this is it, boys

[drenrin2120]

Apparently, the US and France launched a coordinated strike against air bases in Libya.

I'm sure you guys know the gist of what's been happening. What's your thoughts on this latest development/entire thing?

[Prpl_Mage]

Took them long enough.

No really, dictator going all rawr rawr on citizens and no one really did something about it. Guy seems mad to keep his power and now he'll get borders invaded. So yeah... He'll lose his country either way.

[Archem]

Not one for news of any kind, please elaborate.

[Dragonium]

Libyan people see all the other countries overthrowing their dictators and decide they want a piece of the action.

Mass rebellion of Libyan people occurs.

Rebels are surprisingly competent. They capture an SAS squad, despite the fact that you don't just do that.

Gaddafi realises rebels are surprisingly competent and orders them all dead, momentarily forgetting that they are his people.

The US, UK and France realise that helping take down dictators earns them major karma points, and also that they don't like it when brown people kill each other because it means fewer brown people to subjugate and liberate oil from in future.

France sends in planes because the role of staying far from danger and launching cruise missiles has already been called by the US and the UK.

I think that about covers it for now.

[fruckert]

...Wait, what?

[Grandy]

I'm not sure how I feel about this.
 The dictator was a jerk (as dictators are wont to be), and some comeuppance is necessary, but the revolution was underway already, and I really feel the people of the country should be the ones to ultimatelly subjulgate the dictator. Makes things spiffy, and ensures the independance of the new regime.

[Cosmos]

The US, UK and France realise that helping take down dictators earns them major karma points, and also that they don't like it when brown people kill each other because it means fewer brown people to subjugate and liberate oil from in future.

I love this sentence. Lmao!

[Valiere]

I'm not sure how I feel about this.
 The dictator was a jerk (as dictators are wont to be), and some comeuppance is necessary, but the revolution was underway already, and I really feel the people of the country should be the ones to ultimatelly subjulgate the dictator. Makes things spiffy, and ensures the independance of the new regime.

That did work nicely in Egypt and Tunisia, but the folks in power there were far more civil than Gaddafi, who used his military to put down protesters.

[Zerlina]

Um you guys who are all "boo America and France" realize that it is an entire international coalition INCLUDING Arab nations that are all in agreement about taking action against Gadaffi. And that he has refused to listen to his people and is killing them to maintain his power?

[Prpl_Mage]

A leader sending airstrikes against his own people kinda need a spanking.

Egypt went well, but Egypt military kinda got bored of shooting protesters with rubber bullets. Papers were all "omg egypt bad shooting ppl with rubber bullets", then when Libyan citizens are inspired by success and try as well they get shot to death. So now countries decided that they can't let this go on anymore and are pretty much on their way to blast the current leader off his throne.

[aboutasoandthis]

I'm actually right in the middle of this. Damn you Air Force.

From what I know, the Libyan people are perfectly capable of handling things on the ground. They are just asking us to give air support. We are not sending ground troops but we have sent jets already.

I'm not sure how I really feel about this conflict. I just know I'm working 12 hour work days including weekends to support it. 

[Valiere]

I'm just wondering, why Libya? African dictators in the 90's used force to stamp out protesters, and I imagine they still do so today...but no one did/does anything about it. Is it because we have a bit of a history with Gaddafi?

[aboutasoandthis]

Even I don't have a real clue. The answer I get at work is that Americans did get hit when they were firing at protesters. Legally, we can only get involved if we do that.

I'm pretty sure America's getting something out of it. War is big business and you make BANK if you have a government job and are involved.

[Prpl_Mage]

Also Libyan government blew up some citizen airplanes or boats or something back in the days under Khaddafi rule.

[Zerlina]

I think the reason so many countries are getting involved has to do with the media attention paid to the rebellion. Can you imagine how bad these countries would look if all their citizens are watching this unfold and their leaders all wash their hands of the whole thing? I mean, I don't like Harper, but I'm really glad he's supporting the international coalition