[Roker]

1. Imposing a no-fly zone is an act of war. For example, it would require attacking Qaddafi's air defense systems-not just anti-aircraft guns and missile batteries, but also radar and communications systems. We may also need some places out in the desert to base helicopters to pick up downed fliers. So, first question: Do we want to go to war with Qaddafi?

Foreign Policy: Six Reasons No-Fly Zone Is A Bad Idea : NPR

Pressure mounts for no-fly zone in Libya - CSMonitor.com

[trettegeani]

Let the Europeans that get most of Libyan oil do it, after the population gets culled internally though.

[DailyRingtone]

1. Imposing a no-fly zone is an act of war. For example, it would require attacking Qaddafi's air defense systems-not just anti-aircraft guns and missile batteries, but also radar and communications systems. We may also need some places out in the desert to base helicopters to pick up downed fliers. So, first question: Do we want to go to war with Qaddafi?

While I am not opposed to the idea, it's probably not the best way to go about it. The risk is that our overt involvement would turn this movement from a thing the arab people have been doing for themselves into just another instance of the centuries-old self-interested Western intervention in the region. It would taint any positive outcome. I've got to imagine there is a better way to deal with this.

[avaincmolla]

While I am not opposed to the idea, it's probably not the best way to go about it. The risk is that our overt involvement would turn this movement from a thing the arab people have been doing for themselves into just another instance of the centuries-old self-interested Western intervention in the region. It would taint any positive outcome. I've got to imagine there is a better way to deal with this.

We don't need to shoot down Qaddafi's planes - the Libyans can do it themselves. It shouldn't be hard to surreptitiously get them what they need; his air force is pretty awful, and those planes and helicopters make awfully big targets. I don't think that they have a prayer.

[DailyRingtone]

We don't need to shoot down Qaddafi's planes - the Libyans can do it themselves. It shouldn't be hard to surreptitiously get them what they need; his air force is pretty awful, and those planes make awfully big targets. I don't think that they have a prayer.

It would be nice if we could get a couple of our European friends to slip some Stingers to the rebels. Or maybe we could get Gaddafi's old friend Silvio Berlusconi to send him a couple syphilitic 15 year old hookers to him.

[Elissetecausa]

It seems like a risky proposition to me. I don't think we should get involved too many places and this is likely to have unintended consequences. Maybe those consequences are manageable and palatable but maybe not. I definitely wouldn't do it without the support of a number of other countries with clear objectives that will not be overstepped (e.g. only use of air no ground ever, limited period of time, clear benchmark for success).

[avaincmolla]

It would be nice if we could get a couple of our European friends to slip some Stingers to the rebels. Or maybe we could get Gaddafi's old friend Silvio Berlusconi to send him a couple syphilitic 15 year old hookers to him.

That may explain Quaddafi's insane behaviour.

[Roker]

It would be nice if we could get a couple of our European friends to slip some Stingers to the rebels. Or maybe we could get Gaddafi's old friend Silvio Berlusconi to send him a couple syphilitic 15 year old hookers to him.

The second possibilty would be biological warfare and we don't have an accurate count of syphilitic 15 year old hookers in Gaddafi's arsenal.

Seriously, the rebels will need more than Stingers and a no fly zone. First, there will have to be a US commitment of arms and possibly personnel, but before that we should know who we are dealing with, or are the rebels expendable and can be jettisoned for more favorable US allies? (This possibility would need US personnel on the ground and hopefully our Army we be welcomed as liberators. I would give that about a 50/50 chance in the Arab world.) Then who would those favorable allies be? If the rebels aren't expendable could they be worse than Gaddafi?

[Roker]

NATO: Libyan no-fly zone carries complex risks - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

BBC News - Arab League backs Libya no-fly zone