Obama Should Send U.S. Troops Into Libya

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I see most of you, if not all of you, saying that we are only in Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever else because we are "imperialistic" and just protecting our interests. Let us consider for a second that you are right. My question to you is, "So what?" Is there anything wrong with being one of the greatest empires ever? Is there anything wrong with protecting our interests? No and No. We are an empire, and a world power. If we dont look after our interests in oil or whatever other resource, then who will?
I am completely opposed to wasting human life. And perhaps we shouldn't be involved all over the globe. But we need to protect our interests, and make sure that we have an oil supply. Because no one is going to give it to us.

Josh C of NJ 9:47PM April 26, 2011

Since our military is stretched thin with long deployments I say we reinstitute the national draft. Of course, including women since I wouldn't dream of being sexist. I think its what are founders intended (militias - see 2nd Amendment) to defend what we believe in with all OUR blood. Since the Vietnam war, its been easy for politicians, liars and blowhards spouting about freedom to get us into wars where a few of us have to pay the price. What's that? You have changed your mind?

Tom Jefferson of VA 3:04AM March 12, 2011

I say lets send Leslie, Mccain,all of their friends, family children to fight with the Libyan rebels. Let them fight a civil war for a people who despise the west. For a people who hate Americans. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!! No more will we send our children to die fighting for someone else, while the rest of the world watches every single move they make - "DID YOU ANNOUNCE TO THAT TOWN THAT YOU WERE COMING" "DID YOU KNOCK ON THAT KNOWN TERRORISTS DOOR BEFORE YOU ENTERED" Europe always pretends to stand with us as they send 100 troops making sure they get kitchen duty.....NEVER EVER CARRYING THEIR FULL RESPONSIBILITY - EUROPE TOO IS JEALOUS OF THE U.S. I SAY LET EUROPE DO THIS.....THEY GET THEIR OIL FROM LIBYA....U.S. DOES NOT GET ONE DROP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donna of IL 1:43PM March 10, 2011

SOOOO your saying that we should "liberate" Libya because of horrible human rights violation; well according to that logic we should also "liberate" Sierra Leone, right now, but who gives a crap about them right? Hell why not "liberate" China, India, Sudan, Mexico, Columbia, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Panama, North Korea, Vietnam, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. And for that matter since we should be helping people and advocating human rights we should invade the west side of Washington DC where the percentage of people below the poverty line is over 40% the national average. In fact, we should probably "liberate" Iraq from the tyranny of America who moved in and killed hundreds of thousands of people and suppresses the population much like the Fascist regime we supposedly overthrew. No... lets be real; the "Free Media" is on a campaign; not a campaign to provide free unbiased information, but a campaign to justify any intervention in Libya; This is about imperialist domination of the world; a belief that 'Merica lives and breathes by. And No, I'm not some super-neo-leftist that believes Kennedy was shot by Martians and the government is hiding it, I believe that the people you see in Washington don't run this country. Its the people on Wall Street, that you don't see that run this country. It got that way because of us, each and every one of us; we allowed them to assert their hold in this country; we refused to hold them accountable to for what they do and as a result we have Iraqs and Afghanistans. This isn't about human rights, its about imperialism and more than anything is about making money.

John Smith of TX 6:27PM March 09, 2011

Leslie, I don't think you are right when you say we should send troops in. If we did, then Qaddafi might launch a war on us, then the U.S would be involved in THREE wars! We don't need that! Also, if we did, then many U.S families would lose loved ones. I hope you have lots of money, so you can write us a check for all the guns, troops, and training programs. So if you want innocent families to lose their loved ones, then Obama shouldn't send troops to Libya. Instead of inserting troops in Libya, we could just drop supplies that the rebels need to get rid of Qaddafi.

Lily A. of ME 10:50AM March 09, 2011

Great, so you want us to send troops to yet another country. I hope you're a billionaire because I do not want the my tax dollars to be wasted on another hopeless country. You need to realize that nations do not want the United States meddling in their affairs any longer. We have a 14.1 trillion dollar debt. We cannot afford it.

Jason Tolivar of TX 6:35PM March 07, 2011

... there suddenly is some Muslim country upon American oil fields, right, Leslie?

Russian 6:35AM March 06, 2011

Hey, Leslie, why did you remove my comments? Was I too frank or, didn't your reviewer get my puns? Either way, it was nice having a one way conversation with your column.
P.S. Can't wait for your next "Post".

Albert Cadda of NV 4:29PM March 04, 2011

I'd say shame on you, Leslie, but then you're in a very large group who view our role in the world to be the world's policeman. You're not alone in volunteering our tax dollars to international adventures. I'm just one of the few opposing it. "National Security" is, as a result of those adventures, now topping $1 trillion of our tax dollars annually, pretty close to our annual deficit in other words.
No, Leslie, you're not alone. Suggesting we intervene in Libya is just the way it is in America. In the international game of who's going to do something about it, we're there with our hand held high as usual, this time volunteering your tax dollars and mine eagerly at the very same time we contemplate spending cuts to attack the deficit and national debt. The world's policeman is the world's biggest debtor nation, but the way to solve that apparent mismatch is to cut back on domestic programs. It's only taxpayers' money anyway.

Ron W. Smith of UT 2:01PM March 03, 2011

There are times when America should sit back and play the big brother role.. this is one. Libya's rioting is normal people get so mad at the government that they do something about it. I don't want to sound like every other person out there that just spits out negative negative negative and has no positive solution. However, America is struggling and when I say "struggling", I am being very kind. What finances do we have to send more troops out when we have military in 130 countries or more. I'm not talking about an embassy either, I'm talking about a full military base with millions of dollars in weaponry and supplies. Troops need to be recalled back to the states. We need to focus on the American people. I bet many countries in the middle east would be happy that we are letting them deal with there own situation. I don't think people understand what being 14 trillion in debt or more actually means.

Brandon of OH 1:46PM March 03, 2011