Monday, March 28, 2011

Action in Libya?



  
An article that grabbed the attention of our group was one involving a poll that was taken as to whether Americans approve or disapprove of military action against Libya. After "reports that Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi had attacked Libyan forces opposed to his government", Americans were not happy that Libyans had crossed into the US no fly zone, and some suggested military action. This poll from Gallop shows that about 47% of Americans approve that military action should be taken against Libya. The strange part of the percentage however, is the difference in the approval rate versus in previous controversies. When the US was struck on 9/11, 90% of Americans, According to Gallop, supported the war in Afghanistan. According to Gallop, the polls they have taken have never had such a low turnout on the percentage of support dating all the way back to 1983. 
The economic relevance to our economy is very great. The labor that the US would have to supply would cost the United States millions of dollars. If a cost/benefit analysis were to be done by the government, they would agree with the above statement. Cost of the movement in Libya is vital to the decision we as Americans must make. We must decide whether the cost of doing what is right, is worth the benefit of the motive. If the United States had billions of dollars sitting around then the benefit would be totally worth the cost. With the economy being the way it is however, most people, I would assume, do not believe the government has enough capital to supply the soldiers with pay without increasing our deficit. Because the government’s budget is not unlimited, and is already in a large deficit, there would have to be some kind of trade off if the government were to fund any action in Libya.  Although the crisis in Libya may cause a shortage of oil and even an increase in oil and gas prices, the US government, most would say, does not have the money to pay for action in Libya. 

George Collins

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