Growing Mushrooms Where Libya Used To Be

Obama To Address Nation: 9 Days After Bombing Begins

When I was still in grade school during the 1980′s, a memorable event in U.S. History occurred. President Ronald Reagan, ordered a military strike against targets inside of Libya. This bombing followed attacks and provocations by the Libyans against Americans.

U.S. Forces were targeted in Lebanon in a terrorist attack on a civilian discotheque. In addition, Libyan fighter jets were challenging our own fighters in a laughable claim that Libyan territorial waters extended some 200 miles into the Mediterranean Sea.  One major network news program, in a rush to air recorded radio transmissions from fighter pilots, inadvertently aired an “F-Bomb” when it played unedited video and audio coming into its newsroom from U.S. Navy aviators.

The provocations by the Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, resulted in U.S. Military action. Our so-called allies on the mainland in Europe not only did not participate in action against Libya, but also refused to allow our fighters to overfly their airspace. Fighters taking off from England had to fly the long way around France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. This added hours of flight time to their combat missions. In addition, logistics were complicated by the additional aerial refueling that was required.

The European nations chose not to participate largely out of fear of reprisals from the Libyan state sponsor of terrorism. President Reagan addressed the nation after the attack was underway, and explained that the U.S. would act alone if necessary to protect our interests.

Contrasting these events with our current day military operations, I am hard-pressed to understand why we are bombing Libya. Our forces have not been attacked, and Libya is not doing anything to provoke a fight with us. After commencing the military operations, President Barack Obama did not address the nation to explain why he was taking the action.

Members of Congress have not been consulted either. Obama has used his war powers authority to take action without seeking the permission of Congress. While it is necessary for the President to be able to act quickly to defend our nation, I am unclear as to why Libya presents a threat that requires action without stopping to consult with Congress.

General Carter Ham, the commander of the U.S. Africa command has stated that he can complete his military mission, and that the current leader of Libya may still be in power. Publicly, the extent of the mission, and its purpose, are not clear.

In my view, this military adventure, its unknown cost, and unknown level of commitment smack of foreign intervention that we would be best to avoid. With our military already stretched thin in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, we should pick our battles carefully. This is a fight that the Arab League, and other members of NATO may engage in.

Obama’s nonchalant manner after committing military force is disconcerting. Can you recall any other time since the invention of television that a U.S. President has ordered a military attack on another nation and not addressed the American people from the Oval Office that very evening?

To argue that this is a mission of military necessity is ridiculous. Like mushrooms, we are being kept in the dark, and fed a bunch of bull—-. After the bombing is over, perhaps we can grow more mushrooms where Libya used to be.

Related Articles

• Obama to lay out his case on Libya to nation (sfgate.com)
• Is NATO coordinating with rebels in Libya? (hotair.com)