Quote of the Day: “Most American interventions come from two closely related childish fantasies: first, that one side in a tribal war is all good and the other all bad; and second, that the weaker tribe are the ‘underdogs’ and therefore the good guys. Just look at those two ideas and you’ll see that they’re a series of disasters waiting to happen.” – Gary Brecher
We’ve each sent a letter to Congress demanding that they stop Obama’s Libyan war.
If you agree with this position you can copy or borrow from our personal comments . . .
The President’s Monday speech was (poorly) used to justify his unconstitutional, undeclared war on Libya.
I’m disappointed — even angry.
He made assertions, with zero evidence, that Qaddafi was hell-bent on slaughtering his own people. The truth may well be the opposite . . .
* Qaddafi’s threatening words appear to have been directed at rebel insurgents, not the people.
* We have no idea whether the insurgents would be any better than Qaddafi — they might be as bad, or worse.
* Just days before Obama launched air strikes, Qaddafi had offered amnesty to insurgents if they laid down their arms. http://bit.ly/hfwdi8Still, the President rushed in and chose sides.
I’m in no way defending or excusing Qaddafi. But going to war with him is a tremendous strategic blunder. As Paul R. Pillar notes at The National Interest Blog . . .
* The longer the war drags on, the greater the likelihood that anger toward American intervention will create more terrorists throughout the Islamic world.
* Qaddafi will no longer cooperate in counter-terrorist activities like information-sharing.
* Qaddafi may very well retaliate against America’s unprovoked attack by reverting to terrorism himself. He’s done it before, and now he has nothing to lose.Most important, as Mr. Pillar notes,
* Qaddafi had come to terms with the West on issues like terrorism and unconventional weapons
* Yet Obama attempted “regime change” in Libya at the first opportunity
* Which teaches Iran, Syria, and other countries in the region that “regime change” in their countries is America’s goal
* Which gives them NO incentive to negotiate with the West on terrorism or nukesThis war is a strategic blunder that has made America less safe. Do your best to undo the damage.
* Withhold funding for operations in Libya.
* Pass a resolution telling the President to withdraw, pointing out that he has no Constitutional authority for his action.
* You might even consider impeachment.
END LETTER
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Jim Babka, President
& James Wilson, Assistant Communications Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.