Not sure what Obama's objective is/was in his Libyan exercise.  If it was to 'channel Reagan', it was an abject failure.  Now he acts like he's already forgotten his objective, if he ever had one.  For 'the smartest President in history' to think, as you seem to believe he does, that acting tough toward Gadhafi will help him win re-election seems bizarre.  If he were attempting to 'shore up his base' by doing so, that would be one thing, but his base wants nothing to do with military intervention anywhere.

If his objective was to remain a man of mystery, I suppose he's succeeding.

Spot on. When Obama announcved the relection bid and the Libyan bombing campaingn in he same breath we kown that he is only sayinf, YES WE CAN and I hope the US will say fianlly, NO YOU Cant.

I am quoting and saving this quote! It is the reason I continue to read your posts!

No, it was to pivot to the center.  His rabid base cannot win elections.  Who else are they going to vote for?

If Obama wants to look Presidential let him do something over tne most brutal regime in the region--the SAUDI KINGDOM.  He has not spoken a worrd against the repression that is going on there. At least we can say that Obama is consistent.  I think his record is so bad that he will not be reelected. Even if the man wants to be a junior senator from Illinois, he should find political rehabilitation difficult.

Your consistency shows.  However, Obama is a politician.  As Jeffrey pell said in The Hunt for Red October - "I'm a politician which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies I'm stealing their lollipops"

So it is with Obama.  Like it or not, Saudi Arabia is one of our biggest suppliers of oil.  It is stable and indeed the royal family's recent doling out of money shows they intend to keep it that way.  If Obama was consistent, and did what you said to, he would cause a shortage of oil in this country (Libya does not since we do not buy from them).  With gas currently heading to $5/gal now, that would push it up to 8 or 9 bucks. And although his words would be backed up on several fronts by such a price hike (i.e., his stated love for democracy and his hatred of anything carbon), he would stand no chance of re-election.  So he is merely lying and cheating.

The ones who think he is different are just idiots.

So it boils down to oIL. If the same logic is extended then it is clear that in Libya too the uS is interested in a regime that would enable it to extract oil. So as I have always said why this huge noise of protecting civilian lives, human rights, humanitarian aid etc.

Your world view is way to simplistic.  The UK and France want Libya to extract oil.  The US does not care as we get none from it.  Unlike the UK where outrage is transitory, the US has not had dealings with Libya in a very long time.  But it is in bed with Saudi Arabia.  In the Middle east it is oil.  But that does not drive all things, or all decisions.  Stop acting like a simpleton.  Look at each situation and extract the real purpose and motives.  not all are alike, even 2 countries of OPEC (if that were so, Chavez would be dead).

Simpistic or not, what I ahve said is the hard reality and with the drone attacks being mounted on the Libyas and Misrata under constant barrage from nato FORCES LET US SEE WHAT happens. I think USA will regret its ill considered decision.

I regretted the decision the moment it was made.

USA has supported Sarkozy in this mad venture and Sarkozy is being goaded on by a left leaning "philosopher" Henri Levy.  do not know what went wrong between Qaddaffi anf Nicolas Sarkozy. Afterall it was France that took a lead in getting the international comunity to readmit Libya after the Lockerbee episode. The NATO forces are killing with utter impunity in Misrata in order to blame Col Qaddaffi. Daisy cutters are being used against civilians and everone knows that the Col does not have this partocular weapon.

By Simplistic, I do not mean absolutely wrong.  But your simplicity is to believe that all things evil, America is pulling the strings.  in this case, Obama IS the puppet and is dancing to the strings of Sarkozy and Brown.  I know that is beyond your realm of comprehension, but it is happening.  Regardless of the repercussions, your premise is flawed, so the rest of your strawman is invalid.  That does not mean that your predictions of doom and gloom are wrong as the actions are still being done - but the puppet master is not your favorite whipping boy, and so you cannot come back later and say "See?  I told you so" since I can be just as foretelling by proclaiming the sun will rise tomorrow and it will be all due to Obama.

the sun will rise, but I am hardly correct in the rest of my statement, just as you are flat out wrong in yours.

You seem to have a crystal ball that tells you the inner workings of presidents and prime ministers. I go only by facts and not self proclaimed grand standing. So for you Obama is a puppet for he is just as complicit as "Brown" probably you mean Cameron.

No you do not, or you would not be comparing Libya to Iraq.  You go by your own preconceived ideas and ignore facts that conflict with it.

yes I did, apologies for my retreat into the past.

JUST AS I PREDICTED NIKOLAS SARKOZY IS DEFEATED TODAY.