Lindsey Graham: U.S. Should Ignore U.N. Mandate In Libya

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the United States should take a more aggressive approach in Libya to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi, bombing the capital city so members of Gaddafi’s inner circle "wake up every day wondering, ‘will this be my last?’"

Graham defended the United States' involvement in Libya, including the newly-approved use of predator drones in the country. Russia and China have accused the U.S. of overstepping a U.N. mandate against excessive force in Libya, arguing Western allies have made the situation in Libya worse.

“I like coalitions: It's good to have them, it's good to have the U.N. involved. But the goal is to get rid of Gaddafi,” Graham said on CNN’S “State of the Union.”

“A military stalemate is ensuing, and the only way I know to make this thing successful is to put pressure on Tripoli," he said. "So I would not let the U.N. mandate stop what is the right thing to do.”

Graham, who appeared on the show with senate colleagues Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), criticized the Obama administration’s actions in Libya, saying the conflict could turn to a stalemate if the United States does not take a more active role. Although the United States is still heavily involved in the conflict, NATO assumed control of military operations in March.

McCain, appearing from Cairo after a trip to Libya last week, agreed that the United States should take more leadership within NATO to prevent a prolonged conflict.

“NATO is running this by committee,” he said. “The worst thing that could happen in a stalemate. … You would open the door for Al Qaeda to come in.”

But McCain differed slightly with Graham on strategy, arguing the best way forward would be to win the battle on the ground rather than “taking a chance on taking [Gaddafi] out in an air strike.”

Lieberman, a long-time ally of McCain with respect to foreign relations, echoed McCain’s statements, adding that the United States had “a half in, half out” approach to the conflict that could give Gaddafi and his allies confidence that they can remain in power.

“Every time we pull back it says to Gaddafi that he can tough this out, and I want him to feel that we’re going to squeeze and squeeze until he’s out,” he said.

Comments

[brokerallen]

01:08 PM on 05/03/2011

The U.S. should ignore Graham.

[ALiberalKidd]

03:44 AM on 04/28/2011

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the United States should take a more aggressive approach in Libya to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi, bombing the capital city so members of Gaddafi’s inner circle "wake up every day wondering, ‘will this be my last?’"
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Why is this typical promotion of violent mob aggression by a southern racial conservative coward like Lindsey Graham even worthy of publishing?

This is the typical, life long, warmongering you would expect from a southern conservative like Lindsey Graham, who has never been in a fight in his life, and only promote war while hiding behind the bodies of naive, desperate, and unemployed American children soldiers.

[amart005]

01:12 AM on 04/26/2011

What a stupid, small man.

[Mama Zaza]

01:13 AM on 04/27/2011

True. A specimen of political, idiocracy...

[WhistlingBlade]

11:54 PM on 04/25/2011

There is NO glory in a lion killing a goat.

[rlivingston10116]

09:30 PM on 04/25/2011

We have no more right to be bombing the woohoo out of Libyans than Iraquis or Afghanis or Pakistanis or ANYBODY. Who put our idiot military in charge of the world? Eh?

[Mama Zaza]

01:01 AM on 04/26/2011

George Bush (The "W" of mass destruction) AND Barak "Bin" Osbama seem to have a thing for "spreading" democracy... These military engagements have done NOTHING but worsen the already poor economy and ruin the morale of the public by getting "bogged" down in "no win" situations...

[UncleSim]

05:16 PM on 04/26/2011

Isn't unconstitutional democracy really just another name for mob rule? Tyranny of the majority? Does such a thing really need our military support to emerge and thrive?

[pisedoff]

08:05 PM on 04/25/2011

He's one of the right wing radical Christians who will not be sated until the US leads a new crusade against Islam. BOMB BABY BOMB almost sounds like DRILL BABY DRILL. South Carolina should be proud... just sayin'

[UncleSim]

06:35 PM on 04/25/2011

Don't these seem like questions we should have been discussing before we committed forces?

[Islamionrye]

05:24 PM on 04/25/2011

Do ya think he uses Polymol or Vaseline in that hair?

[Islamionrye]

05:20 PM on 04/25/2011

Sick chipmunk!

[Greybeard53]

04:47 PM on 04/25/2011

He was for it before he was against it before he was for it, and if Obama bombs more, he'll be against it again.

You can't trust a Republican as far as you can throw a safe.

[Bat Wrangler]

03:58 PM on 04/25/2011

Graham will later use the same arguments to attack Iran. A better solution would be for Lindsey Graham to go to Tripoli, find Kaddafi humself, and beat him with his purse. I'm sure Senator Graham has an outfit somewhere, that will make Kaddafi think Graham is his buxom, Eurpoean nurse. Perhaps cherry lipstick and fishnet stocking will do the trick, Senator.

[Keyop]

03:50 PM on 04/25/2011

Lindsey shouldnt you be workin on getting a wife or are you like Liberace and just cant seem to find the right girl?

[StopMakingSense2]

03:21 PM on 04/25/2011

And once again the world realizes why it doesn't listen to Lindsey Graham. How about a war mongers kids lead the charge for once? Won't happen, they would have to quit their lobbyist jobs.

[twninja]

02:30 PM on 04/25/2011

Lets send Lindsey there!

[Mama Zaza]

01:10 AM on 04/26/2011

Saddle up Lindsey's drone...

[rod1948]

02:21 PM on 04/25/2011

Lindsey and you bleeding heart liberals think we should go in and put boots on the ground! So long as your not in the boots...

[schnauzergirl]

02:37 PM on 04/25/2011

Liberals? Sorry, but it is the republican chickern hawks and their MIC bosses that want more war, more US led action. Not the left. We would like to get out of all the wars we are currently wasting lives and money on.

[mikefina]

03:09 PM on 04/25/2011

BS. You have been virtually SILENT since the election of the mediocre escalator in 2008. And now we are MORE involved in Pakistan, Yemen, Libya, etc than ever before.

CodePinkMyAss.

[toltec998]

03:19 PM on 04/25/2011

Yeah...I think rod1948 needs to understand the definitions of Liberals and Conservatives.

[Jahbundance]

03:17 PM on 04/25/2011

You are seriously confused. Liberals and Progressives support ending the overseas defense spending. The Republicans started in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it's Obama who we look to to get us out.

[Islamionrye]

05:23 PM on 04/25/2011

..but he doesn't see us or hear us! The MIC has him by the short-hairs!