2.27.11 Libya - U S Policy Choices

Hey Barry:

UPDATES 2.27.11

Maybe too loudly, but Clinton says US reaching out to Libyan opposition groups in east of country. US needs to be careful - not seen as meddling. Read it here:

http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=14149682

Gadhafi forces abandoning Tripoli:

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/02/26/139272.html

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OK, I know y'all aint askin, but here's my two cents about what we - the good ol US of A - oughta be doing in all the Mid-East countries, starting now.

First, let's just realize that as you read this hundreds of people are dying and bleeding from gunshots in a whole bunch of countries.

Most of the people bleeding and dying are young, well-read kids. They are just like we were a long time ago, say in about 1776 or thereabouts.

All they are asking for is a chance to create a just place where they can live in peace and have a say about their government. And, whenever they get the chance as it appears in Benghazi, they are doing just that.

The folks doing the shooting are mostly old, rich and corrupt. They are the kind of folks that we tossed out of our country.

Question is: whom do we want to side with? Cuz, Barry, we gotta choose sides, aint no way round it. If we say nothing then we is supporting the old corrupt folks against the young folks.

And, if we speak out about how good are the young people, then we are choosing revolution instead of order and stability.

What we can NOT do is send in American troops - that will just prop up the old fogeys.

Here's what we should do, Barry: Keep quiet and choose the young. We choose the young by sending in some real quiet folks who can speak the language and encourage them to develop new government structures. Part of that job is to watch for and corral the few who want to take over the energy and push it in the wrong direction. It can be done quietly, Barry.

And, maybe we can send in some folks who are good at revolutionary tactics. I'm sure hoping we have some of them Barry - we need them now. And, maybe some better weapons, Barry. I do not want to stand in a street and call out Ghadafi with a shotgun - he has .50 cal machine guns and .50 cal sniper rifles that he is using now. It's not fair.

If that is not possible because the old, corrupt folks have too much power, then we gotta lean on the old fogeys real hard. Barry, when I say 'lean on them', I do NOT mean we should 'encourage them to offer reforms.'

What I mean is that we say - in private, mind - 'Make the changes on this list and allow the young folks some of what they want, or you will be gone.' Then, we gotta mean that.

Make no mistake, the US of A cannot choose the old fogeys in all these countries. If we do that, we'll be choosing the past and the world will pass us by even faster than it is doing now.

We gotta choose the future, Barry. We just gotta chose it quietly and effectively.

Your pal,