Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DC
Alaska’s Congressional delegation has concerns over the U.S. mission in Libya – and questions about the end-goal. Last night President Obama addressed the nation about his decision 10 days ago to take military action in the North African country. The U.S. and NATO are enforcing a no-fly zone over Libyan skies. While the President said NATO is expected to take over more of the operation this week, the U.S. is expending its planes, missiles, and hundreds of millions of dollars.
It’s a Republican member of the delegation, Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has the warmest words for Obama’s speech.
Murkowski says the U.S. and other leading nations can’t stand by and watch the slaughter of innocent civilians. But she has grave concerns about what happens next – and wants to make sure the U.S. isn’t mired in Libya for a long time.
Just what happens next is also of concern to Senator Mark Begich, and he says the U.S. cannot be the world’s peacekeepers and police force.
The Democrat says he has “strong reservations” about the U-S action.
The Obama Administration will make its case before Senate and House Committees later this week – and Begich expects to ask questions at an Armed Services Committee hearing.
Congressman Don Young says he has “no love of Colonel Moammar Gaddafi” and thinks the Libyan leader should have been in his words “eliminated” a long time ago. But he does not think the U.S. can afford this effort.
Young still stands behind his votes supporting the Iraq War and says Saddam Hussein was a leader that needed to be removed. He says however that the U.S. should not be in Afghanistan, and says it’s unwinnable.
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