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Murray SS Teachers,

     Please react to the two articles below - what are your thougths and why?

Two Different Points of View on Libya

The US is Wrong

This difference in attitude is why this administration went to war in Libya without consulting the Congress, despite working with the UN Security Council and the Arab League. There are serious reasons for an elected official to think twice about supporting U.S. involvement in yet another war in a far away Muslim country that has little or nothing to do with our national security.

We do not know how long this war is going to last; it could go on for years. History shows that it is a lot easier to get involved in a war than to get out; there are still 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 9 years, despite a recent Washington Post poll showing nearly two-thirds of Americans think that the war is not worth fighting.

In just a few days of bombing Libya we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars and this will surely escalate into the billions. Congressman Barney Frank spoke for millions of Americans when he said that this military action was a “fiscal issue,” and that some Americans were going to die because we were laying off firefighters and police. But somehow there are always some extra billions for war.

Americans are understandably skeptical that our involvement in yet another war in an oil state is motivated by humanitarian concerns. Our leaders have shown little concern for the people of Yemen as dozens of peaceful protesters have been massacred by a U.S.-backed government. Also, if Washington and its allies were really just trying to prevent bloodshed in Libya, there would be a serious effort to find a negotiated solution to the conflict – which is lacking.

Foreign intervention in a civil war often makes things worse, by inflaming ethnic conflicts. More than a million Iraqis are dead as a result of the U.S. invasion there, which among other things promoted a bloody civil war. The invasion of Afghanistan also greatly worsened the civil war there.

A number of Members of Congress, including John Larson, the chair of the Democratic Caucus in the House, have demanded that President Obama seek Congressional approval for this war. Let’s hope that more have the courage to join them. Otherwise, the next President may decide that they have the right to decide to bomb Iran.

The United States is Right

Some will argue that the United States has no business getting involved in a third war in the Middle East, this time in Libya. They're wrong.

Protecting people from a murderer is always the right thing to do. And Moammar Gadhafi, Libya's tyrannical ruler for 42 years is every bit a mass murderer. And a madman.

Thursday's belated decision by the Obama Administration to enforce a no-fly zone as a means of protecting Libya's rebellious but largely unarmed citizens comes in conjunction with a U.N. Security Council vote authorizing the move. It was a unanimous vote and apparently quelled Obama's concerns about unilateral U.S. action.

We're relieved that Obama has shaken the timidity and indecisiveness that too often characterizes his actions on the international stage. No doubt millions of Libyans hungry for freedom and basic rights also are relieved.

While the rebellious citizens - many armed only with sticks and stones - had made shocking inroads against Gadhafi's government, the rebels in recent days were losing ground and sustaining mass casualties as Gadhafi mounted a well-armed counteroffensive that included aerial attacks. The no-fly zone is meant to keep Ghadafi's air force grounded and head off the carnage the ruthless dictator has promised.

We wish the United States had led the way on the no-fly zone. Instead, the move was spearheaded by Lebanon with support from France and Britain. The Arab League then weighed in, announcing its backing nearly a week ago. That "turning point," as referenced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was followed by the Security Council vote and, finally, Obama's ponderous decision to lend American assistance.

This isn't to suggest that the United States should have initiated military action. We've been down that path before and the results were costly. It serves our interests to be part of a coalition on Libya; it does not serve our interests to follow rather than lead.

Either way, protecting people fighting for freedom from devastating aerial attacks is the right thing to do - and the least our nation should do.