Do you approve of President Obama's "secret" order authorizing covert US support of Libyan rebels?

[Electric Monk]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4793968&mesg_id=4793968

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to four U.S. government sources familiar with the matter.

Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA and the White House declined immediate comment.

News that Obama had given the authorization surfaced as the President and other U.S. and allied officials spoke openly about the possibility of sending arms supplies to Gaddafi's opponents, who are fighting better-equipped government forces.

Read more: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE72T6H220110330?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&ca=rdt

[arcane1]

1. I'm instinctively skeptical of anything that involves the CIA n/t

[AndyTiedye]

5. If the CIA Had any Assets in Libya

They probably worked for Valerie Plame, and got their cover blown by Darth Cheney when he outed Plame and her whole organization.

If we had any intelligence there, we wouldn't be wondering aloud whom these rebels that we are supporting ARE,
and somebody would have told us that they are actually the Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight.

[Vincardog]

2. Isn't the assignation of national leaders illegal?

[Davis_X_Machina]

8. People have been calling for it here..

...in Qadaffi's case for a month, on the grounds that it would be cheaper and less destructive than the alternative.

DU has its cake, eats it too, and it has no calories, so DU never puts on weight.

[David__77]

21. And some have resolutely called for non-intervention.

There are plenty of principled people on this site.

[trof]

9. assignation?

An appointment for a meeting between lovers; a tryst.
;-)

[Sheepshank]

23. .....as are overt assassinations.

[Distant Observer]

3. What diff does our op. make. It's been going on for a while.

[JoePhilly]

4. More knee jerk nonsense.

If it is so "secret" how does Reuters know about it.

Any reason to attack Obama, any reason at all.

[EFerrari]

6. Like anyone should care about taking the country to war, feh. n/t

[JoePhilly]

26. Yes, I know, all those troops we're sending ... the horror.

But look, I know, the US government is evil, Obama is evil, he was just PRAYING for the Libyian people to protest so that when Gaddaffi attacked them we could start a "new war".

Obama probably planned this course of action as a young child living in Kenya.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Helping "rebels" worked ever so well for Reagan and Carter.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Eh...a little too Reagan/Iran/Contra for my taste. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

Folks don't want no covert, no overt, no nothing......

[FrenchieCat]

11. Folks don't want no covert, no overt, no nothing......

[OutNow]

12. How about a secret order to authorizing covert US support for Wisconsin teachers?

[aSpeckofDust]

13. This has me more worried.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8350968/Libya-African-mercenaries-immune-from-prosecution-for-war-crimes.html

[hardcover]

19. What is the reasoning for the mercenaries getting immunity from prosecution for war crimes?

I would appreciate some input because I can't think of any reason why this would be a good idea.

[Sheepshank]

24. what are you talking about?

[Duke Newcombe]

14. Arming "freedom fighters", sending "advisors"...

joining forces with questionable individuals that don't necessarily care for us...haven't we been to this dance before?

[Baclava]

18. Does Gaddafi have a Ho Chi Minh trail ?

A Vietnamization of the rebel troops will take some time, I guess that's our next step in the escalation.

[Cali_Democrat]

27. Yup

Afghanistan in the 1980's. How'd that work out for us?

[Historic NY]

15. Essentially all they have to do is gather up what the Loyalists leave behind...

I'm sure there is enough over there for everyone.

[joshcryer]

16. Is this the first time ever that the CIA backed the good guys?

Highly unusual.

[L. Coyote]

17. Nor do I approve of Libya attacking Obama

Which is what this sort of move is likely to engender.
What happened the last time a US President attacked the leader of Libya?

[closeupready]

20. No. We're there because of the oil. Just like in Iraq. If we really cared

about human rights, we'd be a lot tougher on Saudia Arabia.

[Sheepshank]

22. Secret signing of secret orders about 2-3 weeks ago, suggested by unnamed sources

Y-e-a-h I have opinion on that secret....it's not listed as an option on your poll.

[JoePhilly]

28. My point as well ... I always love a "secret" that everyone knows.

What idiot thinks the US doesn't have CIA agents in most of these countries?

Valerie Plame was a CIA agent ... does DU hate her too?

[Rex]

25. How can it be a secret if everyone knows about it?

I don't get the 'secret' part...we all know about it. Secrets out.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

29. I'm sure whoever "leaked" it will join Bradley Manning in Quantico.

Dress codes there are very casual.