Who Are the Libyan Rebels?

This is a really big unknown. Surfing through all of the news reports on the Libyan Civil War, the story that we would expect to see is the very one we do not. The one definite thing we know is that when the British sent in Special Forces to help the rebels, the rebels killed them.

Meanwhile, the question is what can the USA and NATO do in Libya? We've got one aircraft carrier Enterprise can provide air attacks. Amphibious ships, Kearsarge Ponce, and Bataan can provide ground attacks on the coastal cities but then what?

Another important fact is Egypt's support of implied Quaddafi (they oppose US intervention).

At the end of the day, it will be up to the rebels to win their own war. We can help but there's got to be limits.

Picture: Official Navy photo of launch of Tomahawk missle from USS Barry today. They are designating the Libyan operation, "Oddysey Dawn".

Benchley on Success

It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.

- Robert Benchley

More about Robert Benchley.

Picture: from "How to Sleep". The short film became his best-known work, and earned him an Academy Award.

Libya Fact File

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As we watch the civil war in Libya, here's a few facts to refer to.

Population 5 million

Fertility rate: 2.8

Monetary Unit: Libyan dinar (LD)
GDP: 106,000 million LD or $87,000 million US$. US GDP: $14,000 billion

International reserves: $92,507 million US

Exchange rate (LD to US$) 1.2

Libya fact: Armed forces: army 50,000 + 8,000 navy + 18,000 air force = 76,000.

My Summary:
This is a smallish power but it is still challenging. At this point, air power might not be enough to stop Quaddafi. If we send in the army, probably around 100,000 will be needed, allowing roughly 20,000 combat troops on the ground.

FDR's Fireside Chats

In his day everyone stopped to listen to the President of the United States give one of his famous "fireside chats" on the Radio. Of course, this was before television had come into use. Rush Limbaugh hadn't been invented yet, either.

Presidential radio addresses do not get the same degree of public attention as they did in Roosevelt's day. Fox News wouldn't allow it.

A couple of years ago the President was a Republican. His radio programs didn't get much attention, either. FDR's ghost wouldn't allow it.

Or maybe I'm giving ascribing too much power to Fox and FDR. MTV hadn't been invented then, either.

House Budget Chairman Summarizes National Debt

Here's a very informative article about an interview the House Budget Chairman gave on the state of the national debt and its impact upon the economy.

Police Union Threaten Businesses

In retribution for the public employees bill in Wisconsin, unions, led by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association delivered ultimatums last week to businesses (we do not know how many). Their ultimatum set a deadline of March 17 to either come out in opposition to the Republicans in their state or else suffer a boycott.

The letter also listed a number of business organizations including the Chamber of Commerce and "requested" companies to disclose their contributions to them.

What's the country coming to?

Joe Dendy Elected Cobb County Republican Chairman

Attended my first county convention in 10 years yesterday. Governor Nathan Deal spoke. A bunch of resolutions were passed. There was a right-to-life resolution which combined abortion with a whole bunch of other issues. It narrowly passed. 300+ people attended.

That’s Joe and me in the picture.