Main Fiction Galleries Nuts & Bolts Forum
Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to ()The Mechanical Maniacs: Undernet. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
America begins offensive in Lybia
Topic Started: Mar 19 2011, 03:45 PM (363 Views)
Byron
Member Avatar
Apparently a Geometric Array...
This is exactly what it sounds like, basically.
> I spend quite a bit of time here nowadays. Sorry for any inconvenience...
> I also have a blog now!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Alice Vulcan
Dark Soul
I was actually hoping America wouldn't get too directly involved but there might not have been any other choice. This is something the international community itself seems to have decided on and no doubt Gadaffi and his men are too wild to be stopped with words alone.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cyros
Member Avatar
WARNING!
Being someone who's spent much of his free time at work just reading online news articles and thus enviably following along with the events in North Africa and the Middle East, I have to say there is a bit of conflicting viewpoints on this operation (but yeah, I know it's happening)

To make things short, while the US is participating in the resolution (only after skirting the issue for far too long, with France and Great Britain being the ones to make the major first pushes in getting things done), it's well aware that it can't do it the same way it had with Afghanistan and Iraq. A few news resources have the US saying it's offering a support role this time around, with the main attack/defense force being spearheaded by Great Britain, France, and two or more countries from the Arab League.

Some of these articles, though, make it as though it's the US at the head of the spear with the other participating countries providing support. I can see how they've want to make it that way, but come on. Get some facts straight before going to the Internet press.

Then again, I could be wrong on this. Once you read a ton of articles over and over again saying the same things, it all may start to muddle in your mind.

*EDIT* Here's another article that may help add some more insight on the events unraveling up to this point:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/...at-Gaddafi.html

*EDIT2* And have a video of a US Military commander explaining things:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12797728
Posted Image
Posted Image:Flashman
Posted Image:Armored Armadillo

"I just want to stay home and eat chips." ~ Turboman, The Dr. Wily Show
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Gauntlet101010
Member Avatar
MM3: Shadowman
Admin
Haven't checked the articles out yet, but this is good news. Those poor guys deserve freedom in Lybia. Hopefully, this won't lead the USA to be in Lybia for decades, though.
Posted Image
MM3: Mechanical Maniacs
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cyros
Member Avatar
WARNING!
The regime in Libya isn't the most up to par in the world in terms of military power. If it stayed between the regime and the Rebels, then yes, it would spell out a bad and lengthy (or bad and short) conflict. But Gaddafi actually made his military weaker than it could have been, keeping only a few truly loyal units (some led by his own sons) just in case some military uprising did occur. Rest of his force is paid mercenaries.

Pitted against the western nations and the Arabs hardware (also possibly provided prior by Western nations or from the former Soviet Union) which is a bit more modern and effective, there's a clear disadvantage. Possible even a sinker of moral, even for his "loyal" units. And the mercenaries, well, they may decide to find some other psychotic dictator with wealth to fight for if things start to look really bad for the Libyan regime.

Maybe it won't be over in a matter of a week or so, but I doubt it's something that'd go on for years. And even afterwards, when Gaddafi is (hopefully) out of the picture, the civilians and Rebel faction can hopefully keep things together long enough for a new stable government to settle in. Early on, they were keeping things in Eastern Libya fairly orderly despite not having an official government. Certain a nice change of pace from the traditional "there's no official government let's have rioting and looting, woo!" scenario.
Posted Image
Posted Image:Flashman
Posted Image:Armored Armadillo

"I just want to stay home and eat chips." ~ Turboman, The Dr. Wily Show
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Alice Vulcan
Dark Soul
What still gets me is how the world had its thumb up its ass over the whole issue. When the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis struck Japan it is no coincidence that Gadhafi suddenly pulverized the opposition. It was an unexpected tragedy that became dumb luck for others. In retrospect, the indecisiveness of the international community is all the more frustrating. Only with the threat of genocide nicking on a close shave would they finally assert themselves.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
REX Barron
Hipster Heel
I just hope deciding on action now isn't as overdue as it seems. I can sort of understand not wanting to become even more entangled in these sorts of foreign affairs, but I suppose, to the international governments' overall way of thinking, Gaddafi has basically crossed the moral event horizon at this point. I'm honestly torn on this sort of issue because I hate wars as much as the next guy, but I suppose that, in some cases, it may be the only answer. It sucks, but what else is there to do?
Formerly Mattrex, the leader the Mega Man X5 team Critical Mass. It's been quite some time.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Alice Vulcan
Dark Soul
Regarding the current backlash against our involvement from within the US itself, all I can think is that by that Congress would have put the immediate threat that Gadhafi made against his own people to even more prolonged scrutiny and indecision. Did I want America to get directly involved? Absolutely not. But innocent people were directly threatened with a massacre and the United Nations had already waited too long. Any more bullcrap would have most likely gone to a greater number of civilian casualties.

I'm still angry with the issue that there no action was taken to impose a no fly zone sooner. This scenario could have possibly been averted or at least the damages could have been minimized. As much of a mess that this proves to be in terms of objective and politics, at least somebody is finally doing something and that's better than a madman getting away with murder.

Also is it REALLY that fucking surprising that this shit is so expensive? Goddamn, I wish the news would quit treating it like its such an incredible revelation. We've already been spending way more than we can afford on wars so OF COURSE this shit's gonna be pretty bad for our budget.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
« Previous Topic · Undersquare · Next Topic »
Add Reply