THE SEMINOLE TIMES

THE SEMINOLE TIMES

THE SEMINOLE TIMES

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U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN LIBYA

In February, 2011, protests began in Libya against Muammar el-Qaddafi and eventually led to civil war between those loyal to Gaddafi and those seeking to remove him from power.

On March 20, 2011, President Obama ordered U.S. airstrikes on the forces and artillery of Qaddafi, saying that the United States needed to stop possible human rights violations in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

Three United States B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 40 bombs on a Libyan airfield, and other aircraft from the U.S. looked for Libyan ground forces to attack. This was after the United Nations Security Council had passed a resolution to impose a no-fly zone in Libya.

In April, the U.S. gave an aid package of $25 million to Libyan rebels consisting of fuel, ambulances, medical equipment, protective vests, food, and binoculars according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

The United States has taken a much more limited role in Libya in comparison to previous conflicts. U.S. troops have not been on Libyan ground, unlike in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Obama said that the United States should “transfer responsibility to our allies and partners.” By late March, the United States handed over command of air operations to NATO. Airstrikes led by NATO have continued to aid the rebels, who have currently gained the upper hand over Qaddafi’s forces. Controversy also arose over whether President Obama had violated the War Powers Resolution, which prevents armed forces from remaining in an area for more than 60 days without approval from Congress.

However, the President claimed that he was not violating the War Powers Resolution because “U.S. operations do not involve sustained fighting or active exchanges of fire with hostile forces, nor do they involve U.S. ground troops.” On June 14, the United States House of Representatives approved a bill preventing any more funding for operations in Libya. This only allows U.S. forces to continue fighting in Libya for two months without approval from Congress.

Many Americans are concerned about the United States’ involvement in yet another conflict when it is already in the middle of an economic crisis. Junior Alanna Fagan said, “it’s nice to help and want to help, but we don’t ever really do that much good. Also, our economy is really, really horrible, and it doesn’t seem like our government is actually trying to do something about it.”

Some are also concerned that the United States should not be taking responsibility for protecting the rest of the world. Senior Allison Young is opposed to U.S. involvement in Libya, and said that “in another time, perhaps in the Reagan era, we could’ve maintained our status as international peacekeepers, but because of the army’s drain on government funds through failed weapons and communications development projects, there is no money to back our ‘good intentions.’”

However, others approve of the United States’ desire to assist other nations. Sophomore Shawn Ryals believes that the U.S. is doing the right thing by being involved in Libya, saying that the “United States government is just trying to do its best to help people in the rest of the world.”