I spend a lot of time in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country. After a while it becomes painfully clear that US military actions around the world appear to be a concentrated effort against Muslims.
Shooting over 100 cruise missiles (at over a $.6 million each) into Libya is clearly an act of war. The reason for this action was to spare civilian lives. This is a pretty flimsy excuse - and the first time I have heard that excuse as a reason to go to war. Whatever happened to "Clear and present danger"? Or "Grave and growing danger"?
These were not ordinary citizens, many of them are rebel fighters fighting to overthrow the government. So there is at least a reasonable justification for Gaddafi to be fighting a no-holes-bared war against the civilians/rebels. The US doesn't have as good a reason to be killing civilians in Afghanistan.
Of course, an American President always makes sure there is a UN resolution and joint NATO partners to sort of share the blame. But on a worldwide scale the US is looking increasingly bellicose. And we are looking increasingly focused on killing Muslims.
Even if you are an intellect who understands all of the justifications for Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya, most of the population around the world does not. The US looks like it is still taking revenge against Muslims for the 9/11 attack. There really is no other easily understandable reason why we are using our incredible military strength against relatively defenseless Muslim countries.
It time we return to the "clear and present danger" criteria before we go to
war. It is also time we return to the Constitution which says that only Congress can declare war. That means we stay at home and mind our own business. And if innocent civilians are dying in Libya, well they are also dying in Sudan and other parts of Africa. Until the world becomes more advanced, a more civilized, no one is ready for global governance and no one wants the US to be judge, jury and policemen of other countries around the world.
No one likes a bully. Many Muslims around the world had high hopes that
Obama would change American foreign police from "shot, ready, aim" to a more patient, measured, and peaceful policy. Remember every Muslim we kill makes another Muslim family bitterly angry at the US. It is time we polish our image abroad if we want to play the role of gentle giant. We really are the only country on Earth that starts wars against other countries. And that is just plain un-American to the core.