Washington Post:
UNITED NATIONS — Libyan weapons are spreading at “an alarming rate” to new territory in west Africa and the eastern Mediterranean including Syria and the Gaza Strip where they are fueling conflicts and increasing the arsenals of armed groups and terrorists, a U.N. panel said.
In a report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Tuesday, the panel said cases of illicit transfers from Libya in violation of a U.N. arms embargo that have been proven and are still under investigation involve more than 12 countries and include heavy and light weapons such as portable air defense systems, explosives, mines, and small arms and ammunition.
Libyan weapons? Since when have the Libyans produced weapons? Don’t you mean weapons that the Obama regime sold/gave to the Libyans?
These allegations are all untrue. President Obama won a great victory in Libya against the evil dictator Gaddaffi. He waged war better than George Bush and unlike George Bush for all the right reasons. These are articles of faith.
Of course to win battles one has to control the battle field. The only way to control a battle field is to occupy it, which you do with the Queen of Battle (chess analogy). We may have had special forces on the ground in Libya, but we did not have regular infantry. We did not control the battlefield and therefore could not clean up the battle field. Is that important?
If we did not control the battlefield, one could ask if we won the battles? Further, if we did not win the battles did we win the war? Someone else, a 3rd party, won the war & it was not the U.S., Gaddaffi or Obama.
Consider the battle of the Coral Sea. In terms of carrier strength the U.S. lost a heavy carrier to a Japanese light carrier. But the U.S. held the sea lanes in the area and prevented the invasion of Port Moresby. The U.S. held the battle field.
“Although a tactical victory for the Japanese in terms of ships sunk, the battle would prove to be a strategic victory for the Allies for several reasons.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Coral_Sea
We elect President for overarching policy decisions and strategic direction. We did not get a strategic victory in Libya merely a tactical victory over a 3rd rate power. President Obama failed us and now our future is clouded
Softly Bob,
Many of the weapons that concern my most are Soviet/Russian made such as the SA-24 Grinch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MANPAD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-16_Gimlet
If more than one commercial plane gets shot down by a SA-24 from Libyan stocks I am blaming President Obama and everyone who voted for him.
My spouse flies once or twice a year for business. These are not academic questions for me. I have skin in the game.
Here is another description of victory, you win wars by breaking the enemies will to resist, you do this by killing people and breaking things. Always remember that MacArthur was right, in war there is no substitute for victory.