Quote Originally Posted by Chubminnow View Post
How come we can't say to the U.N.; "Ok, look here fella's....the United States has a cripling economy that still isn't hitting on all eight cylinders yet, we're kind of broke, we're kind of on hard times ourselves. But tell you all what...you all go ahead and lead the charge and if worse comes to worse we'll have your backs, we'll come and help out if needed."
That actually did happen...

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2...3348000351.txt

In announcing the mission during a visit to Brazil, President Barack Obama said he was reluctant to resort to force but was convinced it was necessary to save the lives of civilians. He reiterated that he would not send American ground troops to Libya.

“We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy,” he said in Brasilia.

It was clear the U.S. intended to limit its role in the Libya intervention, focusing first on disabling or otherwise silencing Libyan air defenses, and then leaving it to European and perhaps Arab countries to enforce a no-fly zone over the North African nation.