Topic: NATO, U.S. Weighing Potential Military Options on Libya
Lpdon's photo
Mon 03/07/11 02:01 PM
President Obama said Monday that the U.S. and its NATO allies are still considering "potential military options" to stop the violence in Libya, warning those in Muammar al-Qaddafi's inner circle that they will be "held accountable" if they continue to stand by the leader's side.

The president addressed the escalating situation in Libya after meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Washington. Obama said both countries see the violence being perpetrated by the Libyan government as "unacceptable." Obama announced he has authorized an additional $15 million in humanitarian aid as forces loyal to Qaddafi step up their crackdown on the opposition.

The president made clear that military action is still on the table, though he did not offer any details. He said NATO allies in Brussels are considering "a wide range of potential options, including potential military options."

President
Obama: NATO, U.S. Weighing Potential Military Options on Libya

Published March 07, 2011
| FoxNews.com
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AP

President Obama gestures during a news conference on the White House complex in Washington Feb. 15.
President Obama said Monday that the U.S. and its NATO allies are still considering "potential military options" to stop the violence in Libya, warning those in Muammar al-Qaddafi's inner circle that they will be "held accountable" if they continue to stand by the leader's side.

The president addressed the escalating situation in Libya after meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Washington. Obama said both countries see the violence being perpetrated by the Libyan government as "unacceptable." Obama announced he has authorized an additional $15 million in humanitarian aid as forces loyal to Qaddafi step up their crackdown on the opposition.

The president made clear that military action is still on the table, though he did not offer any details. He said NATO allies in Brussels are considering "a wide range of potential options, including potential military options."

A number of Qaddafi officials have defected since the violence broke out, but Obama sent a message to those continuing to craft and carry out his orders.

"I want to send a very clear message to those who are around Colonel Qaddafi. It is their choice to make how they operate moving forward," he said. "And they will be held accountable for whatever violence continues to take place."

Libyan warplanes launched multiple airstrikes Monday on opposition fighters in the second day of a harsh government crackdown to thwart rebels advancing on Qaddafi's stronghold in Tripoli.

The United States sent an initial $10 million in humanitarian aid to Libya last month. The U.S. and United Nations have imposed sanctions on Qaddafi's regime, and U.S. military forces have also moved closer to Libya's shores to back up demands that Qaddafi step down.

While the administration says the possibility of military action is and has been on the table, some have pushed more forcefully for a no-fly zone to be imposed. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Friday that doing so would hamstring Qaddafi and "hasten his departure."

But White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley pushed back on those calls Sunday.

"Lots of people throw around phrases of 'no-fly zone' and they talk about it as though it's just a game, a video game or something. Some people who throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about," Daley said.

Hundreds if not thousands of people have died since Libya's uprising began, although tight restrictions on media make it near impossible to get an accurate tally. More than 200,000 people have fled the country, most of them foreign workers, creating a humanitarian crisis across the border with Tunisia -- another North African country in turmoil after an uprising in January that ousted its longtime leader.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/07/obama-nato-weighing-potential-military-options-libya/

Wow, Obama's Chief of Staff has the balls to say Senator McCain has no idea what he's talking about about a No-Fly Zone or thinks it's a game, that's laughable.

Senator McCain was a top fighter pilot and commanded the largest fighter squadron in the US Military\World. I think Senator McCain has more experience when it comes to this then ANYONE on Obama's staff.

willing2's photo
Mon 03/07/11 05:51 PM
So, looks like Hussein is itchin' to be called a warmonger like Bush.:wink: laugh laugh laugh

AdventureBegins's photo
Mon 03/07/11 06:40 PM
"Senator McCain was a top fighter pilot and commanded the largest fighter squadron in the US Military\World. I think Senator McCain has more experience when it comes to this then ANYONE on Obama's staff. "

McCain has not commanded a squadron in modern times. Gates is just as qualified and IS in the Cabinet.

One has to wonder what is up when an active MILITARY commander does not want to flex his muscles...

and a whole mess of politicians (with vested interest in the local resources or corporations that are vested) are clamoring for it... Interesting that several career politicians on BOTH SIDES OF THE ASLE are so shouting...


no photo
Mon 03/07/11 09:34 PM
Senator McCain was NOT a "Top Fighter Pilot".

We should stay the hell out of Libya. President Obama is being very wise.

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved.

And Pawlenty wants to run for President? And thinks he is libertarian supported by the TEA Party?

WTF!

Lpdon's photo
Tue 03/08/11 03:46 AM

"Senator McCain was a top fighter pilot and commanded the largest fighter squadron in the US Military\World. I think Senator McCain has more experience when it comes to this then ANYONE on Obama's staff. "

McCain has not commanded a squadron in modern times. Gates is just as qualified and IS in the Cabinet.

One has to wonder what is up when an active MILITARY commander does not want to flex his muscles...

and a whole mess of politicians (with vested interest in the local resources or corporations that are vested) are clamoring for it... Interesting that several career politicians on BOTH SIDES OF THE ASLE are so shouting...




He commanded the squadron after hois release as a POW and recovered medically. I would say thats modern times.

Lpdon's photo
Tue 03/08/11 03:47 AM

Senator McCain was NOT a "Top Fighter Pilot".

We should stay the hell out of Libya. President Obama is being very wise.

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved.

And Pawlenty wants to run for President? And thinks he is libertarian supported by the TEA Party?

WTF!


Yes he was. He is a highly decorated Officer and Pilot.

A No-Fly Zone isn't going in, do some research.

no photo
Tue 03/08/11 04:46 AM

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved
You have to understand that it is because of their deep love for the Muslim people and their quest to be free from tyranny.

no photo
Tue 03/08/11 07:18 AM


Senator McCain was NOT a "Top Fighter Pilot".

We should stay the hell out of Libya. President Obama is being very wise.

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved.

And Pawlenty wants to run for President? And thinks he is libertarian supported by the TEA Party?

WTF!


Yes he was. He is a highly decorated Officer and Pilot.

A No-Fly Zone isn't going in, do some research.


He almost flunked out of the Naval Academy....do some research.

A "No Fly Zone" is going in....we put American pilots in harms way.

And for what??????


no photo
Tue 03/08/11 07:26 AM
How many fighters did he crash? I've forgotten.

Fanta46's photo
Tue 03/08/11 07:15 PM


Senator McCain was NOT a "Top Fighter Pilot".

We should stay the hell out of Libya. President Obama is being very wise.

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved.

And Pawlenty wants to run for President? And thinks he is libertarian supported by the TEA Party?

WTF!


Yes he was. He is a highly decorated Officer and Pilot.

A No-Fly Zone isn't going in, do some research.


He's highly decorated for being shot down,
Hardly a sign of being the best.
and then spending 10 years as a POW.

no photo
Tue 03/08/11 07:22 PM
Yeah, I don't see the heroism in letting himself get shot out of the sky and put in prison. I don't get the heroism in caving in to the torture and making anti-American statements. I am very sorry that he had to live through this ordeal, but I don't see where the hero part is. It's not like he had any choice.

Fanta46's photo
Tue 03/08/11 07:24 PM

Yeah, I don't see the heroism in letting himself get shot out of the sky and put in prison. I don't get the heroism in caving in to the torture and making anti-American statements. I am very sorry that he had to live through this ordeal, but I don't see where the hero part is. It's not like he had any choice.


Nor do I see where this qualifies a persons leadership and command abilities.

Lpdon's photo
Tue 03/15/11 10:24 PM



Senator McCain was NOT a "Top Fighter Pilot".

We should stay the hell out of Libya. President Obama is being very wise.

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved.

And Pawlenty wants to run for President? And thinks he is libertarian supported by the TEA Party?

WTF!


Yes he was. He is a highly decorated Officer and Pilot.

A No-Fly Zone isn't going in, do some research.


He's highly decorated for being shot down,
Hardly a sign of being the best.
and then spending 10 years as a POW.


McCain, was taken prisoner in October 1967 after he was shot down while on a mission over Hanoi. He wasn't freed until March 1973, after the United States signed peace agreements with the North Vietnamese. His captors tortured him and held him in solitary confinement. Still, he declined an offer of early release until those who had been at the prison longer than him were let go.



That decision earned McCain a Navy Commendation Medal. Although McCain was "crippled from serious and ill-treated injuries," he steadfastly refused offers of freedom from those holding him prisoner. "His selfless action served as an example to others and his forthright refusal, by giving emphasis to the insidious nature of such releases, may have prevented a possibly chaotic deterioration in prisoner discipline," the citation says.

...................
A Captian with 17 medals, thats highly decorated and accomplished, especially compared to the coward on the White House right now.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24518450/ns/politics-decision_08/

Lpdon's photo
Tue 03/15/11 10:25 PM
Oh, and Senator McCain doesn't want to send troops in, he wants to establish a No-Fly Zone.

msharmony's photo
Wed 03/16/11 12:40 AM

President Obama said Monday that the U.S. and its NATO allies are still considering "potential military options" to stop the violence in Libya, warning those in Muammar al-Qaddafi's inner circle that they will be "held accountable" if they continue to stand by the leader's side.

The president addressed the escalating situation in Libya after meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Washington. Obama said both countries see the violence being perpetrated by the Libyan government as "unacceptable." Obama announced he has authorized an additional $15 million in humanitarian aid as forces loyal to Qaddafi step up their crackdown on the opposition.

The president made clear that military action is still on the table, though he did not offer any details. He said NATO allies in Brussels are considering "a wide range of potential options, including potential military options."

President
Obama: NATO, U.S. Weighing Potential Military Options on Libya

Published March 07, 2011
| FoxNews.com
Print Email Share Comments (1408) Text Size

AP

President Obama gestures during a news conference on the White House complex in Washington Feb. 15.
President Obama said Monday that the U.S. and its NATO allies are still considering "potential military options" to stop the violence in Libya, warning those in Muammar al-Qaddafi's inner circle that they will be "held accountable" if they continue to stand by the leader's side.

The president addressed the escalating situation in Libya after meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Washington. Obama said both countries see the violence being perpetrated by the Libyan government as "unacceptable." Obama announced he has authorized an additional $15 million in humanitarian aid as forces loyal to Qaddafi step up their crackdown on the opposition.

The president made clear that military action is still on the table, though he did not offer any details. He said NATO allies in Brussels are considering "a wide range of potential options, including potential military options."

A number of Qaddafi officials have defected since the violence broke out, but Obama sent a message to those continuing to craft and carry out his orders.

"I want to send a very clear message to those who are around Colonel Qaddafi. It is their choice to make how they operate moving forward," he said. "And they will be held accountable for whatever violence continues to take place."

Libyan warplanes launched multiple airstrikes Monday on opposition fighters in the second day of a harsh government crackdown to thwart rebels advancing on Qaddafi's stronghold in Tripoli.

The United States sent an initial $10 million in humanitarian aid to Libya last month. The U.S. and United Nations have imposed sanctions on Qaddafi's regime, and U.S. military forces have also moved closer to Libya's shores to back up demands that Qaddafi step down.

While the administration says the possibility of military action is and has been on the table, some have pushed more forcefully for a no-fly zone to be imposed. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Friday that doing so would hamstring Qaddafi and "hasten his departure."

But White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley pushed back on those calls Sunday.

"Lots of people throw around phrases of 'no-fly zone' and they talk about it as though it's just a game, a video game or something. Some people who throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about," Daley said.

Hundreds if not thousands of people have died since Libya's uprising began, although tight restrictions on media make it near impossible to get an accurate tally. More than 200,000 people have fled the country, most of them foreign workers, creating a humanitarian crisis across the border with Tunisia -- another North African country in turmoil after an uprising in January that ousted its longtime leader.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/07/obama-nato-weighing-potential-military-options-libya/

Wow, Obama's Chief of Staff has the balls to say Senator McCain has no idea what he's talking about about a No-Fly Zone or thinks it's a game, that's laughable.

Senator McCain was a top fighter pilot and commanded the largest fighter squadron in the US Military\World. I think Senator McCain has more experience when it comes to this then ANYONE on Obama's staff.



where exactly did the chief of staff mention McCain?

msharmony's photo
Wed 03/16/11 12:45 AM


Senator McCain was NOT a "Top Fighter Pilot".

We should stay the hell out of Libya. President Obama is being very wise.

The interesting thing I am seeing is that you have guys like McCain saying we should go in....WRONG!

And I happened to hear Tim Pawlenty talking tonight, and he is saying the same thing....that we should get involved.

And Pawlenty wants to run for President? And thinks he is libertarian supported by the TEA Party?

WTF!


Yes he was. He is a highly decorated Officer and Pilot.

A No-Fly Zone isn't going in, do some research.


decorated for what? is there access to his military records that joe citizen can view for themself?