The League of Nations failed because it couldn't stop an international war, specifically World War II. This is a civil war, something the United Nations was never intended for and something that it's done an admirable job of stopping even though it was never intended for that.

Would suggest the above poster check his history. The league of nations did not die because it didn't stop WWII. The original poster is correct. Check out Haile Selassie and his attempt to get the gutless League to protect his country from El Duce. They did nothing and Italy swarmed over his country with tanks and guns. All they had were spears. Please study your history.

No, the League was still in existence after the invasion of Ethiopia (which was 1935). Of course it was revealed that it didn't have any way to stop Italy but the League itself still existed well into 1943 when the Allies decided to replace it with the U.N and if Germany along with other Axis-aligned states hadn't withdrawn it might have survived far longer.

Additionally you're still missing the point that the Italian invasion of Italy and the Libyan civil war are completely different situations. One was a sovereign state (and a European power) invading another sovereign state, while this is a case of a portion of the country rebelling against a recognized government. The United Nations was not formed with the intention of dealing with situations like this, it was created to stop international wars and has done a fairly good job so far.

what more can anyone expect from an illegal alien muslim president community organizer, who never held a real job in his life and who no one who grew up with him or went to school with him has any recollection of him ever being there...how strange.....

Did you read the article? Foo?

"There are difficulties"

You be so ignorant and isolated. Da billions of people in the world who struggle to live everyday couldn't give a crap about learnin bout what the Wonder Twins did to stop da Lex Luthor and Brainiac.

The difficulty is that da China, (you can call me.. master) told the administration, "We will pull the plug".

You can go to there those several websites that track our leaderships travels there recently. Course now, those Foo's at da WikiLeaks killed opensource, but I digress.

China has this problem with Asymmetric Democracy (freedom). If ya'll had traveled outside Texas, youd knows that China has a far superior, evolutionary, form of Capitalism (maken money) than any other geo-political region (places outside this here Texas). When they looks down at India (the country, not them people on out west), they see what complete Asymmetric Democracy merged with a Quasi-Capitalist system does. (say what?)

This time around, there ain't nowhere to get our Manifest Destiny on. Your screwed. It doesn't matter who is in office (temporarily kicking it in DC).

At least, if Palin was up in there, America could go out in a blaze of glory. Just sayin. WooHooo!

For an excellent "read" concerning the League of Nations as well as related events, check out Professor Margaret MacMillan's book, "Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World". It could also have been sub-titled, "How the Hubris and Arrogance of Woodrow Wilson Changed the World". At Versailles, Wilson - apparently getting confused and mistaking himself for Messiah - decided that war was no longer necessary or proper. Instead of fighting, everyone would just sit and chat. If anything has died in the Libyan desert, it's not the U.N., it's America's influence as a world power.

Years ago I worked for a man who wanted to retire. He had built a successful business and decided to name his son to replace himself. A short time later, he fired his son. When asked by the local media why he fired his son, his response was, "Well, I put a Cub Scout in a soldier uniform and expected a soldier." The U.S. has done the same with the POTUS.

The line between invasion and civil war is a bit fuzzy at times. Ethnic divisions often cause one region to believe itself to be an occupied territory instead of a rebellious province. The struggles of Russian and it's ex-colonies is an excellent example. Plus, I'm not so sure the failure of the UN to prevent the 800,000 death toll in Rwanda, despite the presence of UN troops, is anything to crow about. If the UN has blue helmets on the ground, they need to be able to act, otherwise, why bother with the expense, and why send a misleading message? And without US clarity, committment and courage (alliteration unintended) the UN is nothing but a loud cocktail party.

So perhaps you missed the point as well.

I find myself caught in the middle in this debate. I agree with Grant’s central contention that there is a significant difference between one country’s aggression against another (e.g., Italy’s aggression against Abyssinia or Ethiopia in the 1930s) and a civil war (e.g., pro-Khaddafy forces vs. anti-Khaddafy forces). I agree also that the UN was designed to deal with conflicts between one country and another, not internal conflicts.

Nonetheless, whatever its initial design, the UN does seem to have the authority to interfere in civil wars (or, more precisely, the authority to authorize its member states to interfere). Of course, just because the UN has the authority to do this does not mean it is wise to exercise such authority. But what if the US and other countries are convinced that it is in their national interest (and the interest of the country at conflict) to intervene in a civil war? In such a situation it would seem prudent to exercise the authority of the UN to interfere in a civil war.

So, for me, the key question is this: is it really in the interest of Libya, of the US, and of the world to interfere in Libya’s civil war? I am not yet persuaded that it is. Do not misunderstand me--I am not opposed to democratic governments per se--but I would rather have a (relatively) benign and contained dictator or monarchy ruling a country in the Middle East than a dictatorship of the majority that imposes Sharia law on women, gays, etc. Put another way, I am concerned about unintended consequences. True, Khaddafy is no saint, but Libya could end up with a worse government than his if the world imposes democratic government on Libya.

"Additionally you're still missing the point that the Italian invasion of Italy ..."

I went to public school but I'm quite sure that the italians never invaded Italy.

I was actually going to write "and the successful defeat of Ethiopian forces by the Italians" but then I accidentally deleted what I had written and had to redo it quickly. Just another reason why journal articles are better than comments.

Also, initially the opinions on intervention presumed that observers would be sent to monitor agreements made by two sovereign states. If you looked at the wars of the 19th century up to to 1945 you probably would have assumed that most wars in the future would also be between states. Not many people had any idea that civil wars would be so prevalent. In any case the idea of peacekeeping forces was first used by the U.N during the Suez Canal Crisis and was suggested by a diplomat.

In short,
1. Hillary is setting herself up as a decisive leader for her future.
2. The U.S. is now distracted from the true threat: the radioactive particles blowing in.

# 1. Hillary's Moment

Clearly there was a perfect window of opportunity a week and a half ago to step in to do this job. Gaddafi left the country and the rebel forces were inches from victory and called in for help finishing the task. Hillary, the Obama Administration, and the world stood by watched as Gaddafi bought off foreign mercenaries and walked back into his power villan status.

Why? The same reason Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf conquered Iraq and walked away from Saddam. It wasn't yet time to cash in on the crisis. Who wants to watch a movie where the hero wins in the beginning? Manufacturing heroic leadership means defeating the villan only after he poses a horrible threat.

Hillary has announced she will not do this next term and had done nothing significant or memorable as Sec of State so far. Two weeks ago citizen uprisings were still sprouting up and BP's Libya was just another headline. Neither the media nor the public demanded US intervention. Gaddafi was allowed to slither back into his throne because there was no memorable show to be had for Hillary. Hillary was given this part on the stage. She is being introduced as the decisive leader for her legacy. Later in act 3, 5, or 7 she will run for President and say "I dared to defy Obama and the world's indecision for the sake of democracy and the people!"

# 2. A Necessary Diversion

Once upon a time it was normal to "be prepared". After 9/11 anthrax stories gripped the headlines for months. During this time Americans learned about Cipro and how to recognize and properly address the rare but scary white powder. Also thanks to 9/11 we were told it was not a matter of if but when we would see an E.M.P., suitcase nuke, or dirty bomb go off. We were taught about how terrible radio active fallout is. The dirty bomb scenario was shown to over and over by the news, in 'Popular' magazines, and in prime time drama shows like 24. It seemed back then radioactive particles were dangerous.

That threat is not supposed to matter anymore. MOX plutonium was used and warehoused at Fukushima's 3rd reactor. Now, 5 days later, the jet stream has brought Japan's nuclear nightmare particles to my front door. I guess Dick Cheney was right about it only being a matter of time.

Today the media has shifted it's attention away from Japans mega disaster towards Libya. The news of a single French jet has firing on a Libyan vehicle and Hillary's couple of cruise missiles have somehow become more important than our allies mega disaster and our own toxic question mark.

We have been reassured that we don't need to worry....AT ALL. In fact preparing for fallout is DISCOURAGED. Don't buy iodine we are told. It has been reported that the radiation being detected on west coast represents only 'one billionth' of an increase in normal levels. Simply preparing for the current situation is considered paranoid behavior.

Yesterday in Japan the Managing Director of Fukushima's parent Tokyo Electric broke down in tears during a press conference. He sobbed and admitted the situation was deadly and that 3 per cent of the fuel in three of the reactors at the Fukushima plant had been severely damaged. We know that most likely includes melted rods and the buildings are still too dangerous to physically enter. We know that MOX rods are exposed to the open air.

In short, the Fukushima disaster has the full potential to drop MOX plutonium on the USA and now we are under heavy distraction rather than being offered basic advice for avoiding the fallout. Somewhere it seems to have been decided that pausing to focus on public safety is poses a risk to America's overall interests. Libya is providing the necessary diversion.

See he can make a decision!
We pressed him into cowboying us into yet another war... Three fronts!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Keep the pressure on, there are still more places we can invade for humanitarian reasons, the WMD thing didn't play nearly so well. We'll get this fixed in 2012.

Excellent points on the ham stringing of the UN.

This is what the world gets from the political party that decried unilatteralism during the Bush years. And so after being left hanging holding the bag for the majority of the heavy lifting in Iraq and Afghanistan you wonder why the US is not taking the lead. Besides, the current president was highly pushed by the Europeons during his campaign as the guy. Big mistake.

I just ran an algorithm through the interwebs, mining threads, to find who was to be blamed for this so-called amateurism.

Answer: George Washington. (IBM)

So Europe has to do the heavy lifting and paying this time. No token show of force, I'll bet that is confusing! It will be interesting to see if you can handle the job. My money is on-not!

This poster is projecting his realization that guess what? The world doesn't need ya'll.

Let me make it clear. Even though, you had to look up the word "innovation" on wikipedia after you pretended not to watch the last State of the Union, you stil didn't get it.

Ya'll outsourced the farm, the horse, the barn, your own daughter. Your mental model of the world, guess what? It don't be reflecting reality. Nobody cares about you, your thoughts, you inherited birth right.

Do you really think, that, as you sit on the puter, as one of those from the largest "weight challenged, biggest consumption" country in the world, that you stand a chance against the skills coming out of the back alleys of Bangalore? Laughin, imagine you and your friends pretending to be one of the founding fathers. LOL. Last time I checked, in the real world, your Guitar Here skills would only mark you as having skills and making yourself look like you are having a seizure.

Welcome to reality...

Interesting indeed. If by interesting you are referring to the UK letting the lockerbee bomber AKA Megrahi out of a life long prison sentence and sent home to Gadaffi for a sweet heart oil deal then I agree.

They want to put a stop to the destruction of the infrastructure because, in Gadaffi's play book he will burn all the oil fields if he thinks he is losing. Watch it happen.

France also has interest in Libya .

I agree with the assessment that the US is simply task saturated as it stands to get into a long operation (like supporting a no flyzone forever) . Obama is an Arab so he will have a hard time appearing very tough with his brothers.

It is pretty obvious Clinton is tired of Obama on this issue.

While many posts are insightful and some are even enlightening, I've got two words to almost all posters ... SPELL CHECK. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing with proper English and spelling. Now, get back to solving the world's problems.

If you consider Obama is a trojan horse, groomed by Arab interests and money, and put in position by shadowy Middle Eastern entities there is no mystery in his inaction. Remember, he is a closet muslim, a person dedicated to the dismantling of America as we knew it, born in the African continent. His true masters in the Middle East find it contraproductive for American military action in Lybia at this time. Consider: Al Qaeda would love nothing better than to acquire control of oil-rich Lybia. For our military to stop the chaos would hinder the established of Al Qaeda in Lybia. So Obama's masters tell him to take no action at this time.

Elections have consequences. And in this case fools in America of elected an enemy of the state as president.

his election and his supreme court appointments will cause untold damage the country for many many many years to come in fact america may never recover from this tragic mistake

Big props to this post.

His behavior is the same as when he was in the Senate, except more expensive vacations at tax payer expense. " Present" if not on vacation.

sorry for the typos. On my iPhone.

America is currently AWOL while rabble-rousing at home. It's sad that so much damage is being done across the globe which changes much and cannot easily be undone. Hopefully things will be better after the elections in 2012.

Can't you see that we are too busy printing money? Let's also compare notes on what everybody understood by "fundamentally changing America". America is currently being run by a Social Secretary, who is a little light in his loafers, and the priorities are now 'picking the brackets of the basketball tournament, taking in the sights in Brazil, crab or lobster, picking Michelle's shoes and purses, and other stuff like this. Ok?

If anyone took the time to connect the dots here , Khadafi. Obama , screwy Louie , nation of Islam , Rev Wright no of this would be a mystery at all.

no one takes the time to look at anything americans have become a bunch of doped up retarded halfwits on the dole and addicted to dope booze mtv and rap music, just the way obuma and his henchmen want them, dumb em down dope em up and mold like putty... it seems hopeless ...

Temper Bay

Well said...

Sir, this is a revisionist post.

Andrew Jackson, the party-boy, is no longer in office.

Amen!

I am a naturalized American citizen, Norge born and so ashamed of Norway for giving this fraud the Peace Prize.

Unlike you I only know where my family and I stand on the subject of Libya. We are against US involvement and we are extremely tired of the collective Euro nations as well as the rest of the world wanting to rely on the US to solve their problems. It is time that the French, Brits, Germans et al stand on their own feet and make the necessary decisions regarding Libya and the rest of the Middle East that is in turmoil. Moreover, if I were president I would withdraw all the troops currently stationed abroad. I never hear that any of them are deployed to Afgha nistan to die, so what are they doing? BTW I am not a leftie, definitely not an Obama supporter but I am tired of wasting money in wars for ungrateful, America hating masses.