Libya

[Charles]

I'm amazed that the events in Libya are slipping under our collective radar.

Any thoughts as to why this is happening?

Chas

[merrylander]

Maybe other's radar, not mine - but then I watch the Newshour and BBC World News.

With luck one of his own people will blow his head off. Ghadafi is cunning but stupid. With all the oil money he could have done as some other Gulf states have done and made life better for his people. Instead he pissed it away on himself and on means to oppress his people.

[finnbow]

It's receiving continuing coverage in these parts. Ghaddafi isn't our despot though, so we don't have any influence upon him or a sense of responsibility for his actions as we did with Mubarek.

It would be nice if one of the palace guards gave him three warning shots to the back of the head.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by finnbow

It's receiving continuing coverage in these parts. Ghaddafi isn't our despot though, so we don't have any influence upon him or a sense of responsibility for his actions as we did with Mubarek.

It would be nice if one of the palace guards gave him three warning shots to the back of the head.

Finn, you have confirmed my suspicions.

There is no political hay to be made, at least up to this point.

Chas

[piece-itpete]

Sure there is!

Didn't Bush get him to sign up with us?

Pete

[BlueStreak]

Slipping under the radar? Libya is all we've been hearing about lately.
Check your radar, Chas. I think it's broke.

Dave

[Charles]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Slipping under the radar? Libya is all we've been hearing about lately.
Check your radar, Chas. I think it's broke.

Dave

I was speaking of the political chat radar.

Chas

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Charles

I was speaking of the political chat radar.

Chas

I think it has to do with the fact that Mubarek, a longtime ally and peace partner with Israel, was in trouble and we wanted to come out on the winning side, whoever that was. Plus Egypt is the emotional and cultural heart of the Arab world.

I think there is simply less empathy for a country that has been an enemy over the years and whose leader we didn't prop up. We don't feel a sense of (partial) responsibility for the mess in Libya like we did in Egypt.

We here at PC haven't really spoken much, if at all, about Yemen or Bachrain either. Why? Who knows?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I think it has to do with the fact that Mubarek, a longtime ally and piece partrner with Israel, was in trouble and we wanted to come out on the winning side, whoever that was. Plus Egypt is the emotional and cultural heart of the Arab world.

I think there is simply less empathy for a country that has been an enemy over the years and whose leader we didn't prop up. We don't feel a sense of (partial) responsibility for the mess in Libya like we did in Egypt.

We here at PC haven't really spoken much, if at all, about Yemen or Bachrain either. Why? Who knows?

You do have a point. The Middle East as a whole is about to throw a rod, but only Egypt has gathered much discussion here.

Chas

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Charles

You do have a point. The Middle East as a whole is about to throw a rod, but only Egypt has gathered much discussion here.

Chas

Even though these events got their start in Tunisia, Egypt is the center of mass, culturally, academically and in population terms, of the Arab world.

With their influence and our past support of Mubarek, we had no choice but to be involved (for better or worse). Not so in Libya. Bachrain is a big deal though with our fleet stationed there, as is Yemen in our fight against terrorism.

Interesting times, gents. I'm hopeful that this may be the jump start that the Mideast needed to come out of the middle ages. Notice I said hopeful, not confident.