires than Obama’s irrational and unauthorized attack on Libya.

[still_one]

12. True, Congress authorized the attack on Iraq, however, technically the President did NOT need to get

the Congress to approve it for the initial invasion. The executive branch could have said it was for national security, and in fact there were stories to that effect, if Congress did NOT approve it, the administration had the Constitutional right to due it. Eventually, Congress would have had to do it.

Another point that is made, though I sure others would argue to the contrary, is that the IWR invalidated the War Powers Act, though some maintain it only applied to Iraq, others believe it is more extensible

As for your argument Obama's "irrational and unauthorized attack on Libya", is not correct. The UN, which we are part of, voted for that, and since Congress authorized are participation in the UN, it can be argued that this is legal

[fittosurvive]

14. Indeed, The Congress has hidden behind the War Powers Resolution for nearly 40 years.

Their acts of moral cowardice and empty strategies have subjugated our military to one stalemate after another.

I will go one step further than you. I believe it can be argued that the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional. Clearly, the Constitution limits the President's authority in the use of military force without the authorization of Congress. However, it stipulates that the President may act alone "when the Legislature cannot be convened." Since that is no longer a concern, The War Powers Resolution represents an unnecessary relinquishment of the legislature's enumerated powers to the executive. It seems to me that the Constitution would need to be amended in order to transfer power from one branch to the other.

Even so, the matter of war is something that should be debated and decided by our elected representatives. It should not be decided by an appointed council that cannot be held accountable by the American People.

[still_one]

15. I definitely agree with you. That is the whole point of the checks and balances so one branch

doesn't assume ultimate power, and in fact Congress is the body that declares war

I appreciate your reasoning

[Siouxmealso]

10. I think you're over-generalizing

When you have people like Al Franken saying “The Libyan government’s violence against its own people is completely unacceptable. Innocent civilians in Libya must be protected from massacre by Qaddafi and that is why I support the action the president has taken so far.”

Same with my congress person, Betty McCollum. “The brave men and women of America’s armed forces are fulfilling critical missions around the world. Now, they are participating in a broad international coalition to protect the Libyan people from a murderous tyrant,” McCollum said in a statement on Tuesday.

So I think you're overly-generalizing. They could have said those things about Saddam but they didn't.

[still_one]

11. Perhaps. Incidentally, similar things were said about Saddam /nt

[hulka38]

18. Franken was for the invasion of Iraq

so if you see Iraq and Libya as somewhat similar then he has been consistent. Franken just may just be inclined to support U.S. military action in the ME.

[Amonester]

16. I was against the invasion of Iraq, and I am hoping this one will be successful.

I marched the streets in LOW sub-zero temperatures many times, along with about a million others, at the world-wide rallies, and all that for NOTHING.

Today, I hope this will turn out to be positive, both for the peaceful (at the beginning) protesters in Libya, and the legitimacy of the UN (derided by the cheney/bush cabal and their minions). If I were born there and lived among them, I also would be pissed beyond words and seeking (self-defense) justice, whatever that would mean has to be done. Bravery doesn't mean to present the other cheek when the sick billionnaire's mercs are aiming their automatic riffles at your head or your kids' hearts, and is about to pull the trigger!

Say what you want. I feel with them.

[EFerrari]

19. It's not a matter of feeling with them or not, imo.

I imagine very few people don't empathize with the Libyan people. It's more that every time the Western powers get their war on, everybody winds up worse off except their investor cronies.

[Bluerthanblue]

20. me too.

It is only the luck of the draw, that we are here discussing this, and not there living through it. I'd sure want people to care enough if the tables were turned.