Are we doing the right thing?
I say yes.
According to D.C., we are going into Libya to keep a tyranical dictator from killing innocent civilians. We are going in by invitation and with the blessings of the U.N. Security counsel. We are putting no "boots" on the ground and plan on turning over leadership of this event within days. Once we do that, we are essentially out of it.
This is not a mission to topple a government, although that is what may happen. We are not trying to aid the rebels, we are trying to protect people that cannot protect themselves.
In the end, we are doing what is right - our cause is just.
However, should this turn out to not be the case, I will be really, really pissed off. George W. went into Iraq under an umbrella of lies, trying to make his dad proud of him. He blamed WMDs and when those were found to be lacking, he said we needed to bring democracy to the Iraqi people.
"Bring democracy to the Iraqi people," as if that was a just cause.
My opinion is that if the Iraqi people had had enough, then let them change things themselves. Look what Egypt did. If the Libyans want a new government, then they should be the ones to bring about change. It is not our job to tell people how to allow themselves to be governed.
The GOP is already spouting off about how we waited too long and now appear weak to the rest of the world. The GOP either, wants to bully the world some more or, they are just trying to make us afraid. Remember, that is their mode of operation. Make us afraid and then promise to protect. They are telling us Obama makes us look week; implying that we need a leader that is not afraid to slap a few kids on the playground in order to keep the rest of the kids in line.
I say, let the GOP get back to their "tough stance" on NPR and leave world leadership to the big people.
I have a prediction about AT&T.
Gone in 5 years.
Why? They have been gone before only to have the name purchased by Cingular (who changed their name to AT&T). AT&T currently has terrible service and they plan to fix that by buying the smaller T-Mobile who has great service. History, in these matters, says the behavior of the larger company will prevail. This translates into worse service for T-mobile customers not better service for AT&T.
However, here is the real reason. In the last year, I dropped a $50 a month service charge for tethering my computer to my cell for internet access. I could do this with an App that I got for Free. I also dropped my monthly cell plan from $150 a month to $50 a month. How? I paid Skype $135 to be able to call anywhere in the world from anywhere else in the world for a year. I'm not talking video calls between computers (free). I put on a headset and call your phone. I do pay a very small charge if I'm calling a cell phone. Overall, I am saving over $1,000 a year over what I paid only a year earlier.
I'm not saving this money because the cell phone providers got more efficient. I'm saving it because there are new players in the game. AT&T is using an outdated model of gobbling up the competition so they can raise prices. The problem is, T-mobile is not the competition - the internet is.
This is a 35 billion dollar purchase. They should have called me, I wouldn't have charged half that much.
Speaking of big savings....I have a job to do.
Up, up and away.
jim
