Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Should the U.S. help the Libyan rebels?

Dear Madame L,

Do you think the U.S., NATO, and other Arab states should be supporting the Libyan rebels?

Sincerely,

Qaddafi Sucks


Dear Fellow Non-Fan of the Colonel,

By the time you read this, the question may be moot. At the time that Madame L is writing this, it appears that Qaddafi's troops, with their modern weapons and air power, are taking back ground gained a few days ago by the rebels.

While Madame L would have liked to see the rebellion succeed, and while she, like you, saw rebel leaders on TV pleading for help, she believes President Obama and his advisers were correct in declining to intervene.

On the other hand, Madame L was happy to see the French, in the face of opposition from the rest of Europe, announce their support of the rebels.

Did you hear that President Harry S. Truman asked for a one-handed economist, because he was tired of hearing them say, "On the one hand...but on the other."

But Madame L digresses, and will get back on topic: Madame L wishes the U.S. had kept its messy machinations out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Venezuela...You name it, wherever the U.S. has meddled, on whatever pretext, the result has not been positive for the other country, its citizens, our loyal troops and their families, or pretty much anything else.

Madame L is glad that the U.S. is sending aid to refugees from the fighting, and wishes all the best to those throughout the world who are fighting for democracy and freedom. She encourages them to keep on fighting while recognizing that they must fight that battle themselves, without our intervention.

Sad but wiser,

Madame L

5 comments:

Cimblog (tm) said...

I have a question for Madame L.

Can you explain the Ring of Fire or Pacific Ring of Fire.

Having had an earthquake in Chile, then New Zealand, and most recently Japan, how reliable is it to speculate the West Coast (particularly Los Angeles...heh) could be one of the next areas for a significant earthquake?

Josie and Wayne said...

Dear Madame L,
Is the earth becoming overpopulated with people? If so, should I plan my family accordingly?
Sincerely,
just wondering

AskTheGeologist said...

To respond to Cimblog:
The Coast is Toast. So is the center of the continent, where you can expect tornadoes, and the east and southeast, where you are about to die in a hurricane. If you try to hide in North Dakota, the Red River floods and sub-sub-freezing winters will get you. There is no escape.
En serio, everyone living near a subduction or transform fault is at risk of a serious earthquake. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Including the Ring of Fire, south and southeast Asia, and the African Rift Valley, this includes about 70% of the human population on this planet. You can hide in your closet or you can prepare (ever hear about A Year's Supply? That is mainly intended to take care of your neighbors if you consider yourself a Christian)... and then relax and enjoy this gorgeous world we have been given.
Oh: and nobody gets out alive, anyway.

AskTheGeologist said...

One more point. I constantly keep coming back to a cost/benefit consideration best summarized in 1Ne4:13.

AskTheGeologist said...

...speaking to the original question about what should be done or not done in Libya.