Hey guys,
Last night President Obama spoke to the nation in the hopes of outlining America’s role in the Libyan Civil War. The President argued that America has a moral obligation as the most powerful country in the world to intervene in an effort to help those who cannot help themselves.
President Obama stated that had the United States not acted when it did, Libyan President Gadhafi would have massacred thousands of innocent civilians to ensure he remains in power.
President Obama outlined that the United States is working jointly with its European Allies and with authorization from the UN and NATO, as well as with a call for help from the Arab League. Mr. Obama did state that the United States’ role in this conflict will be limited and somewhat brief as NATO forces are expected to take over the operation; once that happens America need only honor its NATO treaty obligations.
The President said that the goal of this operation is not to remove President Gadhafi, only to protect the civilians of Libya. He said very bluntly that removing a head of state through military action is dangerous and has unforeseen complications; “America has been down that road before, in Iraq” said the President.
There are those who argue that the President is wrong for having committed American forces to yet another conflict. Some republican members of congress claim that the President is behaving like a “king” in sending the military “wherever he wants.” Republicans argue that the Libyan civil war has no direct threat to American interests or to the safety of the United States, and because of this fact, America has no business being there.
I do not always agree with the President, but in this case, I must confess that I feel strongly that the United States does indeed have a moral obligation to help and protect those who cannot help and protect themselves.
I do understand however, why some Americans are weary of becoming involved in yet another foreign conflict. That issue is highlighted even more so today as March 29th marks the anniversary of the end of the United States’ involvement in Vietnam, another confusing and often misunderstood conflict.
What do you think?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110329/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_libya_analysis
UPDATE: the French Spider Man, Alain Robert from yesterday’s post successfully climbed the Burj Khalifa. Video footage and articles are all over the internet… simply google “Alain Robert.”
I think that the uys should help out because we are stronger. but i also ffeel that we shgould help little amounts because we are already in war.
ReplyDeleteI think that the involvement is necessary. They are helping the Libyans that are being oppressed and we as Americans believe every person should be free. Also, they are only sending air support. No ground troops will be involved. It's a shame that it has to come to this. If the people don't want their leader, he should leave since his job is to serve them.
ReplyDelete-Brandon M.
I'm on the fence as to how I feel about this. I believe that the United States needed to get involved one way or another but on the other hand, can we really afford to waste our resources and time over there? We are already involved in foreign affairs, this would just be another battle that we can't win. Is that what's best for this nation?
ReplyDeleteI don't really know how to view this conflict. I do believe that the United States should help peole and nations that cannot help themselves, and that the rights of people cannot be put aside. However I do not believe that the United States is in the financial situation to help. This is where I am torn, we needed to help the people in Libya despite what situation we are in, but I also think we need to fix our ecomic crisis or at least form some plan for ourselves that way we are more powerful and can serve as a greater aide.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of late, and the situation (of course) has changed, but I do feel (especially knowing that we are in fact getting out now) that with someone like Ghadafi in power, the world as a whole has a obligation to do something about it. I only wish that we, and others, could be able to help others as well instead of cleaning up our mess in the Middle East, you know?
ReplyDelete