Olbermann Special Comment - Libya and The 5 Second Rule

This is the first video of the former Countdown host Keith Olbermann on his new FOKNews (Friends Of Keith) blog. Some things never change, and damned well shouldn't.

http://foknewschannel.com/
siftbotsays...

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by NetRunner.

Double-Promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 6:26pm PDT - doublepromote requested by NetRunner.

Adding video to channels (News, Talks, Worldaffairs) - requested by NetRunner.

shagen454says...

It's been interesting watching how "right-wing" media have been deciphering this "illegal" war on Libya. Where were they during the "War on Terror" ? If anything is a farce - it's how "right wing" and "liberal" media pitch us up against the two-party system ; therefore upholding a two-party system. Obama is one of the best presidents in recent memory: but, and, - you know where I'm going with this.

Ornthoronsays...

>> ^GeeSussFreeK:

Roman Emperors needed to establish legitimacy of their claim to the throne via a initial, successful, millitary campaign. I see an unfortunate parallel in our own time.


This is a modern myth. The Roman Empire stopped expanding in the beginning of the second century under Trajan, and continued to exist within these borders for almost 400 more years. There were often civil wars over successions, but most emperors ascended peacefully.

dystopianfuturetodaysays...

Oh please. You and others seem to want to make this an analog of Iraq. It isn't even close. This isn't some unilateral imperialistic crusade, it's limited strategic international aid to Libyan rebels, and an attempt to limit casualties by neutering the Libyan military's air force. There is plenty of room for criticism, and the wisdom of this action is yet to be determined, but let's try to separate self gratifying hyperbole from reality. >> ^GeeSussFreeK:

Roman Emperors needed to establish legitimacy of their claim to the throne via a initial, successful, millitary campaign. I see an unfortunate parallel in our own time.

GeeSussFreeKsays...

>> ^Ornthoron:

>> ^GeeSussFreeK:
Roman Emperors needed to establish legitimacy of their claim to the throne via a initial, successful, millitary campaign. I see an unfortunate parallel in our own time.

This is a modern myth. The Roman Empire stopped expanding in the beginning of the second century under Trajan, and continued to exist within these borders for almost 400 more years. There were often civil wars over successions, but most emperors ascended peacefully.


Ascending to the throne via civil war was more the context to which I was referring. Military strength was always the way in which they maintained their legitimacy, and expressed their power. We have had 40 years of conflict, only rarely been submitted to the consent of the people. Like DT points out, it isn't exactly like Iraq, but to me, it is in all the ways that matter.

Matthusays...

My girlfriend works with troubled Inuit youths (a group filled with intense despair, but thats another story), she told me a story about why so many of the Inuits in Canada despise white people.

The story goes that awhile back, not sure when, the Canadian army came to their settlements and put down all their sled-dogs. The Canadian governments official reason was that all the dogs were rabid. But another reason some people put forth is that the government wanted to issue SIN #'s to all the Inuits, and that was very hard to do when the Inuits were very nomadic, often traveling super far, with their sleddogs, to hunt caribou. And they did issue SIN #'s shortly after.

(My gf saw pictures of the Inuits holding their dead dogs, BTW)

I'm getting to my point: After the govt massacred their dogs, they built two grocery stores and two gas stations. That's pretty sweet... But were the dogs even rabid to begin with? That's the controversy.

And so I see a lot of parallel with American Imperialism in the Middle East. The hubbub and the murmurs are about the truth behind these wars. Are we there to free repressed Libyans? Or are we there to steal their oil? Well... Maybe it's both. What's so bad about seeing an unhappy people struggle to free itself from an oppressive govt, coming to their aid, helping them to build the foundations of democracy, and then... taking a little precious oil for our troubles?

OK that's it, devils advocate out.

FUCK AMERICAN IMPERIALISM.

jwraysays...

>> ^Ornthoron:

>> ^GeeSussFreeK:
Roman Emperors needed to establish legitimacy of their claim to the throne via a initial, successful, millitary campaign. I see an unfortunate parallel in our own time.

This is a modern myth. The Roman Empire stopped expanding in the beginning of the second century under Trajan, and continued to exist within these borders for almost 400 more years. There were often civil wars over successions, but most emperors ascended peacefully.


The Roman Empire reached its maximum extent in 117, but after that they still very often had to fight around the borders to keep/retake what they had.

blankfistsays...

>> ^dystopianfuturetoday:

Oh please. You and others seem to want to make this an analog of Iraq. It isn't even close. This isn't some unilateral imperialistic crusade, it's limited strategic international aid to Libyan rebels, and an attempt to limit casualties by neutering the Libyan military's air force. There is plenty of room for criticism, and the wisdom of this action is yet to be determined, but let's try to separate self gratifying hyperbole from reality. >> ^GeeSussFreeK:
Roman Emperors needed to establish legitimacy of their claim to the throne via a initial, successful, millitary campaign. I see an unfortunate parallel in our own time.



I always hoped you'd be more of a peacenik.

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