I was a guest on the KPBS talk show These Days this morning, discussing what options the U.S. military might have in quelling the unrest in Libya. According to the experts I spoke with before appearing on the show, the answer is very simple. We have no options.
SDSU Political Science Professor Ric Epps told me that the blowback against our military would be too great if we were to somehow become involved. We simply can't afford any more bad publicity in the region. The folks over there don't like us and don't trust us.
UCSD History Professor Michael Provence is in Germany right now, but was kind enough to email his concerns about U.S. involvement in Libyan affairs:
Do you think we should be willing to send troops into Libya? Or would it be a mistake of unprecedented proportions? Keep in mind, the only American military base in Africa is Camp Lemonier in Djibouti.
If you need a refresher of what the "Mad Dog of the Middle East" is all about (I'm quoting the Gipper on that one), take a look at a speech Gadhafi gave today to his people, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal:
