Rising military budgets

[Umfriend]

Why and how only Libya? What bout Egypt, Yemen, KSA, Iran etc. etc. etc.? The whole ME, Persian gulf and North Africa are practically burning.

I understood BE to argue about the actions taken w.r.t. Libya only. Anyway, I don't see the relevance of the USSR 45-90 when discussing the ME either. Alternatively, why are the UN and NATO intervening in Libya when they did not in South Africa? I'd say that comparison makes more sense.

But it is all OT anyway and may be debated in the P&R forum.

The question whether military spending causes more/better economic growth than increased spending on health care, education, infrastructure is an interesting one. The analysis is not that easy as military spending, as Doc pointed out, directly affects the level of health care (to soldiers and R&D), education, infrastructure and R&D so the alternatives are not strictly mutually exclusive in consequence. Arguably, there may be large differences between countries as I would expect many to be consumptive in nature as opposed to investive. E.g. I would expect Dutch or Cyprian military expenditure to effect domestic R&D, infrastructure and manufacturing far less as compared to the US, China and France.

[TransformX]

It is not possible to justify interference in a sovereign state's internal affairs, however they are conducted. Let them get on with it, their comeuppance will arrive from within in due course. It is this interference that CREATES conflict and this is worse because it is so selective (economic much more than humanitarian).

Will this be your statement if another holocaust/ethnic cleansing/whatever starts? Let them butcher a few hundred thousands of people, who cares?

“Indifference to Injustice is the Gateway to Hell.” - Harriet Feigenbaum

[TransformX]

The question whether military spending causes more/better economic growth than increased spending on health care, education, infrastructure is an interesting one.

People, being people, will always want to kill someone or something. You can be educated, enlightened and whatever and still or even because of that, someone will want you dead.

[Brian Ellis]

Will this be your statement if another holocaust/ethnic cleansing/whatever starts? Let them butcher a few hundred thousands of people, who cares?

“Indifference to Injustice is the Gateway to Hell.” - Harriet Feigenbaum

If there were no economic interest involved, this is exactly what DOES happen, so why are we hypocritical enough to intervene only if there IS an economic interest, especially OIL/GAS? cf. Zimbabwe, Somalia, Chad, DRC, Kurdistan, Gaza and many others.

[Dr Mordrid]

If this crew uses the R2P doctrine again it will be in Syria because of the big troubles arising there this week, hoping as a side benefit to disrupt Hezbollah's supplying arms & logistics to Gaza, Lebanon and their terror groups in South America.

Not saying it makes sense or would work, I have my doubts, just saying....

BTW: on the "no American boots on the ground" front, news reports today say that as this started Obama signed an Executive Finding and Order allowing "covert" action by US forces.

Read that as the go-ahead for the involvement of SOCOM, the US Special Operations Command - Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Green Berets etc. on the ground.