Newt slams President Obama for not taking action in Libya, then slams him for taking action in Libya

[Amerigo Vespucci]

March 23, 2011 03:00 PM
Gingrich leads the right-wing hypocrisy brigade on Libya: First slams Obama for not acting, then slams him for acting



By David Neiwert

Of course you knew that no matter what President Obama did in regards to Libya, right-wingers were going to slam him for it -- damned if he did, damned if he didn't. But few have been quite as naked in their two-faced hypocrisy as Newt Gingrich.

Via George Zornick at ThinkProgress, here's Gingrich giving Greta Van Susteren his prescription for dealing with Libya two weeks ago, on March 7:

Exercise a no-fly zone this evening. Communicate to the Libyan military that Gadhafi is gone, and that the sooner they switched sides the more likely they were to survive. Provide help to the rebels to replace him. I mean, the idea that we're confused about a man who has been an anti-American dictator since 1969 just tells you how inept this administration is. They were very quick to jump on Mubarak, who was their ally for 30 years, and they're confused about getting rid of Gadhafi. This is a moment to get rid of him. Do it. Get it over with.

… We don’t need to have the United Nations. All we have to say is that we think that slaughtering your own citizens is unacceptable and that we’re intervening.

Gingrich leads the right-wing hypocrisy brigade on Libya: First slams Obama for not acting, then slams him for acting

[sakabatou]

1. So which is it, Newt? Or are you just going to run in circles?

[Atman]

3. Newt, save your money. Your presidential ambitions are pure folly.

I do political advertising for a living...we will chew you up and spit you into the gutter.

[anneboleyn]

2. Yes, talk about flip-flop. First they were for it, then against it.

As soon as Obama made a move, they criticized him for acting. Of course they criticize every single action he takes.

[Rex]

4. PLEASE NEWT RUN FOR POTUS!!!

We don't want to spend a lot of money this time Newty...so please run, that way we can save money on adds as you fuck up the entire ticket and lose miserably with hope you slink back under whatever rock you crawled out from under.

[Amonester]

5. That neocon is *not* (officially) even in power, and he DERIDES the UN!

What will it be when they'll get their Coup d'Etat 2 plans coming to fruition? Iraq* 2? (*Iran)

[tanyev]

6. And this is why the Republicans are begging Obama to show some leadership.

How on earth can they be expected to come up with talking points opposing everything he does if he won't get out there and propose things?

He's really making their lives difficult. :cry:

[emulatorloo]

8. LOL n/t

[emulatorloo]

7. And there you have it. Republican 101 n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. What's the deal with this pain in the ass fossil?

[spanone]

10. here's some more hypocrisy for you...where are these neocons now?

Foreign Policy Experts Urge President to Take Action to Halt Violence in Libya
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March 15, 2011 | Open Letter

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC

March 15, 2011

Dear President Obama:

Regrettably, the international community has yet to take serious action to prevent a moral and humanitarian catastrophe in Libya and the Libyan opposition is now on the defensive. As forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi push eastward, we are concerned that the brutal and indiscriminate tactics of government forces could lead to additional civilian casualties.

On Saturday, the Arab League endorsed Libyan opposition calls for a no fly zone. We call on you to urgently institute a no fly zone over key Libyan cities and towns in conjunction with U.S. allies. We also call on you to explore the option of targeted strikes against regime assets in an effort to prevent further bloodshed. The United States should also immediately recognize the Libyan National Transitional Council and take all necessary actions to support their efforts to unseat the Qaddafi regime.

In your inaugural address two years ago, you said this: "And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."

Today the United States and its allies should stand with the men, women and children of Libya who seek a future of peace and dignity. The situation in Libya in the coming days will not just impact the Libyan people. As protests continue against repressive regimes around the world, the message currently being conveyed by our inaction is that killing and repression will go unpunished and are the best option for despots seeking to postpone reform.

For the sake of our security as well as America’s credibility with people who seek freedom everywhere, we ask you to act as quickly as possible to ensure that the people of Libya – and the world – know that we are willing to back up our principles with action.

Sincerely,


Fouad Ajami
Ash Jain
Randy Scheunemann

Stephen E. Biegun
Ken Jensen
Gary J. Schmitt

Max Boot
Robert Kagan
Dan Senor

Ellen Bork
Lawrence Kaplan
Henry Sokolski

Paul Bremer
David Kramer
Whit Stillman

Scott Carpenter
Irina Krasovskaya
William Taft

Elizabeth Cheney
William Kristol
Marc Thiessen

Eliot Cohen
Tod Lindberg
Daniel Twining

Seth Cropsey
Michael Makovsky
Kurt Volker

Thomas Donnelly
Ann Marlowe
Peter Wehner

Michele Dunne
Cliff May
Ken Weinstein

Eric Edelman
Joshua Muravchik
Leon Wieseltier

Jamie Fly
Michael O'Hanlon
Rich Williamson

Reuel Marc Gerecht
Martin Peretz
Damon Wilson

William Inboden
Danielle Pletka

Bruce Pitcairn Jackson
John Podhoretz

http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/content/fore .....you'll note they have taken the page down

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Newt is obviously slamming something else, too.

But I won't go there..........

[Donald Ian Rankin]

12. Well, at least he's consistent - "Obama is wrong". N.T.