Why in the world are we "USA" in libya? From what I understood congress was not even included on the decision making on this too. When did NATO members become the only people to ask about going to war?

I have been watching the news and really some online news sites and none of them seem to know why we are actually there. What is the end goal? Obama says that guy needs to step down. Yet says only going to use airstirkes to help the rebels that are no better than the guy in power. That we are not there to take him out, that its humantarian. This just stinks of yet another long time $ costing engagement with no real goal. Even if the the US leaves and hands over control to other NATO forces. USA is a huge funder of NATO. Also heard we actually are using some foot soliders now.

P.S. still waiting for this CHANGE our current President ran on. Same old crap.

Its simple Gaddafi was commiting acts of genocide against his own people, plus Gaddafi is nutoriously anti-American and he is always causing problems for America.The United States started by condemning Gaddafi however Britain and France began to ramp up talk of a no-fly zone. The US of course had to put its money where its mout was all these days of telling Gaddafi to stop killing his people they finally had to do something.

I think the final nail in the coffin was when the Arab League asked the US and her allies to implement a no fly zone. The US had very little choice but to support its allies. When the whole arab world asks you to do something, all your allies are getting ready to move. Obama had very little choice in the matter unless he wanted to upset the Arab League and Nato.

Now Obama held off on the No-Fly-Zone till the last minute, read my thread on how long Libya had to wait. The whole world voted in the UN for the no-fly zone.

Also the US is going to be barely involved. The US Gov said already this week that their fighters are headed home. They have passed the No-Fly-Zone over to Nato. As for the UK,France and US lead coalition against Gaddafi's ground forces the CBC announced that the US would be taking a back seat position in those activities as well.

So essentially the US is already exiting the world stage. They are only supporting Nato. Now considering America is a major member in Nato and that Nato backed America up in Afghanistan and several Nato members went into Iraq to back the US up. The US better back up Britain, France up in their war and better support Canadian's the danes and the italians as well as Qatar and UAE!

This is a world action and the US is considered the world's super power. They have to act. But as I said they are already withdrawing fighter jets and handing over responsability. I find it funny an American would get upset at America helping stop a genocide and then upset at the mission asking when it will end when it has little to do with America. America already handed over control. American's have no right to get upset over supporting their allies and the fundamental values that make America America.

What would you say to the people of Libya, after Gaddafi kills their families blows their house to shit all while you American's sat on your ass doing nothing. Fact is America could help and so could the allies we have an obligation to the world to help as does every nation on earth to help their fellow human beings!

Also no to my knowledge the US has not deployed armed forces in large numbers to Libya. A small special forces team might be used but I have yet to read or hear on the News of a armed forces operation in Libya. As far as US funding Nato. Nato is supposed to protect and back all of its member states. Why did Canada support the US in Afghanistan? Or Britain or France or Germany? Because we are part of an alliance we support each other. Just because this no-fly zone isn't completely American doesn't mean America can just leave its allies to fight on their own. Nato is a unified fighting force and every member should contribute, just because America is wealthier doesn't mean they can just use Nato as their lap dog, they have to support Nato's actions as well!

The honest truth of the matter is that the USA - and the rest of the world - had to intervene. It seemed extremely likely, indeed almost certain, that Gadaffi was going to commit one of the most awful massacres of the last few decades should he have taken Benghazi. To simply stand by and let it happen would not be acceptable. The international community had basically done that with the Srebrenica massacre. For the politicians in charge (Obama in the case of the US) it was both morally and politcally the only course of action.

Simply put, this is not Iraq. This action has immediately saved lives in the tens, possibly hundreds of thousands. For the international community not to have done these actions would be to essentially give approval to these atrocities.

Nothing funny about when you are nothing but lied to constantly. I wanted some answers not a judgement so I think you for your first bit.

For the most part Ill be ignoring the ending but I will say: Every USA citizen should be asking questions like this if after doing research they still cant figue out the actual reason. I also say that every single country in NATO and the others ignore goverments killing people constantly. Myabe not outright in all cases but they go without military action. So while I can say cool citizens will stopped being killed there. Why did they choose this one out of  all the others to help

Exactly, don't also forget Rwanda. Repeats of such massacres are unacceptable. The United Nations and international community should always intervene to protect civilians if possible.

Right now I'm watching Syria, they just killed 40-civilians in one day. We should probably do something their as well, if it appears that the Government is going to massacre its people like Gaddafi was going to do!

I see thank you for the info. I dont keep up a lot with all this stuff anymore because it can drive me nutty pretty fast. But, who is going to actually get control do you know? Because according to what I did find the rebels NATO are helping or not going to be any better.

We don't know at the moment. It's a major worry really, the rebel leadership seems to be a very very varied bunch comprised of everything from liberals to Islamists and the future of the country is going to be at least a little chaotic no matter what from here on out.

However the immediate aim was to stop what was clearly going to be a horribly massacre and that seems to have been acheived. I don't think this coalition action was performed with too much thought towards the future. I get the feeling that the thought process was something along the lines of 'Theres going to be a massacre, lets stop that and what happens afterwards is tomorrows problem'. It's actually a thought process I agree with, the immediate action really was needed.

Sorry if I offended you, but Americans tend to whine and complain that the rest of the world should do something and always think that they are doing everything. Like WWII American's always talk about the amazing thing they did taking all the credit. Then this Libya thing happens and the US is pulling out and you (An American) complains that the US is too involved when infact they are already withdrawing. Also it didn't help you talked about American troops invading Libya, that is all propaganda rumours the US already stated no ground troops would be involved.

As for why the US and Nato helped Libya but not some other countries. In some cases like Rwanda I think the US was just to wimpy to help. Canada's troops stayed but the US was afraid of taking casualties and getting involved so they left.

I think their are a few major reasons the US intervened

#1. The United Nations, the US dragged its feet as much as possible to stay out of Libya (Read my other post). Obama kept making threats but did everything he could to avoid carrying out any of them. When the United Nation's said a No-Fly Zone should be implemented Obama had no excuse anymore for staying out of the Libyan conflict.

#2. The Allies (Nato) France had already recognized the Libyan rebels as the new Government. France was ready to take unilateral action against Gaddafi. Britain backed France right aways. The US has an obligation to help its allies out if they are attacked or go to war. What would the rest of the world say if France and Britain went in and the US sat behind doing nothing.

#3. The Arab League, the Arab League called for the US and the UN to impose a no fly zone. The Arab league is made up of many US allies. Also much of the oil the US uses comes from the Arab League. When the Muslim world is begging America for help, America needs to help.

--------------------------------------------- (Enough about the allies------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#4. One of the major reasons the US claims to be behind them entering conflicts is the people. They invaded Afghanistan to liberate the people of the oppressive Taliban. They invaded Iraq to liberate the people from Saddam. Gaddafi is a tyrant and had to be removed, when the whole world calls for him to go the US would look hypocritical not to try and depose him.

#5. The genocide, Gaddafi killed over 8,000 people in 3 weeks. When Gaddafi took Zawiya their were reports of thousands of protestors. However the next day a phone call confirmed that no protestors remained and the rebels had "Dissapeared" later reports came in of mass graves and the rebels said all the protestors were shot. The Libyan Government was going to do the same in Benghazi and estimates put the possible death toll as high as 500,000.

#6. Oil , Libya is the biggest oil producing country in Africa. The war in Libya has destabalized oil prices. The US wants peace desperatly so that oil prices will drop.

#7. Gaddafi, besides the Genocide and being a dictator. Gaddafi support's Chavez and Iran's President. Gaddafi is constantly trying to turn world leaders against the US. Diplomatically Gaddafi is an enemy of the United States his forces took out a plane and attacked embassies. He is known for his hatred of the United States.

#8. An ally, under Gaddafi Libya is an enemy of the United States. But without Gaddafi the countries rebels would rule and at the moment they are pro-USA. Except one commander who turns out fought for Al-Qaeda. But most of the rebelion want to increase ties with the US. The US can always use another ally.

#9. Democracy, the US is always out their to bring more countries around to freedom. The US needed to support the democratic movement in Libya. The protestors and rebels wanted democracy and believed the US would help them. The US had a democratic obligation to get involved in some way to help them bring about democracy.

#10. Libya is a coastal country and the US has several fleets in the area. The water ways are strategic for Europe and shipping is also important. The US could easily deploy an air craft carrier and get involved where as other countries aren't as easily accessed. Making it very easy for the US to get involved and then leave when they deem nescessary.

Do you need more reasons cause I'm sure I could come up with more?

Nah thats not me. Im the one who when looks at this stuff questions what the real motives are and whats really going on.Thats why I actully dont dive into this stuff much anymore because it drives me nutty when theres pletty of evidence suggesting once again lied to. This goes for the almost anything goverment involved whether that be healthcare/war/bailout of banks but not the people, etc. Anymore I just do my own little things to be helpful tomy fellow humans

. But I saw a clip form last year of a Union stand off that made me cry of happiness, so I started to do some reading on other things and found this dammit if I find it agian ill link it, but its about how the bank bailout and the way it was set up to put so much pressrue on congress at the last minute before the last election that they didnt really have a choice. Though the first time they turned it down due to the people forcing it, then turned around and passed it behind peoples backs. Anyways, I get upset fast at this stuff and slowly become a bit nutty so I try to stay away, but I cant! lol