Up until this past weekend, some conservatives have been upset that the United States hasn’t been more proactive militarily with the issues in Libya. While I abhor the things Ghadafi is doing to his people, why does the responsibility to be the world police always rest on the United States.
Whenever there is military action needed around the world, the United States is always seen as the big bad aggressor in foreign affairs while the UN tends to get bound in ineffective resolutions. The US is blamed for interfering in affairs of other countries and blamed if they don’t . As my dad used to say “You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t”.
So for once, the U.S. has decided to take a back seat to the United Nations, fully supporting the efforts but not taking the lead. I, for one, support that tact. They have commited fully to the military operation of a no fly zone while allowing Britain and France to take the lead on the resolution.
Now I am sure I will get an earful from my Australian friends but let’s contrast this with the Australian foreign minister, Kevin Rudd. Like some American Conservatives, Rudd was blaming the G8 nations for inaction yet after the UN Resolution said that there would be no Australian military assistance (though he did pledge humanitarian aid).
The world doesn’t need any more armchair quarterbacks. (Ok except for me)
Ha Love the look on the UN blokes face. He doesn’t look too keen to go in. You’ll get no grief from me but to make up for Ruddy’s lack of support I’ll send Super Broccoli Man to help. He has now headed off to Japan to assist them so he can sort out Gaddaffi when he’s finished there.
I hope Super Broccoli Man is getting air miles for all this travel.
Actually he could have a problem now that Libya has been declared a no fly zone. Guess he’ll have to land at the border & walk the rest
that will be hard given how top heavy he is.
I find it quite interesting that France is taking such a strong stance. There must be some reason I’m not aware of (which doesn’t take much since I’m pathetic when it comes to politics!).
Me too. That is why I rely on all of you to fill in the holes.
My best guess from Britain is that Sarkosy is “doing a maggie thatcher” by distracting from home based problems by setting up a foreign conflict. Add to this oil supplies and previous French colonies in North Africa (Algeria etc) and Sarko had a good opportunity.
Let’s just hope that some exit strategy is in place if the Libyans dig in for a long civil war.
Oh, allow me on the whys of this one. Like Saudi Arabia is to the US when it comes to oil, Libya is a main supplier to the E.U. They have an interest in keeping things stable in Libya for this reason alone. Why do you think the US is ignoring the unrest in Bahrain, where the Saudi’s have sent in troops to help quell the dissent?
Its not about the people of Libya or there quest for democracy, its about energy, its about the oil, its always about the F’n oil! o.O …doesn’t matter the country or the unrest!
But if it IS only about the oil and the off shoot is saving lives, is it all bad?
You know me and politics, Bear. I agree with whatever you agree with.
I can’t stop looking at the UN guard’s face, he looks exactly like my ex-coworker. The resemblance is uncanny. Only she was a woman.
Well given that most of the women I draw look like men in drag, it is no wonder. I like being able to vote in the US and Canada. I’ll let you know in the next election who to vote for up there.
And now watch…Republicans are going to attack the president for taking action.
Ahhh…but it was the UN that took action..haha
When I look back over recent conflicts I think the ones that involved a group of nations work out the best. War and military action should be the last resort taken and if other countries are involved it shows that some other opinions were considered. The Serbia/Bosnia/Kosovo, the first Iraq, and Afghanistan conflicts involved NATO and I think they turned out better because of it. Of course Afghanistan is not over but hopefully it will be soon. So far this Libya is limited to aircraft and rockets. I hope that it never involves any ground troops.
Well Ghadafi is sticking his foot in the ground saying it will be a long fight.
Umm, is it about Gaddafi or oil???? US, France, Britain and whoever else would not be bothered if Libya didn’t have OIL.
Only recently Britain and Scotland brokered a deal with Gaddafi to release the Lockerbie bomber in return for a massive oil deal. Call me cynical but I don’t believe any government gives a damn about “the people”.
Have you been reading the manifesto of Hugo Chavez? I know you are a Kim Jong fan, but cmon..haha
You wouldn’t see Kim Jong Il doing this 🙂 blahahahahahahahahaa
Nope Loon, just a straight suicide attack by thousand of unarmed “faithful” after a nuclear cookie was dropped…
Kim Jong is saving his missiles for South Korea.
Wait a minute, didn’t Obama win the Peace Prize a little while back? Huh.
That was for his “potential” haha
I think the US was wise in waiting for the UN to take action, but the UN should have obviously acted much much sooner. I hope it’s not too little too late for the Libyan people.
Ghadafi acted stable for too many years to the outside world. Sadly we are only now seeing his true colors.
Bringing the pain, well eventually. This is the kind of action that makes the U.S. look like a pathetic entity. Great cartoon Bearman!
Pathetic? Not sure. What is pathetic is when the rest of the world has to wait for our lead. Glad it wasn’t so in this case, no matter the underlying reasons.
Kevin Rudd? No one takes any notice of him over here
I noticed that.
The pale grey UN man is a cracking image for that ineffective place, KUTGW.
What is KUTGW???
Keep Up The Good Work.
HAND
Never in a million years would I have figured that out..haha
We are in so many wars now we are gonna need a program to remember whose side we are on. If we go to war with France Crusher want’s to re-enlist.
Maybe there is an ipad app for that.
I feel that the U.S. is doing the right thing. Controlling the world is not our responsibility. We catch hell every time we “stick our nose where it doesn’t belong”, and others say we provoke and escalate things. Let’s just let the UN sort this particular mess out on their own and see if it resolves itself.
Well it is not as if we are not involved. We just aren’t the ones carrying the torch for once.
You can bet that we will be footing most of the bill and if things go wrong we will get most of the blame. Who knows if the outcome will be even worse that things are now over there.
I’m going to tread lightly on this (military and all) but I have to say your father was right about being damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I was just talking to my own father about this and his sentiments were the same. and for me, whatever action is taken, you will never please 100% of the people 100% of the time. Whether it is for the people or for the oil, Ghadafi is a tyrant that shouldn’t be in the position that he is in.
Though we do have a history of removing “tyrants” only to have the replacement be even worse.
I’ve always been a ‘walk quietly and carry a big stick’ kind-o dude. It seems the UN typically prefers the opposite; make lots of noise then hope someone else comes across a small twig.
I’m not saying it’s wise to fly in the face of allies/other nations, just that determining action/inaction isn’t always best left to other interests, either. Unfortunately questionable motives/judgment can be promoted under any banner(s). The U.S. has made some very regrettable moves; on the other hand (not regarding Libya here) if the best choice is an unpopular one, that doesn’t necessarily make it wrong by default.
Now don’t beat me up too badly, this is admittedly a very unpopular sentiment. I’m just saying… something to consider.
🙂
I don’t beat up anyone who disagrees with me. This isn’t that kind of place.
Then again I am not sure which part you are saying is an unpopular sentiment.
Thanks, Bearman.
I bruise easily, you know. 🙂
Tell your wife to put down the whips.
I am right with you we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t do anything about what ever is going on.
true true.
Hey when the US has finished over in Libya, wannna come here and get rid of our dictator? She might be a little harder to budge!
Are you making fun of her weight??
Nice.
🙂
You missed the opportunity to put a smiley face on the door!
I miss alot of opportunities. Story of my life.
Your cartoon says it all just like a great cartoon should. Amazing how you summed it up so well and so economically.
Are you calling my work cheap??? haha
Looks like “USA” and “UN” could be the newest comedy duo!
Well individually they were doing their own comedy bit pretty well.
Armchair quarterbacks complain whatever. Go. Stop. Wait. Don’t wait. Not our job. We’re the leader. etc. I like the cartoon–makes you think and look again.
Hindsight is 20/20 as they say.
You are the only news I can understand. Thanks for clarifying about what is happening in the world.
I haven’t learned the language where I live yet so when I turn on the tv all I hear is, “bla bla bla Libya.”
I understand the language where I live and it is all just “bla bla bla Libya”
Good cartoon, as usual. To the point and funny.
But isn’t the USA part of the UN ?
Yes. But it is like when I get with the rest of my family. On my own, I can be decisive and take action. When you have to please everyone else, everything comes to a halt and/or stupid decisions get made.
i am SO SICK of the UN. they are totally useless.
I’m so sick of us being the world police.
Not that it matters, cus it’s the end of the world anyway.
Isn’t that an REM song? Or is that reference too old for you?
that is a nice picture but it does dictate reality. I hope the usa will leave libya once they finished war, it’s that simple!