Obama Mission du Jour in Libya: “Installing a democratic system”
posted at 2:15 pm on March 22, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Barack Obama has launched an American military operation in Libya, but has had trouble deciding on exactly why. Several weeks ago, Obama called for Moammar Gaddafi’s ouster. When he launched military operations against Gaddafi’s regime, however, Obama insisted that he would only act within the UN mandate of protecting civilians. Yesterday, Obama tried to claim both missions simultaneously by saying that our military wouldn’t try to push Gaddafi out, but that we’d still push him out some other way. What that was, Obama didn’t really know.
According to a transcript of a call between Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, we’re back to “regime change” — and a familiar goal:
The White House suggested Tuesday the mission in Libya is one of regime change, despite emphatic statements from President Obama and military brass that the goal is not to remove Moammar Gadhafi from power.
According to a White House readout of a Monday night call between Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two leaders “underscored their shared commitment to the goal of helping provide the Libyan people an opportunity to transform their country, by installing a democratic system that respects the people’s will.”
The term “installing” suggests the goal of regime change.
The White House did not respond immediately to a request for clarification.
In their defense, they seem to be more confused than anyone at the moment about what Obama really wants. We can’t ask Obama, since he’s touring South America while everyone else puzzles over his intentions for the military intervention in Libya. Similarly, Robert Gates and Hillary Clinton are both out of the country as well, leaving Joe Biden running the show … presumably.
The term “installing” sounds more proactive than just “regime change,” which could be just limited to taking out Gaddafi and key members of his regime. Of course, the US hadn’t even gone that far of late in describing their goals in this new war, claiming not to be targeting Gaddafi or his command and control while someone rains bombs down on both. But “installing a democratic system” sounds an awful lot like the nation-building on which both Obama and Hillary heaped criticism while running for President in 2007-8.
Seems like everyone’s a neocon these days. Here’s the big question: How does one “install” a “democratic system” from 30,000 feet? Congress might like to hear that answer as well.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 Next »
I don’t see it Vince….they rather see him re-elected than have a gop in office….
cmsinaz on March 22, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Vince on March 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM
I swear I just read that in a different thread…
Midas on March 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM
Hmmmm. How’d I do that?
Vince on March 22, 2011 at 3:21 PM
He knows how stupid 52.9% was in 2008.
G M on March 22, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Hey, we can drop the new democratic system into Libya by parachute but we’ll still need to work on the installation part. It doesn’t appear that we’ll have a unit in the neighborhood. This being president stuff is hard!
Mason on March 22, 2011 at 3:28 PM
If he and biden choose to resign (ya) at least that nasty woman paluzi isn’t third in line to the presidency. Oh heavens!
Bambi on March 22, 2011 at 3:32 PM
The will of the Libyan people will be – islamic theology and sharia law.
How many bombs will it take to change their will? Only Soetoro knows.
Rebar on March 22, 2011 at 3:33 PM
So, how soon do we go hat-in-hand to China for more money, so we can continue our military campaign in Libya, which is costing China money because of increased oil prices?
G M on March 22, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Why is Turkish PM Erdogan so eager for “regime change” in Libya? Although Turkey is a NATO “ally”, it didn’t let us launch an offensive from Turkey for “regime change” in Iraq.
As a result, the U.S. could only invade Iraq from the south, so that Saddam could flee north out of Baghdad and hide for 9 months. If we had had troops in Turkey invading from the north, Saddam would have been surrounded and captured much earlier.
American Foreign Policy in Libya:
Barack says Qaddafi needs to step down.
Hussein says we’ll provide humanitarian aid to the Libyan people.
Obama says we need democracy in Libya.
The Bad News:
Barack Hussein Obama is schizo.
Steve Z on March 22, 2011 at 3:36 PM
I hear the Democratic Party is real good at getting pre-stuffed ballot boxes in Philly and Chitown… they can drop in a pre-decided election in no time, flat.
And if we do ‘save’ Libyans from He Who’s Name Can’t Be Spelled Right how much ‘credit’ will we get from the Muslim world or Arab ‘street’?
The same amount we got for Kosovo.
Zilch.
ajacksonian on March 22, 2011 at 3:36 PM
Could we send him over with “important people from the US” as faracan wants, and they could stay and establish a socialist kingdom and keep them as hostage.
You know rev wrong/wright went over to see kadafi with faracan and since we can’t see obama’s passport and he went over at one time, I wonder if they were all there together. That would explain his diddling around. And why faracan is so upset with him.
I know, I know I’m miss spelling – on purpose!
Bambi on March 22, 2011 at 3:37 PM
But…but…but…we DO have boots on the ground! Those two pilots who ejected out of the crashed F-15. They will install Libyan democracy!
Steve Z on March 22, 2011 at 3:38 PM
According to a White House readout of a Monday night call between Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two leaders ..
But in Cairo Obama said …
J_Crater on March 22, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Man, there’s a happy thought.
a capella on March 22, 2011 at 3:53 PM
Paging Leftist kooks!!!!
Report to White House for immediate protests of this WAR FOR OIL!!!!
PappyD61 on March 22, 2011 at 3:53 PM
America is now at war to protect a Libyan province that’s been an epicenter of anti-American jihad.
In recent years, at mosques throughout eastern Libya, radical imams have been “urging worshippers to support jihad in Iraq and elsewhere,” according to WikiLeaked cables. More troubling: The city of Derna, east of Benghazi, was a “wellspring” of suicide bombers that targeted U.S. troops in Iraq.
Akzed on March 22, 2011 at 3:57 PM
I assume our troops will be transported directly from Iraq to Libya. Right? Wrong? Maybe? At least the eastern Libya rebels won’t have to travel to Iraq to engage. I suppose if they have their trigger fingers stained blue from the first election, democracy as we know it will be a foregone conclusion. It’s all good.
a capella on March 22, 2011 at 4:03 PM
War by committee
Schadenfreude on March 22, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Obama takes control of the Libyan campaign . . . “budda-budda-budda . . . BOOM! . . . . Maamaaaa!”
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/pitmangraphics/politics/obamaasCaptStillman.jpg
(apologies to John Larroquette)
tpitman on March 22, 2011 at 4:21 PM
Give them Chicago Demockracy, they will latch right on.
BL@KBIRD on March 22, 2011 at 4:25 PM
I would go as far as air dropping copies of the US constitution in Arabic, as well as copies of their k**** book with all of the nasty parts lined out (so they get the hint).
AZCON on March 22, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Well, there is this one Representative from Texas…
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 4:26 PM
I’ve always felt the same way about Locke’s Second Treatise and JS Mill’s On Liberty
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 4:27 PM
So, you’re repeating yourself in different threads now.
Are you a propagandist?
fossten on March 22, 2011 at 4:30 PM
What’s unsettling is that I don’t really get what The One considers to be a “democratic system”?
Now, if he had said “Jeffersonian Democracy”…I’d be stunned, but I’d be for it if we’re involved anyway.
Dr. ZhivBlago on March 22, 2011 at 4:32 PM
After that, it’d only be about four pages long.
Rebar on March 22, 2011 at 4:33 PM
A bit OT:
I know these things are usually kept rather quiet, but is it true that at least a dozen journalists are missing ??
To be honest, I’d popped over to the Huff to check out comments, and they have that in a headline, but no further info.
You guys know everything (no snark) so, I wanted to ask.
????????
pambi on March 22, 2011 at 4:36 PM
ImaDinnerJacket can kill his people when they protest and Obama has no interest in interfering in another country.
And so it went in Cairo until Bambi changed his mind and decide Mubarak should go. Libya was allowed to killed its people until France took the lead.
Now we are going to give the Libyans the opportunity to install democracy, but this is not about regime change.
For the first time – I total understand why government officials are confused and can’t say I blame them! Anyone wonder how the military commanders feel stuck with an idiot-in-chief??
katablog.com on March 22, 2011 at 4:36 PM
Because Rove, McCain, Grahamnasty, and other One World Order types, or just pathetically stoopid types, are too stoopid to figure out that our Constitution has just been subverted by Barrack Hussein Obama, AGAIN, and made subservient to the whims of the UN, in order to protect a bunch of Terrorists who if they weren’t terrorizing their terrorist dictator would be terrorizing us.
I fear our country has been lost to a pack of fools and thieves!
Thanks McShame and AZ, Rove , OReally, Grahamn and company!
dhunter on March 22, 2011 at 4:44 PM
Too bad he has no credibility with anyone but his small, strange cult…..
G M on March 22, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Bravely spoken, ananymously on the internet…
Unfortunately for your position (and fortunately for our Nation), people like Neil Cavuto and Andrew Napolitano disagree with you.
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 4:49 PM
anonymously, even
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 4:49 PM
Oh, and the good folks at CPAC… wouldn’t want to slight them.
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 4:51 PM
Right! What percentage of the vote did Loon Paul get in 2008?
Don’t forget all the internet polls the Paulbots spammed back then, he has like 400 million supporters in the US according to those!
G M on March 22, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Oh, and a whole 14 delegates towards the republican nomination! Totally awesome dude!
G M on March 22, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Unfortunately for you, the republican primary voters agreed with Mr. “anonymously on the internet”.
Rebar on March 22, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Says the anonymous guy, on the internet.
G M on March 22, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Have we decided the bomber was a kamikaze or a jihadi? How do we know?
Have we decided the rebels or freedom fighters or jihadis?
Just askin’.
PattyJ on March 22, 2011 at 5:02 PM
We can already cross off “Obama’s not nation building” from crr6′s short list of how this is different than Iraq.
Chuck Schick on March 22, 2011 at 5:13 PM
Patty,
I guess we ask them about NASA’s muslim outreach?
G M on March 22, 2011 at 5:14 PM
It’s a “Constituent Work Week” so the House isn’t in session this week.
mmnowakjr85 on March 22, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Just words, just speeches, or something like that.
JellyToast on March 22, 2011 at 5:28 PM
You mean the GOP primary where a million people voted for him?
If that is your definition of nobody….
Of course, that would explain your rather asinine (and wholly incorrect) prediction that said representative was going to lose his congressional primary last year.
But I guess since you were too yellow to back that one up with money when offered the chance, I guess it didn’t count, eh?
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 5:33 PM
And how many delegates did your preferred candidate send, eh?
BTW, what percentage of the voters constitutes “nobody”?
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 5:35 PM
2008 Republican Primary
John McCain 1,378 delegates
Mike Huckabee 240
Mitt Romney 148
Ron Paul 14
______________________________
Very impressive! Those moneybombs sure paid off. How many millions per delegate does break down to?
G M on March 22, 2011 at 5:42 PM
So… was your candidate among the three you listed there?
Or are you too
ashamedgutless to admit it?JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Yeah… that’s what I thought.
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 5:55 PM
As best as I can tell, Paul raised about 20 million for that last run.
You guys better start hitting the plasma donation centers now if you are going to double down in 2012.
Imagine breaking the 20 delegate barrier! It would be a Revolution! Like with a backward L or something….
G M on March 22, 2011 at 5:56 PM
My guy was Fred Thompson, who got 3 delegates in his abortive campaign. I’d point out that with 3, he was closer to Paul, than Paul ever got to Mittens.
G M on March 22, 2011 at 6:03 PM
Seriously, guys, after the bombing already occurred, Obama came up with this lame excuse, knowing full well it contradicted everything he believes in.
Is he stupid, or are we?
Sir Napsalot on March 22, 2011 at 6:07 PM
I’d vote for ya
cmsinaz on March 22, 2011 at 6:08 PM
One troublesome thing about grammar is the lack of parentheses to subdivide clauses.
Do they mean:
OR
The second interpretation has the Libyans doing the installing. Of course, the placement of the comma makes the first more likely.
Fortunately, our president is a powerful and eloquent speaker who will surely explain these nuances to us, perhaps in one of those charming speeches of his – In a few weeks or so, once he’s back from vacation.
RINO in Name Only on March 22, 2011 at 6:10 PM
Well, he’s got to meet with the winning March Madness team, and there will be some great golfing weather by then, but I’m sure he’ll pencil it in soonish.
G M on March 22, 2011 at 6:16 PM
Wouldn’t Obama have called this “CRUSADE LIKE” if Bush had done it?
PappyD61 on March 22, 2011 at 6:17 PM
Actually, looking at it again, the second interpretation is the correct one (only grammatically, of course). The clause “by installing….” can’t modify “underscored their shared commitment”, since the latter is in the past tense. So the clear grammatical meaning is that the rebels do the installing.
Speaking of clarity, do we have a foreign policy yet? I think I heard somewhere that the government is supposed to have one.
RINO in Name Only on March 22, 2011 at 6:25 PM
I’m a moron, didn’t realize you can also interpret the entirety of
as the goal.
RINO in Name Only on March 22, 2011 at 6:33 PM
It’s going to to a LOT more cruise missiles to accomplish that goal.
logis on March 22, 2011 at 6:35 PM
And so here I am, in the comments section of a blog, talking to myself about the grammatical nuances of a foreign policy that does not exist.
RINO in Name Only on March 22, 2011 at 6:35 PM
1. Doesn’t the left oppose nation building; 2. Doesn’t BHO understand (I’m holding back the chuckling) that nation building means boots on the ground; and 3. Again, where is the chorus of fascists who opposed nation building under President Bush? People should think about that last question and realize that the left plays politics with everyone’s freedom.
madmonkphotog on March 22, 2011 at 6:42 PM
So, we can force freedom on other people now?
Left Coast Right Mind on March 22, 2011 at 6:45 PM
With enough cruise missiles, anything is possible.
logis on March 22, 2011 at 6:51 PM
Oh yes, that Cairo speech was like 2 years ago. That’s well past the Obama expiration date.
G M on March 22, 2011 at 6:52 PM
This brings to mind something my grandfather (an avid golfer) once told me: “Never trust a guy to keep score who has an eraser on his pencil.”
Left Coast Right Mind on March 22, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Uh huh.
So, by the standard that you yourself set down, who exactly did nobody take seriously?
JohnGalt23 on March 22, 2011 at 7:12 PM
That was my reading too. However that’s not all that reassuring since “democracy” without free markets and the rule of law is not much different from anarchy. And of course the Code Pink Marxists are no doubt chomping at the bit for a chance to ‘transform’ Libya, after all the inroads they made in Egypt. Marxism and the religion of peace are a natural combo as they are both totalitarian in nature.
Buy Danish on March 22, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Well, let’s see, with almost no money and a poorly run campaign that only lasted a few months, Thompson got almost 1/4th of the delegates Ron Paul got with 20 million dollars.
You’ll note that those of us that supported Thompson aren’t deluded enough to think that he’s relevant in 2012, and are not talking about him like he’s some sort of messianic figure.
Something to consider.
G M on March 22, 2011 at 7:19 PM
So….what does the Left say if -wait for it- American GROUND TROOPS are called in to Libya?
“Installing a democratic system” ??? Really?
Wow.
I’ve been away from this, what’s been the left’s response so far over the last 2 days?
I haven’t seen that many liberal answers to this. Are they just stunned at what’s happening?
B Man on March 22, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Ha! The neocons would never have gone so far as to claim they wanted to “install” a democratic system. They would at least have stuck to “promoting” democracy.
Once again, Obama is what Bush was only accused of being, while Bush was what Obama claimed to be.
Taste the irony.
tom on March 22, 2011 at 8:24 PM
Since ObaMao is a favorite son of Qadaffi, why doesn’t the Boy Wonder simply install himself over in Libya as its head. Wright and Farrakhan would be happy with that arrangement, and we would be happy to dump the loser in the WH, who is currently vacationing in South and Latin
America while getting Blackberry tips from some of his favorite socialist-communists.
onlineanalyst on March 22, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Will the One-der install ObaMaoCare as part of his democratic system?
onlineanalyst on March 22, 2011 at 8:31 PM
I strongly believe that Ghadaffi has evidence of who Obama is.
This is the reason that Obama has chosen Libya over Baharaihn, over Saudi Arabia, over Syria.
I also believe that Obama is in a personal “no fly zone” with Ghadaffi; Obama is illegitimate and Ghadaffi is the one who holds the proof. With Calypso Louis.
If Obama had any sense of legitimacy on his latest “mandate” to bring democracy to any Arab nation, why start with Libya?
Obama just punked the wrong kiddo. Ghadaffi is either going to come out with some serious sh(t or he’s going to be eliminated.
Key West Reader on March 22, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Obama didn’t choose Libya, Hillary did. She was so mad at him that he did this to shut her up.
Even msnbc was saying that without literally saying it the other day.
B Man on March 22, 2011 at 8:40 PM
::shakes head::
It’s time.
ernesto on March 22, 2011 at 8:41 PM
Great… they get a Democracy while we get Communism.
CynicalOptimist on March 22, 2011 at 8:42 PM
Usually I listen to the speakers, all sides, while ignoring the White Noise on MSNBC.
This is a war between two men.
Key West Reader on March 22, 2011 at 8:57 PM
But to be historically honest, isn’t Erdogan himself moving Turkey into more of an Islamic state?
onlineanalyst on March 22, 2011 at 9:00 PM
If BHO thinks that he can command our Military with his pencil like fingers (read… very thin, pencil like male; repugnant to most) then he is sorely mistaken.
Wait time 5 days.
Key West Reader on March 22, 2011 at 9:03 PM
You mean he’s going to send a bunch of Wisconsin’s union thugs over there to threaten the crap out of everyone?
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on March 22, 2011 at 9:03 PM
United States first country in history to go to war against itself
Murphy9 on March 22, 2011 at 9:07 PM
That “move” hasn’t involved anything particularly significant, though.
ernesto on March 22, 2011 at 9:08 PM
I already miss the next president…..
Because most assuredly whoever that will be could not be any worse than Barack Hussien Obama.
Mcguyver on March 22, 2011 at 9:09 PM
Ernie just be quiet you dishonest bully.
CWforFreedom on March 22, 2011 at 9:11 PM
So this is how Obama is going to be ruler of the world?
Just install himself as King of every country already……what is he waiting for?
There is nothing to stop him.
We most obviously don’t have a Constitution anymore.
Mcguyver on March 22, 2011 at 9:13 PM
Somewhere in Crawford, Texas a former US President and First Lady are watching the news. Thery hear the above quoted statement, look at each other and say in union, “WTF”.
Okay, Laura wouldn’t say that, but George would have.
hawkdriver on March 22, 2011 at 9:19 PM
“by installing a democratic system that respects the people’s will.”
See, there used to be a democratic system in America that respected the people’s will, but it was uninstalled and it needs to be put somewhere, so we’re going to install it in Libya,
GaltBlvnAtty on March 22, 2011 at 9:23 PM
I love you too, CW
ernesto on March 22, 2011 at 9:24 PM
They didn’t do what they were told, so now Obama’s planning to bomb them
intoout of the stone age.logis on March 22, 2011 at 9:25 PM
It might be a war between two men NOW, but when all of this started, Obama appeared to not give a damn.
Maybe when Daffy called him “Son” that made O mad, but I don’t buy this being a Obama vs Daffy from the beginning.
No, Hillary is all over this.
B Man on March 22, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Not to excuse Qadaffi in any way because he has been an SOB to America for decades, but hasn’t the Q-man himself been squawking repeatedly that the “rebels” who are raising the dust in Libya are not “freedom fighters,” but actually AlQaeda operatives?
We are backing the wrong cause here, my friends. Let this Muslim on Muslim horror show play itself out without our assistance. It is a civil war for dominance of which brand of Islamism wins the trophy. The other nations that have sucked us in to the fireworks have either their oil-investment interests at heart or their brand of Islam as the motivator.
onlineanalyst on March 22, 2011 at 9:30 PM
———————————————-
Cool — just be sure to tell your partners.
CWforFreedom on March 22, 2011 at 9:38 PM
What the hell is a Democratic “system”?
Is that anything like a sprinkler “system” for my yard?
BowHuntingTexas on March 22, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Just sh@t my pants. I 100% agree, Ernesto. What will our ‘fusion’ label be?
Firefly_76 on March 22, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Firefly- heh. I don’t think you would be in the same third party as Ernie.
CWforFreedom on March 22, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I keed. But for giggles I was trying to think of how ridiculous our coalition would have to be:
Constitution-Workers’ Party?
Libertarian-Social Justice Party?
no, no… how about the Anarcho-capitalist-Green party? /
Firefly_76 on March 22, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Don’t forget the connection between Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Qhudaphi. What the loony Wright knows about the Bamster could sink him for sure.
slickwillie2001 on March 22, 2011 at 10:40 PM
When it’s just 5% of the total, and not enough in one state for him to win it.
Dr. 5%, has a ring to it.
Rebar on March 22, 2011 at 11:00 PM
I picture Wright, Farrakhan and Ducky in a huddle, plotting against O, taqiyya talkin’.
Then I picture O, islamist Erdogan, the MB, Soros and their crew(s) huddling and plotting, taqiyya talkin’.
Maybe the Muslims and their supporters – on both sides – will self-destruct in this process.
I think the key in determining O’s moves in every ‘conflict’ is whether he’s Shia or Sunni. I’m sick to death of even having to focus on Muslim cr*p of any kind at all, much less the usurper’s shady affiliations and malignant machinations.
Destroyer in Chief.
Opinionator on March 22, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Imagine wave after wave of B-2 Bombers dropping lawyers, SEIU members, Code Pink activists, and fat kids wearing “Che” T-shirts….
shorebird on March 23, 2011 at 12:24 AM
Don’t forget university professors, Nancy Pelosi, and Michael Moore!
jodetoad on March 23, 2011 at 1:03 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 Next »