Why are we even involved in Libia?

[Lotheron]

We have no reason to be involved and this sets a terrible precedent.

Pretty sure it's happened before

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Pretty sure it's happened before

Not gonna debate this, I'm admittedly ignorant on Kosovo.

 

[JTsyo]

What kind of chances to the rebels have on the ground? How much of the army sided with the rebels?

 

[werepossum]

The loss of the F-15E Strike Eagle is troubling. Supposedly these are the types of missions that the USA isn't doing. Obviously that isn't true.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

The loss of the F-15E Strike Eagle is troubling. Supposedly these are the types of missions that the USA isn't doing. Obviously that isn't true.

There is a long track record of deceit, lies and cover up. No surprise here.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

What kind of chances to the rebels have on the ground? How much of the army sided with the rebels?

If this was a military coup things wouldn't have escalated to this.

 

[werepossum]

There is a long track record of deceit, lies and cover up. No surprise here.

Well - I'm not alleging deceit, lies and cover up. I'm just saying it doesn't seem to fit with the idea I had of our participation. I'd have to research exactly what Obama has said, and know what mission the Strike Eagle was performing (could have been CAP), to have an opinion on whether I've been lied to. I would hope that Strike Eagles (of which we only have a couple hundred I think) wouldn't be used on CAP, but possibly due to other commitments (and maybe their range) it made sense. Damned unusual though for a relatively new, robust, very proven, and twin engine US strike aircraft to crash from mechanical difficulties. But it happens.

 

[BladeVenom]

Blood for Oil!

Obama lied people died.

 

[bfdd]

the west has to kill ghaddafi because the west smeared him in the media. our leaders have been hostile towards him, he will never want to do business with us again. and by us i mean the west. btw i do agree with some of you, it is absolutely hilarious the news isn't erupting with protests around the country demonizing this "war".

 

[BladeVenom]

the west has to kill ghaddafi because the west smeared him in the media.

I don't agree with that, but now that we've attacked Libya we certainly have to kill him, otherwise he will use terrorism to strike back at the US and the other nations that have attacked Libya.

 

[OutHouse]

As opposed to your "ethics and morals" where we just turn our backs to the slaughter of innocents because it's not our problem and none of our business?

Ethics and morals are a double-edged blade, buddy, and if you want to use them as a tool to malign someone else just realize that kind of bullshit can backfire.

Not our place period. Our military is not the worlds cops. if you are that concerned fly over to lybia and pick a side to fight for. Or better yet go to darfur, where we have not had military ops. the next question is why havent we?

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I don't I agree with that, but know that we've attacked Libya we certainly have to kill him, otherwise he will use terrorism to strike back at the US and the other nations that have attacked Libya.

You might have to wipe out over half the population of Libya as anyone that was loyal to Gadaffi may choose to avenge his being disposed.

 

[Trianon]

Well - I'm not alleging deceit, lies and cover up. I'm just saying it doesn't seem to fit with the idea I had of our participation. I'd have to research exactly what Obama has said, and know what mission the Strike Eagle was performing (could have been CAP), to have an opinion on whether I've been lied to. I would hope that Strike Eagles (of which we only have a couple hundred I think) wouldn't be used on CAP, but possibly due to other commitments (and maybe their range) it made sense. Damned unusual though for a relatively new, robust, very proven, and twin engine US strike aircraft to crash from mechanical difficulties. But it happens.

F-15E is not that new, I believe they were about ready to take them out of service

 

[piasabird]

1 Tomahawk cruise missle current production cost is between $500,000 and $1,400,000.

So multiply that times by 150 or so for $175 mil or so plus fuel and rations for ships and men. Who knows how much per mile it costs to move an aircraft carrier 1 nautical mile or just operate at a standstill for 1 day.

 

[Scotteq]

1 Tomahawk cruise missle current production cost is between $500,000 and $1,400,000.

So multiply that times by 150 or so for $175 mil or so plus fuel and rations for ships and men. Who knows how much per mile it costs to move an aircraft carrier 1 nautical mile or just operate at a standstill for 1 day.

Tomahawks are normally launched from Surface ships - Destroyer Escorts, Destroyers, and Cruisers - and occasionally from Submarines. Not from Aircraft Carriers.

 

[Herr Kutz]

A little info on who armed Libya:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/01/eu-arms-exports-libya

 

[irishScott]

The loss of the F-15E Strike Eagle is troubling. Supposedly these are the types of missions that the USA isn't doing. Obviously that isn't true.

It was a mechanical failure, both the pilot and navigator ejected and were subsequently rescued.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/world/africa/23libya.html?_r=1&hp

And the F-15E has been around since 1988. Makes sense a few would be breaking down about now. That's (in theory) where the F-35 comes in.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The loss of the F-15E Strike Eagle is troubling. Supposedly these are the types of missions that the USA isn't doing. Obviously that isn't true.

It was a mechanical failure, both the pilot and navigator ejected and were subsequently rescued.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/world/africa/23libya.html?_r=1&hp

And the F-15E has been around since 1988. Makes sense a few would be breaking down about now. That's (in theory) where the F-35 comes in.

If it was a flat spin that caused the loss, it will have been the first time.

Interesting coincidence.

See what the recorder reveals and/or is not revealed.

 

[Fern]

7 Questions For Liberals About Obama's Libyan War

LOL

Fern

 

[werepossum]

F-15E is not that new, I believe they were about ready to take them out of service

If memory serves, the F-15E is projected to serve through 2025 - 2030. They may be due for an EOL though, although this is one of our most regularly upgraded platforms and was designed for a longer service life than are regular F-15s (A/B, C/D.)

It was a mechanical failure, both the pilot and navigator ejected and were subsequently rescued.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/world/africa/23libya.html?_r=1&hp

And the F-15E has been around since 1988. Makes sense a few would be breaking down about now. That's (in theory) where the F-35 comes in.

Is that true? Last I heard there was no F-35 substitute for the F-15E and nothing on the horizon to replace it. I really hope the Air Force doesn't replace it with a single crew craft.

That Times article makes it abundantly clear that to defeat Gadhafi, we must put boots on the ground. I hope these are going to be French and German boots, 'cause American troops are seriously overstretched already.

 

[LumbergTech]

LOL

Fern

if by LOL you mean LOL that is stupid...then i agree...although somehow i suspect that is not the case

 

[pcgeek11]

LOL

Fern

These all look like reasonable questions and some valid points.... Not all but most.

 

[irishScott]

If memory serves, the F-15E is projected to serve through 2025 - 2030. They may be due for an EOL though, although this is one of our most regularly upgraded platforms and was designed for a longer service life than are regular F-15s (A/B, C/D.)


Is that true? Last I heard there was no F-35 substitute for the F-15E and nothing on the horizon to replace it. I really hope the Air Force doesn't replace it with a single crew craft.

Why not? The F-35 is much more advanced, and IIRC the JSF project was originally designed to bring all American fighters under one banner at a cheaper cost than the F-22. The F-15 is a multi-role fighter, so is the F-35. Progression seems logical to me.

 

[Zebo]

We do what we can do as leader of free world. Bombing a coastal state who is targeting civilians is quite trivial. If we go in I'll begin to have some problems with it. Those briarpatches we have no business putting our troops on the ground. Especially so with crappy ROE and nebulous goals and alliances libya would present.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Not our place period. Our military is not the worlds cops. if you are that concerned fly over to lybia and pick a side to fight for. Or better yet go to darfur, where we have not had military ops. the next question is why havent we?

The last 5 decades disagrees with you. It has been our place and it's a role where we've had both hits and misses, but that's the nature of such things.

Nor am I "concerned." I'm simply pointing out the facts to you, not supporting the action one way or another. I really don't care one way or another about involvement in Libya. So stop being so knee-jerk about it.