We need the oil but they need to sell it. They (most oil exporters) don’t have economies of their own with which to utilize their resources so they have no choice but to sell it on the global market. Self interested parties, even loathsome regimes like those in the Middle East, can be our trade partners.

I offer my full support in any mass movement opposed to intervention in Libya. But I have a feeling we won’t be able to count on the once vast legions of the Left that marched against Bush’s invasion of Iraq. Call it a hunch.

PRACTICALITY – Even assuming that it made sense for the USA to “do something”, it would make more sense just to give supplies (anti-armor and anti-air missiles, RPG’s, guns, night vision equipment) to the rebels than to do an occupation. Of course, TODAY’s FREEDOM FIGHTERS ARE TOMORROW’S TERRORISTS (see Mujahedeen/Taliban Pushtuns 1980-2011).

CONSTITUTIONALITY – Obama, Bush, Romney, etc. do not have the power to initiate offensive military actions – only CONGRESS has the authority. While this country is apathetic about the rule of law, starting a War (Truman style) without Congress is, arguably, usurpation and is impeachable.

PRECEDENT – An unsuccessful occupation will be another expensive pile of quicksand like Afghanistan and Iraq. If successful, it will spawn new misadventures in Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, and numerous other countries.

I highly recommend an excellent essay by Major General Smedley Butler of the Marines written nearly 80 years ago which was reprinted today in Lew Rockwell:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig12/butler-s1.1.1.html