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Thread: Getting involved in Libya

  1. #21
    Senior Member bae's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bae View Post
    It seems to me a moral issue: do you have a duty to render aid to others? And if so, under what circumstances? And at what cost?
    The thing is, IMHO, without thinking through your moral foundation your further reasoning and actions are unguided, and likely to be more driven by rationalizations and expediency.

    What moral standard do you use in deciding to render aid?

  2. #22
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    "Our Armed Forces, however, are only as strong as their Commander in Chief, who has an infantile view of foreign policy. As he begins his South American tour (why? why now?)" (catwoman)
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    Au contraire, IMHO. It actually shows almost brilliant depth of knowledge of foreign policy, and history of U.S. involvements.

    The accomplishment of managing to get the U.N. to spearhead this action, bring along the support of the Arab League and other Arab leaders, several European nations, and disappear into the background so that enemies such as Al Qaeda cannot market this in the Arab world as the heavy hand of the U.S. is not only incredible, but effective. And going on with the scheduled Latin American trip (remember also that Latin America is very important to our own economy), just reinforces that message in the Arab world......this is NOT a U.S. crackdown. It is an international effort to isolate a leader who is far past his "sell by" date, provide assistance to forces in Libya trying to reach for a more democratic form of government, and much more likely to be successful than if the U.S. HAD spearheaded it, and gone in with our own military, although we are a full partner in the international effort. And helps the Middle East move toward a greater level of freedom and toward more democratic forms of government.

    Some Presidents do not have the ego needs to strut around on an aircraft carrier in a flight suit to prove they are leaders. Snarky, I know, but real leadership is often quiet, unseen, consensus building and long term in outlook. JMHO, take it for what it's worth.

    Big changes are coming in the Middle East. We can breathe gently on those we feel will be best in the long term for worldwide relationships among nations, or we can do as we've done so many times in the past, seldom learning from history. In my way of seeing it, this President, far from being "infantile" in any way, is a long term, in depth thinker, with an ability to hold lots of contradictory viewpoints in hand and find ways to move toward common ground.

  3. #23
    Simpleton Alan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by loosechickens View Post
    Au contraire, IMHO. It actually shows almost brilliant depth of knowledge of foreign policy, and history of U.S. involvements.............

    In my way of seeing it, this President, far from being "infantile" in any way, is a long term, in depth thinker, with an ability to hold lots of contradictory viewpoints in hand and find ways to move toward common ground.
    Or maybe he's just waited to see what others thought before deciding to follow the pack. It's hard to say.
    "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein

  4. #24
    Simpleton Alan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bae View Post
    The thing is, IMHO, without thinking through your moral foundation your further reasoning and actions are unguided, and likely to be more driven by rationalizations and expediency.

    What moral standard do you use in deciding to render aid?
    In my mind, it's the same reasoning you would use when you see a husband beat his wife and abuse his children. Intervention may require an extreme cost, but what price can you place on inaction?
    "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein

  5. #25
    Low Tech grunt iris lily's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by alan View Post
    Why is it better for someone else to take the lead? Is it more moral if we don't?
    I don't understand why it's only OK if the UN or a European country says so.
    Well, I am not arguing the moral POV. I am arguing the $$$ POV. Let the French spend their money.
    Last edited by iris lily; 3-20-11 at 10:30am.

  6. #26
    Low Tech grunt iris lily's Avatar
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    Oh this sucks, now we have bombed Libya.

  7. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by Iris lily View Post
    Oh this sucks, now we have bombed Libya.
    That sucks. 3 foreign wars now? Of course we are also bombing Pakistan as well.

  8. #28
    Senior Member Catwoman's Avatar
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    Sorry, Loose, really have to disagree with you on the Brilliance of BHO in the foreign policy realm, he only acts from a poliitcal perspective - will it cost him votes in the re-election bid? that's his primary concern.

  9. #29
    Senior Member Zigzagman's Avatar
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    Gentlemen may cry peace, peace - but there is no peace. - Patrick Henry

    I'm thinking that many in the Navy are rejoicing that they might finally get some combat pay - you know how the patriots are....

    My dreams of hope and change are quickly fading but I have resigned myself to being different.

    Once our citizens personally experience war I think that will change and it will happen - mark my words. We cannot expect our actions of the last decade not to have consequences.

    What a world we leave our children.

    Peace



  10. #30
    Senior Member The Storyteller's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zigzagman View Post
    Peace
    With Justice.

    I'm fer it.
    "There are too many books in the world to read in a single lifetime; you have to draw the line somewhere." --Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

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