Today Pres. Obama announced new war plans for the US. Los Angeles Buddhists and others will demonstrate this weekend against all the wars US forces have their hands in.
Of course the United States never "declares" war anymore. That would mean some measure of oversight. It has not since at least its military adventures in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia, which history obscures or dismisses as "conflicts."
So perhaps the headline should not explicitly state the real meaning but just repeat the spin: US pushes UN for no-fly zone over Libya, which will have to include some ground troops -- but we will not be calling it a war.
Obama went on TV/radio/Web from the White House to declare: All attacks by Libyan forces must stop, all power and utilities must be provided to all Libyans, and aid organizations [sprinkled with a few spies and operatives of course] must be allowed in, or Moammar Gaddafi is in violation of a new UN resolution, which as in Iraq is tantamount to inviting war. These conditions are "non-negotiable," and we'll be deciding if the US-propped Libyan dictatorship is in violation.
This officially makes Pres. Obama a war monger and adds poignancy to the peaceful anti-war demonstrations planned for Los Angeles on March 19, 2011. Some may argue that Barack "Barry Soetoro" Obama achieved that status when he flip flopped on closing Guantanamo prison or stopping American torture of innocent (until proven guilty) political prisoners like US Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.
The Bush administrations, of which Obama seems to be a direct descendent, were not related to NAZIs, except for grandfather Prescott Bush.
Others might argue that he became a war monger when he began to expand the US war on Afghanistan to include Pakistan, the surrounding area, and any collateral damage US operated drones might want to inflict with impunity. Thank you, WikiLeaks. Now Sweden has no real choice but to become a kangaroo court by proxy for the US State Department, Pentagon, and the clandestine Powers That Be.
History reminders
- According to the CIA chief, "Calling for a no-fly zone means going to war." This is because ground radar and other infrastructure has to be taken out to minimize the small risk to the US/UN's superior firepower.
- History reminder: The US in 1987 under Ronald Reagan already bombed Gaddafi at home, literally taking out his house, calling him the "Mad Dog of the Middle East."
- Qaddafi is a valuable US ally according to former Sec'y of State Condoleezza Rice. But that will not stop the US from taking down strong men violating human rights in our interest as quickly as we install them.
- Will a rebel or CIA operative firing a gun violate the ceasefire? It will if the US says it does. That's the great thing about the US choosing the exact "loose and flexible" wording of UN resolutions the UN member nations get to vote on.
- I Was a Sock Puppet for the CIA (Facebook spying)