Updated: Sat., Mar. 12, 2011, 1:46 AM O's urgent inaction By JOHN PODHORETZ Last Updated: 1:46 AM, March 12, 2011 Posted: 10:20 PM, March 11, 2011
The White House is worried: The Libyan crisis and the general instability in the Middle East have led to spiraling gas prices. The president wanted to show the American people he knows it's a problem.
So he staged a press conference yesterday, and he basically said he's going to do . . . nothing.
He's not going to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He's not going to authorize more drilling to reduce American dependency on foreign oil because, first of all, we're already doing more drilling -- and, second of all, we can't drill our way out of the problem.
And, by the way, he said, what he could do he already did. He supported legislation at the end of the year that extended the Bush tax cuts. That deal put more money in the pockets of Americans, and now they can spend those extra dollars on gas!
And what about doing something to help resolve the Libyan crisis in a way that might calm the oil markets? Oh, we are, we are! For example, we got our embassy personnel out of there. And we are making it clear to Khadafy that the "world is watching," because, as we know, the Libyan maniac is very concerned about his global Gallup numbers.
Khadafy must be quaking in his boots to hear that the president "has organized a series of conversations about a wide range of options that we can take." A series of conversations -- now there's something to strike fear in the heart of a merciless, murderous, monstrous dictator out to crush a rebellion.
But not to worry, America, we are "slowly tightening the noose" around Khadafy. This must be coming as news to Khadafy -- since militarily he's in better shape than he was five days ago. And not just militarily: Far from sounding more resolute yesterday, the president seemed to be signaling that he is prepared for Khadafy to remain in power.
Last week, the president said flatly that "Khadafy must go." At yesterday's press conference, he called Khadafy's departure "the desired outcome from our point of view." There's a world of difference between those two phrases.
And by expressing support for his director of national intelligence, James Clapper, who said the other day that Khadafy "will prevail," Obama made it clear to Khadafy that he doesn't consider the Libyan leader's downfall the central goal of our policy.
Way to tighten that noose!
Even better, NATO is going to meet on Libya . . . next Tuesday. Evidently, the crisis is not so pressing that the diplomats might have thought to gather a little sooner. They probably don't need to, because they're already having those wonderfully organized conversations.
Besides, who knows? Some Libyan rebels may even still be alive by Tuesday! And if they are, they might get somewhere, apparently, since the president offered the observation that "the rebel groups are just now getting organized."
Oh, really? Seems like the rebels had control of large swaths of the country last week and are on the verge of losing the ground they gained, owing to the Khadafy onslaught we have done nothing to forestall or prevent.
This was not a good press conference for the president. It was pointless. His responses in the Q&A were endless -- in transcript, one answer was 1,385 words; another, 1,114.
In their proxility and lack of clarity, his minifilibusters revealed something deeply troubling: an incapacity to formulate and execute policy in response to unforeseeable circumstances.
That glaring failure of leadership should be worrying even to those who believe he's been a good president thus far.
OIL DOESN'T FILL GAS TANKS......refined oil does.....if it's that important then declare war or let the folks continue their revolution in 'peace'...it's their nations soul they fight for.....let them do it on their own.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
You need crude oil to refine to gas. Gaddafi murdered Americans on Pan Am and Marines at a Berlin disco. We have a chance to get rid of him for once and for all and Where's Waldo? Someone call the Washington golf club for his latest statement. Can't ever pull the trigger?
Another economic sanction-that worked wonders in Iran. Fire 10 Cruise missile into his tent and be done with it. Disgusting to hear the apologists for incompetence. Who's worse, Clapper, Hilarious Hillary or Obama?
Saudi Arabia has world class Jet fighters... as good as ours. The USA bailed out Kuwait in the first gulf war... they also have a modern Air Force and could easily take on the Libyan air force. Even Israel, who's bombed just about every other Arab Nation... could for once do some good and enforce a no fly zone.
The Arab world has the most to gain by a free Libya, yet the world expects the USA to do it's fighting and dying.
Americans are dying in Iraq and in Afghanistan... NOT ONE MORE AMERICAN LIFE... NOT ONE! Screw em! Let the rest of the world handle this one. There is no reason that the USA has to be involved in any way.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Saudi Arabia has world class Jet fighters... as good as ours. The USA bailed out Kuwait in the first gulf war... they also have a modern Air Force and could easily take on the Libyan air force. Even Israel, who's bombed just about every other Arab Nation... could for once do some good and enforce a no fly zone.
The Arab world has the most to gain by a free Libya, yet the world expects the USA to do it's fighting and dying.
Americans are dying in Iraq and in Afghanistan... NOT ONE MORE AMERICAN LIFE... NOT ONE! Screw em! Let the rest of the world handle this one. There is no reason that the USA has to be involved in any way.
Spoken like a True Vietnam patriot.
I'm really surprised you didn't run for Canada Tom, or maybe you did and just weren't fast enough?
The Arab League is for the no fly zone. Even they have had enough of this butcher. No US troops have to be involved. Take out the remains of the Libya Air Force and the butcher of Tripoli with cruise missiles. What about the Marines blown up in Berlin? The problem is the left/Obama refuse to do anything but blather. They talk a good game. Saying let the freedom fighters do it is not an option.
Saudi Arabia has world class Jet fighters... as good as ours. The USA bailed out Kuwait in the first gulf war... they also have a modern Air Force and could easily take on the Libyan air force. Even Israel, who's bombed just about every other Arab Nation... could for once do some good and enforce a no fly zone.
The Arab world has the most to gain by a free Libya, yet the world expects the USA to do it's fighting and dying.
Americans are dying in Iraq and in Afghanistan... NOT ONE MORE AMERICAN LIFE... NOT ONE! Screw em! Let the rest of the world handle this one. There is no reason that the USA has to be involved in any way.
Gotta agree with you and Senders this is not our battle or our job to free Libya. If we push for a no fly zone that is an act of war on our part and you can bet there won't be a declaration of war passed by congress to do so. The best thing we can do is nothing but be a example of what freedom can look like if they fight hard enough for it, if they believe enough in the cause the people of Libya can succeed.
Those who think a no fly zone comes without danger is wrong. It will take military action to enforce it and that includes bombing ground targets and possibly any jets who are forced to try to stop the no fly zone from taking place. Other countries wish to see this in place but how many are going to step up and put their money and blood where their mouth is, probably none but they will look at us and expect us to risk our money and soldiers lives for this. Like you said Box A Rox screw them.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
I'm really surprised you didn't run for Canada Tom, or maybe you did and just weren't fast enough?
MT, you have no idea do you?
MT would never miss a chance to kill a few Americans in some lame a$$ war. Lets invade some country... it's good for US Business! ( but it's Fatal for American troops).
MT, I am an American Patriot, weather you like it or not. I actually care that American troops are dying daily in bloody conflicts that most Americans would rather not even acknowledge.
MT and his kind love to DONATE OTHER PEOPLES SONS TO A WAR... ANY WAR. It gives him that macho he man Rambo feeling, with out actually having to risk his own skin.
MT, if you're so anxious to send Americans to die for your cause, the least you can do is LEAD THE WAY!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
I believe in war.....I also believe in other countries ability to do whatever it is they need to do to raise their own standard...I dont feel sorry for soldiers they chose where they wanted to be and I applaud them for it.....but when we cant/wont/dont declare war and go around handing out Hershey bars and Disney movies to the locals---it shows no backbone and no goal....I'm no statesman but it really is getting old this 'police friendship' crap.....
give me a reason and a goal and a declaration.....no huggin' and no kissin' till you make me your wife......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Then why did Obama make his great pronouncements that Quaddafi must go? If you want to be everyone's friend fine-but then don't make any statements. Quaddafi has correctly calculated that he has a few weeks before anyone does anything to annihilate his own people.
Obama made his statements and then went golfing. No backup-no support-no nothing. There are now 2 examples. Egypt where you listen to Obama and get toppled and Libya where you listen to no one and cling to power. You can't fight an idea with brute force.
Oil production under Obama is higher now than over the past 10 years. Supply is not the problem, it's speculation. Also, only 3% of the oil supplies in the world are managed under the futures market. This enables large banks like Goldman Sachs (who drove up the price last time) to manipulate the market with less money than they spend on bonuses every year.
Oil production under Obama is higher now than over the past 10 years. Supply is not the problem, it's speculation. Also, only 3% of the oil supplies in the world are managed under the futures market. This enables large banks like Goldman Sachs (who drove up the price last time) to manipulate the market with less money than they spend on bonuses every year.
Interesting to note that gasoline under Obama has risen by 67% as compared to 7% under GWB at the same time period in their admins. Yes, Obama has the middle east tensions, but Bush had 9/11.
There was a spike period of gas increases during Katrina but that was truly legit because the delivery pipelines and refineries were shut down. Of course, any incident resulting in gas price increases during the Bush admin was blamed on his Oil Buddies..funny how there's silence now.
In the end, speculation, which has been mentioned before and the fact we are NOT the center or the world and a global demand does more to effect the price of oil than politics or strife.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Oil production under Obama is higher now than over the past 10 years. Supply is not the problem,
Speculation isn't the problem; speculators are a result of the Federal Reserve turning on the printing presses. Derivatives and Hedges are created as a market stabilizer limiting the huge ups and downs of market trading for market participants. With the daily trading of the world currencies, legitimate market hedging turns into all out casino style speculation. When the Fed floods the market with Dollars (which is the world currency) - speculators gamble on the value and exchange rate of the traded dollar which ultimately affect commodity prices.
The Fed forces inflation by printing a$$ loads of Dollars - oil doesn't necessarily cost more, but rather the U.S. dollar is worth less.
Speculation and arbitrageDerivatives can be used to acquire risk, rather than to insure or hedge against risk. Thus, some individuals and institutions will enter into a derivative contract to speculate on the value of the underlying asset, betting that the party seeking insurance will be wrong about the future value of the underlying asset. Speculators look to buy an asset in the future at a low price according to a derivative contract when the future market price is high, or to sell an asset in the future at a high price according to a derivative contract when the future market price is low.
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Logged
You need crude oil to refine to gas. Gaddafi murdered Americans on Pan Am and Marines at a Berlin disco. We have a chance to get rid of him for once and for all and Where's Waldo? Someone call the Washington golf club for his latest statement. Can't ever pull the trigger?
