News Flash: Libya is a Mess

CNN posted a great video today that gives an inside look to Misrata, Libya after five weeks of battle. The city looks completely torn apart, complete with bullet holes and abandoned vehicles everywhere. Watching the video reminded me of some type of level in a first-person-shooter video game. There was not anyone in the streets without a bullet-proof vest or at least a semi-automatic weapon. Footage is seen of several attacks, including one within about a 100 yards of the CNN crew. There is also footage of an rocket-propelled-grenade firing on tank from relatively close range at the 1:30 mark. CNN then visited a hospital in Misrata where many civilians were being treated. Some were being looked after with seemingly good care, but the Emergency Room was in a tent out front of the hospital and many patients are being cared for in the parking lot. Many of the civilians are victims of Colonel Qaddafi's attempt to smash the rebel uprising. Seeing so many civilians injured puts the question to mind: Is the US helping the right way? There is a large debate in Washington about our country's role in Libya. Ideally the United States and the rest of the world would like to have him out of power as soon as possible, but no one really knows how long it could actually take. One of the major problems on the table with helping free Libya is how long it would take and how much the United States would be leaned on for help for another decade or so. There are no foreign troops on the ground yet from western powers, however military officials are hinting that other countries are capable of handling the load.

Admiral Mullen replied, in an echo of Mr. Obama, that “we certainly are looking at options from not doing it to doing it,” and then added, “there are plenty of countries that have the abilities, the arms, the skill set, to be able to do this.”

Another country helping out in that region certainly wouldn't hurt the United States, as long as they are an ally or at least neutral to the us. However, if other countries are going to carry the load in Libya how much longer should the United States continue to drop money on them? After seeing the CNN video I'm thinking that the US would be better off dropping care packages and sending the Red Cross over there to help with civilian casualties rather than risking more innocent lives with air strikes. From a military standpoint, the US does not want to spread too thin. From a civilian standpoint, I would rather have the US help wounded civilians than risk creating more. Finish Qaddafi and be done with it.