Libya and President Obama

President Obama is caught between a rock and a hard place and Republicans and anyone who wants to pile on are shoving the rocks together to make it tighter.

Gaddafi is a brutal dictator who frankly is crazier than Saddam Hussein ever was. And is showing himself to be far worse to people that oppose him. Hussein wanted power, Gaddafi is just crazy. So when the Arab revolts started and spread to Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and then to Libya, we are seeing how much these dictators and monarchies want to stay in power. Some understand their time is limited and others are using force against the people to prove they are in charge.

But in Libya, we have a chance to assist in removal of someone who has caused unrest in the world in the past and will in the future. If he were able to install his son, this idiocy would continue for a very long time. If he can be removed and a non-dictatorship is elected, the Mediterranean could be a more peaceful area.

But there are those in Washington who oppose this action. I seriously doubt it is unconstitutional. I also doubt that Congress never knew the US might be involved. I would hope that some staffer in the Congress listens to CNN and reports to his boss that there might be trouble.

The US had two options, continue on a isolationist path or assist. I do not think the US should become an isolationist as proposed by the Tea Party and others under the guise of money. I don't think we should be the world military leader, although as a friend pointed out, NATO and the EU probably couldn't agree and get organized without the US being the point person.

So why the criticism of our involvement. Is it that these Congressmen and women (and pundits and Monday morning quarterback) really have the nation's well being at heart? Do they worry about the men and women that will be put into harms way? No, they see this as a way to get face time. People who agree with President Obama do not need to be on TV saying they agree, that isn't good news. Conflict! TV news needs conflict. So most of the criticism is just that, good theater.

So should we be there. Yes, in my opinion. I don't want to be there. I don't think we should do all the work either. I do not want ground troops to be involved, unless it is as humanitarian effort after the conflict is over. But in the end, the world will be better if Omar Gaddafi is removed from office.