By     Norman M. Covert  - '61 - of MD)

Not even a priest could tell me if I've committed a mortal sin in recent days. If you’ll keep confidence here in the confessional, I will admit having had impure thoughts about the rebel uprising in Libya.

Apparently I’ve morphed into a “Peacenik” because it strikes me that getting involved in Libya’s internal struggles is probably a less-than-wise projection of United States power and influence. 

I may seek counseling for this personal political revelation. It may outlast the shaky coalition unloading ordnance at Moammar Gadhafi’s home and his Soviet-era equipped Army and Air Forces. It’s a no-fly zone, I know, but who are these rebels? Genocide is one thing, but helping Radical Islam is a horse of another color.    

We have a high command SNAFU with President Barack Obama dithering in the White House. Germany has pulled out military resources and (shudder) the French are in control by default. An ally of convenience, France cancelled its military commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1965.

United States military forces are not subordinated in a unified command structure because of lessons learned in World War II. Among them Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower informed Gen. Charles de Gaulle in 1945 that he would lose his supplies and ammunition unless French troops renewed fighting on the allied southern flank west of Stuttgart. DeGaulle decided within moments  to obey.

We still question that the United States has anything to gain in the foray against Gadhafi. We have a lot to lose, especially the men and women sent in harm’s way by President Obama. He pushed the button and flew off to Rio, his leadership style.

We are still counting bodies coming out of the peace in Iraq and the quagmire that Afghanistan has become. Libya? I’m with those criticizing on the Left whom I often call “Moonbats,” a queer position.

This metamorphosis has me digging for bell bottom jeans, a Volvo or a VW Microbus. Yep, I had peace beads, given to me by the ingénues at the Girls Club when I was drafted in 1967; but that was the Vietnam War, a mere blip on American history.

I’m a well-known “Hawk.” I enjoyed the parody “Bomb, Bomb, Iran” in 1979; cheered President Ronald Reagan and his victory over communism; loved the Granada and Panama operations, which achieved objectives quickly and the troops came home; I wasn’t a zealot for the incursion to Bosnia-Herzegovina, but it seemed a worthy effort.

After attacks on our Homeland by radical Islamic groups in the 1990s, we had a sense that President Bill “Bubba” Clinton might retaliate. We were cheered by his “or else” warnings and U.N. posturing.

Then there was Sept. 11, 2001 – genuine “lock and load” time. President George W. Bush made the right decision taking leadership of the coalition that crushed despot Saddam Hussein, who was most worthy of dethroning and hanging. Our George declared victory too soon.

Saddam thumbed his nose at the world, ignored United Nations resolutions and inspections and bribed U.N. hot shots with money from the “Oil for Food” program. He was a stinker, to say the least. Remember he used chemical weapons against his own people and burned Kuwaiti oil wells in retreat? He also had CW/BW weapon systems.

My anti-war friends still ignore Saddam Hussein’s genocide, saying President Bush committed war crimes—ad nauseum.

Gadhafi is a stinker, too! President Obama apparently was complicit, urging the Scottish government to release Libyan Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber. Gadhafi was slick in that deal.

To his credit, Gadhafi has gotten along well with us and his neighbors in recent years. He did not threaten American interests in the region. For the going rate, he shared his bounty of oil. Some think he was too harsh on his own people, but that’s an internal affair, by definition.

So, why are we hurling cruise missiles at Gadhafi’s house? Why has the Obama White House decided its diplomatic “consort” must go, considering we avoided involvement in Iran, Egypt and other regional internal squabbles?

Do we have real military objectives? The U.S. commander assures us the Marine detachment will stay aboard ship and not sortie into Tripoli in a repeat of historical drama from the War with the Barbary pirates.

Is “Nation Building” our intent in Libya? The White House is sending confusing messages that are consistent with The One’s incoherent foreign policy. Calls to return the Nobel Peace Prize have been rejected.

There seems no national will to pummel Gadhafi. Obama has outlined no specific reasons why,  unlike President Bush’s detailed justification to the American People.

A majority begged President Obama to support the bloodied protesters in Iran, but he looked at the teleprompter and said we have no business getting involved in Iran’s internal affairs.

Our military forces serve as an extension of U.S. interests. President Theodore Roosevelt demonstrated American resolve by sending the “Great White Fleet” on an 18-month worldwide tour in 1907. President Obama sent himself on tour the past two years apologizing for everything American, diminishing our power and influence.

What will we do to justify our expenditure of billions if Gadhafi capitulates?

Will the United States, Britain and France assume power in lieu of Gadhafi’s exile or death?

If the coalition survives will it select a new system of government for Libya, help write a constitution and monitor free elections?

Any new power coalition in Tripoli will probably look askance at the United States of America, a development not in President Obama’s  presidential happy book.

Let’s see what Code Pink, John Kerry, SEIU and the peace movement have scheduled in protest so we can make signs and put a Hitler mustache on Mr. Obama’s image. That will teach him a lesson.

I’m not certain my HMO and cardiologist support serious rabbling by me, so here’s my “V” for peace and the fickle finger of fate.

(Published in its original form March 23, 2011 at www.thetentacle.com. Used with permission of The Octopus, L.L.C., and the author.) 

Contact Norman Covert at nmcovert77@aol.com 

   Thank you, Harry and Norm!