Monday, June 20, 2011

NATO's Hourglass ...

Has about 90-days left methinks.

I'm pondering in detail over at USNIBlog.

6 comments:

Aubrey said...

Not sure about your premise that if the Euros start bailing out we should go all in on COA-1.  We can, and should, go all in on COA-2 mk II (get the heck out even faster than we got in).

We never should have been involved in the Libyan operation to begin with. If Europe wants it, Europe needs to do it.  This is well-and-truly not our problem - regardless of Quaddafi being a scumbag, I really don't see how the US's core national interests are being served by our involvement this "kinetic action".

CDR Salamander said...

Aubrey,
My argument is that regardless of the "if" of us being involved - we are in it.  As a result, we must find a way to win.  I was never a fan of us being involved in this - but that does not matter any more.  This is doable.  Libya has a relatively small population and enough domestic gunmen to do a lot of the ground work - just like the first time our nation got involved in Tripoli.  

If the Europeans won't do what needs to be done - then we complete Phase III, declare victory, and give them Phase IV with 0% participation by USA forces.  If they can't do that - then they can deal with the wave of refugees; not our problem.  

What is our problem is the fact that our credibility is on the line.  Victory can cover many sins.  Defeat creates more.  Right now our policy is folly.

Anonymous said...

after we "win", SecNav could name a new ship next year,

  USS Tripoli  !

Retired Now said...

Better send the Marines to Libya. Get this mess squared away in short order. Fortunately the USA's military is still a professional organization; however, unfortunately America's US State Dept. and our Executive branch are obviously rookies performing amateurish leadership.

No more inexperienced rookies need bother to apply in next year's elections to lead our country beyond the year 2012.

ewok40k said...

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20110516-visegrad-new-european-military-force
Some are preparing for the increasingly Europe-detached US already... One lesson of early WW2 for Poland is to have allies nearby, not far away. Germany's complete pacifism gives us at least one less potential foe to face.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Some of us covered that already!!!!  Geez, ewok!  You gotta get out more! :-P