FOREIGN POLICY

Conservatives Blast Obama For No Military Action in North Africa

'This is leading from way, way behind'

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Jan 21, 2013 by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP

US conservatives aren't giving President Barack Obama an inauguration holiday. At least over foreign policy.

The Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin lambastes the Obama administration's handling of the hostage crisis in Algeria, which resulted in the deaths of at least 38 innocents.

"As we saw with the murder of four Americans in Libya, the administration might well take no action against the terror groups responsible for the deaths," Rubin writes on her "Right Turn" blog.

Algeria's unilateral actions are particularly maddening, Rubin suggests. "Are they kidding? Algeria, a corrupt and despotic authoritarian regime that harbors the violent separatist Polisario Front (increasing intermingled with al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb) is supposed to the answer to our North African policy? This is leading from way, way behind."

Ironically, the conservative knock on the Obama administration over North Africa policy tracks that of France. The Wall Street Journal reports that France is mad at the U.S. for not supporting military action in Mali.

"France is increasingly upset by what it sees as limited Obama administration support for the war it is waging in Mali against al Qaeda militants, including an initial U.S. demand, since dropped, that Paris foot the bill for any Air Force transport flights, French officials said."

Via The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

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Jan '13

AceLuby

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End the empire, close all our foreign bases and start the age of US diplomacy instead of the war machine. How someone can say w/ a straight face that they care about the deficit while at the same time wanting to increase 'defense' spending is mind boggling.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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What he said. (Thanks, Ace . . . was thinking it, and you said it.)
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Jan '13

AndrewEvans

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EXACTLY!! The powers that be are trying to make it appear as if there's bipartisan support for a new war so that Obama appears reluctant. Make no mistake, he is just as much a war monger as Bush.
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Post @AndrewEvans
Jan '13

DARSB

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And it's the President who is trying to divide the country?

Let's see, it seems like just last September when the GOP in the person of Rep Tim Johnson was complaining that Mr Obama was dragging the country into the Libyan civil war.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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It is what it is. The right wing opposes anything a non tea bagger does. And what he doesn't do. And what he might think of doing. Or what he doesn't think of doing. Or whatever they think he thinks they they think that he may thing about what they thing.................ah never mind. Suffice it to say the Baggers are the lunatic fringe of America.
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Post @jessejaymes
Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't thingies, isn't it? Stop taxing and spending, but while you're at it, fork over some more billions we don't have to send troops to yet another overseas location. smh
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Post @Denizen_Kate
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@Denizen_Kate This is what both parties do. Blame the other side every time, pass some non important bill and both sides load it up with pork.

Re-Elect NOBODY 2014
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Post @jessejaymes
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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We don't need to be sending our troops around the world to protect the interests of Oil and Gas companies. They chose to go there knowing the fragility of the situation. The make billions in profits. Let them hire Xe (Blackwater) to protect their people and facilities. Cost of doing business. NO to using our troops as a private army for the Oil Companies on the taxpayer dollar.
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Jan '13

Keyjo

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Good, good, good comment!
"I approve this message!"
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Post @Keyjo
Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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1 thumbs up X 1000.
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Post @stepped_in_it
Jan '13

hankf68

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DAMN straight! Well said sir!
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Post @hankf68
Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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Its not just a Business perspective but its also a Homeland Security issue, leading an offensive against Islamist rebels linked to AL Qaeda... If we decide to do nothing then we better be prepared for more hostage crises...Remember recently Algeria!!!
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Post @mudzangandoro
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@mudzangandoro Nonsense. the Al-Queda faction is in fact based in Mali. This was an excursion into Algeria with the express purpose of attacking an American Oil & Gas facility. That's the oil companies problem. Let them deal with it. We are providing support in Mali. THAT is the Homeland security issue. Not protecting Oil companies empires.
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Post @jessejaymes
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Jan '13

talkenhed

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What's our end game, exit plan?
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Jan '13

Keyjo

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Yes, by all means we need to spread pour troops thinner and get into yet another conflict. And while we're at it, let's give the rich another tax cut to help pay for it!
As I recall, the French were NOT exactly in lockstep with us re: Iraq. And didn't they withdraw from Vietnam as soon as we went there to help retaliate for their massacred asses?
I like the French, I did NOT support the invasion of Iraq, but they have to expect turn about fair play. They also have to understand that our troops, are people, our budgets are all played out.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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They also have to understand the u.s. should keep it's military out of everyones business unless they first attack the u.s.
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Jan '13

Keyjo

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@PoliticalSpice
Well, we have been allied with France for a long time. They aided us against the Brits in the Revolution. We have been a part of an,allied group of nations, including France and the Great Britain. We of the Allied Nation's defeated the Axis Nations in WWII. But the reason is to stand strong against strong aggressors, not lock arms in,every little conflict. The time has come to make clear that the U.S. is not the international " cop on the corner." They can't always come running to us everytime someone pisses in the wind and expect us to carry the ball.
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Post @Keyjo
Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@Keyjo I understand the specisl relationship we have with france, and supported the war against fascism, but I could care less about an alliance that requires the u.s. military intervention globally. I think we should close all u.s. military bases in other countries, and clarify nato to make clear u.s. will intervene only in the event an ally is attacked with weapons of mass destruction.
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Jan '13

Keyjo

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@PoliticalSpice
I pretty much agree.
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Post @Keyjo
Jan '13

Knightkore

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Okay....it's all fine and dandy for Americans to be murdered by terrorists?

Benghazi, now this? No wonder the U.S. military are having high suicide rates....our "commander in chief" is nothing more than terrorist in American clothing....
- B2 • Vote Up r12 Replies
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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Repups criticized obama for sending troops to Libya, now criticize him for not sending troops to syria, mali. Then when terrorist attack us they blame obama for that. They always want to solve things with war and then complain we spend too much.
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Jan '13

Knightkore

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@PoliticalSpice Okay, I can't remember....were there Americans murdered in Libya?
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Post @Knightkore
Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@Knightmare american were killed in Libya, as there were in Panama, Iraq, Veitnam, and everywhere else they interven in militarily. I'm not sure killing people engaged in war or covert actions against a nation is exactly murder, more like an act of war...
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Jan '13

Knightkore

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@PoliticalSpice So these captured Americans are not civilians in Algeria?

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/21...

ALGIERS, Algeria — The U.S. State Department on Monday confirmed that three American citizens were among those killed during the hostage-taking by Islamic militants at a gas field in Algeria.

Lets see....first an Ambassador in Benghazi....one could stretch the justification for not doing much by saying that the Ambassador knew the risks....but American citizens in Algeria?

Indeed....this would be an act of war but we do nothing?

What another 9/11 has to happen before we respond? Progressive liberals are funny....they won't do a thing against their muslim friends but have no regrets trying to fight to destroy this country and hold conservatives and Republicans and christians as the enemy....domestic terrorists deserving of all out war....
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Post @Knightkore
Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@Knightmare I agree domestic terrorist deserve all out war. when will obama wipe out those wacko right wingers? I do wish he'd get to it already!
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Post @PoliticalSpice
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Jan '13

mudpike

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barry soetoro once said in 'own books'- he would stand with the mooslems & the mooslem call to prayer was the most beautiful sound . Before 2008 there were complaints to the State Dept. about BO's involvement when his cousin was running for the pres. of Kenya , planning sharia law. He wears a wedding ring with mooslem inscriptions . He disrespects ALL of America's allies , yet bows & curtsies like a girl before mooslem terrorist leaders & socialist despots. If it walks like a duck & quacks like a duck - what the heck would you call it ?
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Except, of course, when one actually looks at a high-res image of the ring, any ding-dong can plainly see that there are no letters at all on the ring Obama wears.
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Post @Mogal
Jan '13
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Jan '13
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

Keyjo

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@mudpike
Maybe the whole "mooselum" thing costs you credibility!
For all we know, you could be relatively intelligent, but you just hide it well.
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Jan '13

the_z

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need to stay out of it
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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Let me save all non tea baggers some reading time. Go download some music illegally or something. What the right wing is saying here is "if Obama does it we're against it. If Obama doesn't do it, we're for it. And that's final".
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Jan '13

Bobolinsky

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Mali... The New Vietnam.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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Exactly why the u.s. should stay out and learn to mind our business.
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Post @PoliticalSpice
Jan '13

TheJimmy

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If this was going on in Kenya I feel confident that the President would send troops in to protect both his family and his birth certificate.
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Jan '13

talkenhed

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@TheJimmy
your comment is about as relevant as this headline
Donald Trump Makes An Ass Of Himself In Florida, Surprises No One
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Post @talkenhed
Jan '13

TheJimmy

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@talkenhed
I beg to differ. My comment was both relevant and facetious.
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Post @TheJimmy
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Jan '13

OhWiseOne

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Absolutely NOT! This is where I as an independent conservative differ from the Republican Party. I do NOT support them wanting to send troops all over the world. Dr. Paul was right and the neo-con liars who pushed us into war are criminals.
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u
Jan '13

fistv

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We already have over 3,000 troops deployed in North Africa and have for the last two years including more than 1,200 soldiers currently stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Army times has a few interesting articles on it.
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Post @fistv
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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I knew we would eventually agree on something.
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Post @Cheenoguy
Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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The US military is stretched too thin already. This is a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" criticism from "conservatives" who are looking for another excuse to harangue Obama. It used to be that conservatives were the ones to say, "Hold on there! Let's look before we leap!" Now they are saying that the US should take the lead ahead of Algeria for a hostage situation that happened IN Algeria? Islam now has the most followers of any religion in the world, and every country that is predominantly Muslim has its extremists. Are we supposed to invade them all?
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Jan '13

Brownie

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Stay the hell out of Africa. Why the hell need to go there. Send intelligence instead and a few seals. Not an army.
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Jan '13

mimi57

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No, no, and NO...we are involved too much, in too many places now. We need to
keep our money and our service people here!
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Jan '13

twinertia

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Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.....as always.
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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HMMM...... both conservatives and France is a wee bit upset! Good. It won't hurt neither because of all the vino they both consume, which is good for the heart (but doesn't help the head....whats so ever). Not interested in helping big oil in their private endeavors or hear France whine for the same thing!
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Jan '13

DrFunkenstein

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There are a lot of reasons to be glad Obama won the election but this is one of the best. If Romney were President then the military industrial complex would be smiling from ear to ear because Romney would have already sent a million poor Americans into North Africa today, 30,000 to attack Iran and 15,000 to North Korea. Who cares about the poor Americans that serve our country and sacrifice their lives, limbs and mental health? I think we can tell by how Obama deals with this as compared to how Bush dealt with a terrorist group attacking us so he sent a full scale attack on a country that had nothing to do with it.
- B1 • Vote Up r2 Replies
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Jan '13

Real4WheelDrv

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Yeah and let's not forget Mitt would have signed an executive order forcing all women to be barefoot and pregnant right? Riiiiight? yawn.
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Post @Real4WheelDrv
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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Wrong. He would have used this as a reason for invading Iran.
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Post @Cheenoguy
Jan '13

Real4WheelDrv

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I know those poor Americans...unceremoniously draf...I mean conscr....I mean....oh wait....so...tell me again how Obama can ramp up our military activity and have it NOT be a negative?
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Jan '13

idiot

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well stupid people we are trillions of dollars in debt from the last two wars, start making bombs ,by the time we pay off the debt. we will have a stocked arsenal. the scum bags will still be there.
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Politix

Should the US send troops to combat Islamic militants in North Africa?

Should the US send troops to combat Islamic militants in North Africa?