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The Spectacle Blog
So the air war in Libya is not actually a war, according to the White House: It’s “kinetic military action,” or a “time-limited, scope-limited military intervention.” Hmm. That kind of sounds like a type of war, doesn’t it?
The striking thing about the debate over Libya is that almost no one who doesn’t actually work for the Obama administration seems to be defending their actions without any reservations; even supporters add caveats. Nick Kristof celebrates the accomplishment in Benghazi, where a bloodbath was averted when allied fighters took out dozens of tanks and armored personnel carriers enroute to Libya’s rebel-held second city. This is indeed something to celebrate, and Americans ought to be proud of the role our airmen, sailors, and Marines have played in averting a humanitarian disaster (for now). But even Kristof concedes “that there are enormous uncertainties: Can the rebels now topple Colonel Qaddafi? What’s the exit strategy? How much will this cost?”
Whatever you think of the wisdom of intervening in Libya, though, it’s pretty preposterous to pretend that bombing Gaddafi’s forces doesn’t amount to warfare. Why is the White House playing these word games? Jack Goldsmith suggests, plausibly, that they’re relying on a legal theory that if it doesn’t amount to “war,” it doesn’t need congressional authorization.
This is absurd; the Obama administration ought to just ask Congress to sign off (I have a hard time believing it would be that hard to get the votes). But it does, at least, give me an excuse to post a clip from Fawlty Towers.
View all comments (15) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/03/24/dont-mention-the-war
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Kingofthenet| 3.24.11 @ 6:58PM
Ok I totally disagree with John, but thumbs up for the Faulty Towers bit, very funny.
Alan Brooks| 3.25.11 @ 12:58PM
"I'm GOERING into the kitchen now..."
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 3.24.11 @ 7:37PM
This Administration brought us Overseas Contingency Operations in 2009, so why not Kinetic Military Action today? Now personally, I kind of like political regime change through use of overhead heavy metal expanding shape shifters, or how about, laser directed dilating geographic modifiers. You know, because War is just so,.... mean sounding!!
While they're at it, maybe they can change the name Forward Operating Base (FOB), to Leading Onward Activity Foundation (LOAF), because I hated being referred to as a Fobbit (I'm not in the Infantry alright, I'm just a Support Soldier,.. I'm Sorry!!), but I don't think I'd mind being called a Loafer as much as Fobbit. Fobbit just reminds me of Lord of the Rings, and hairy feet, and it's just so,.... mean sounding!!
Doc| 3.25.11 @ 2:22PM
How about a pogue... LMAO... Sorry bro, couldn't resist...(Big Grin)
NoLib| 3.24.11 @ 7:47PM
Orwellian.
danny| 3.24.11 @ 7:49PM
l l &l, thanks, i needed a good laugh after shooting a 90 today on the golf course.
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 3.24.11 @ 9:48PM
You're upset with a 90 Danny? Oh, to have the problems that you "think" you have!! I've got myself Tee-times tomorrow at 0850, but I'm going to hit at least 15 to 20 more shots than you just did today, so don't feel too bad for yourself. Now to make that score really sad, I'm going to win this round tomorrow, straight out, against the other three I'm playing with, possibly by 10 to 20 stokes. If you ever want to see some really "bad" Golf, just come to FT Bragg sometime, and watch your World Famous 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers, shoot every other shot right into the woods. I can assure you, we're deadly with an M-4, but put a 1-W into our hands, and we start fighting a Kinetic Military Action against the Pine Trees.
NoLib| 3.24.11 @ 9:56PM
LOL. How does a KMA differ from a real war?
What's with Obama? First its WTF, now it's KMA. Fool.
Ammo Guy| 3.25.11 @ 1:24PM
I learned to play golf at Bragg some 50 years ago – Fairley Clark was the pro at the time and he taught me a solid swing that has stood the test of time. Mr. Clark told me that, with practice, I could be the next Bobby Jones, but I suppose he said that to all of his 10 year old pupils (come to find that Mr. Clark had played against Mr. Jones in his youth, who knew?). Oh well, at least I didn’t have to worry about disturbing the RCW in those days when I yanked a ball into the woods.
AngelaTC| 3.24.11 @ 9:13PM
I don't think that helping rebels overthrow a government that we still officially recognize is anything to be proud of. No government in the world would passively lie down while "pesky rebels" tried to overthrow it.
We have no clear idea who who these people are, or what they want, but we are there to enforce a no-fly zone. Which we do by taking out tanks?
There's nothing at all to be proud of here. We're now officially a nation of liars and thugs.
NoLib| 3.24.11 @ 10:02PM
Qaddafi doesn't have anything to be proud of either. He's a liar, a thug and he slaughters his own people.
This is a lose/lose situation for us.
Richard Munro| 3.25.11 @ 12:30AM
Don't forget the French; we can rely on them. And the Rebels -bound to be as enlightened as Rousseu or maybe the Mullah Omar. Oh what a lovely....call it what is is...WAR....
Now this is most alarming,
it is not at all charming,
Sportin' Life shows anger
now the prez is a war-monger.
Poor,poor liberals
your hopes have be de lib-railed.
Now you are imperialists too
Like Winnie you know who!!!
ncatty| 3.25.11 @ 10:07AM
I do not accept the premise that this coalition action is to avoid a humanitarian disaster. When rebels put violence in play, and the existing government seeks to put down the rebellion, it is different in quality from ethnic cleansing.
Too Many Tims| 3.25.11 @ 12:01PM
"Kinetic Military Action" sounds a bit smutty if you ask me.
Sam| 3.25.11 @ 7:20PM
Well, of course it does!