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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Libyan stalemate is bad news for Samantha Power, Obama key advisor

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Libyan stalemate is bad news for Samantha Power, Obama key advisor

Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 05:43 PM

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The continued stalemate in Libya is not good news for Samantha Power widely seen as one of the architects of the Libyan intervention.

Power, who works with the National Security Council, has been touted as the next secretary of State if Obama is re-elected but if Libya continues to be a stalemate it will not help her case.

The Irish-born Power who moved to America when she was ten, has been an outspoken advocate of tackling potential genocide before it happens.

She can justifiably point to the fact that Benghazi in the west of Libya was about to be reduced to rubble and raped and pillaged by Ghadafi troops until the US and NATO stepped in.

But the original script went wrong from there with rebels advancing, then retreating like a bad Charlie Chaplin scene before the current stalemate.

Stalemate is not good in that corner of the world, and a leaderless state, like Somalia can soon become a breeding ground for all kinds of radicals.

That is why Power and the US government are surely pushing had right now for a negotiated solution given the clear lack of hope that the rebels can outfight Ghadaffi any time soon.

Back in America Power’s higher profile after she was singled out for pushing the Libyan intervention policy has brought problems too.

She is consistently hounded, unfairly in my opinion, as Anti-Israeli and the commotion from the right wing press is all about ensuring she never gets to take Hillary Clintons’ job as some have posited she will.

So she needs a Libya breakthrough and soon if she is to remain the point person on the issue and continue her work in combating genocide.

But Ghadaffi did not survive for over 40 years by lying down easily and he may prove willing and able to outlast even the best international efforts to oust him.

That would be bad news for Power who had reckoned the tyrant would fall before this.

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Towngate | Apr 26, 2011, 07:25 PM EDT

Speaking of 'poging thoins ~ isn't it about time Samantha Power kissed Maummar Ghadaffis and apologised to his people.

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GeorgeDillon | Apr 22, 2011, 03:58 PM EDT

"there is no t in pog mo hoin." --- You're wrong, dingo.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 20, 2011, 08:11 PM EDT

Maith=good Fear=man therefore good man you see I was being nice There is no irony in misusing "slainte"BTW there is no t in pog mo hoin. quit while your behind and pick a subject with which you're familiar with.Go neiri an le leath.

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Towngate | Apr 20, 2011, 06:15 AM EDT

Johnnymalbin: Your unwarrented aggression followed by an attempt at Aboriginal Gaelic, is what prompted my response.I notice you still do not offer a translation,all the same. Btw "Slainte" means the same as "Pog mo Thoin" when applied to you! Or do they not do 'irony' or 'humour' where you are?

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seanomelbourne | Apr 19, 2011, 08:17 PM EDT

Towngate you finished your last piece with "slainte" if that's your total vocabulary of the Irish language please cease from making a fool of yourself. I very rarely drink myself Tgate Btw temper!!temper! Why do you pick on us poor liberals?

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Towngate | Apr 19, 2011, 07:28 AM EDT

JOHNNYOUTBACK: Fine. I am quite relaxed,I assure you and I never touch alcohol -( and suggest you try to dry out sometime.) As for 'Fox'; I am aware of its reputation, but have never seen any as it is not broadcast in the civilised part of the world we live in. As for your last four words: we will have to ask you to translate ~ as we don't speak any Aboriginal languages here.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 18, 2011, 07:35 PM EDT

It's ok towngate just sit down and relax with a bottle of JD and switch on your Fox reality TV show.Maith an fear laith.

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Towngate | Apr 18, 2011, 11:39 AM EDT

COBBER-COBBLERS: If you haven't the wit to read your own post to help you understand a reply ~ you don't need clarity ~ you galaah ~ you need a brain! Kaydog1: when you've finished dealing with that moron in the White House - book a Quantas flight ~ there is another one on the loose in Oz! Slainte!

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seanomelbourne | Apr 17, 2011, 07:34 PM EDT

Lived and worked where? clarity please.

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Towngate | Apr 17, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT

SEANOMELBOURNE: In response to your unjustified attack, I would just like to inform you that I have posted very little on this subject because of my personal knowledge of the country ~ having lived and worked there ~ recent events are just too painful to contemplate. So mind your manners!

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seanomelbourne | Apr 17, 2011, 01:41 AM EDT

Kaydog all wars are immoral.

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kaydog1 | Apr 16, 2011, 01:03 PM EDT

SEANOMELBOURNE - A dazzling riposte, sir! Actually, not. I've just reviewed my posts on this topic, and they seem to be chock full of facts, none of which you've ever refuted. The facts and the timeline are all a matter of public record. Sir, calling something a lie is not the same as DEMONSTRATING that it is a lie. You say you've lived in Libya - perhaps you even made some friends there. How do these friends react to the idea that Obama is busily "saving" Libyans from Libyans by killing Libyans? I am no friend of Ghaddafi, sir, and I am a Conservative, and I find no moral authority that allows the US or NATO to simply dance in whereever they wish and start "burning young Libyan conscripts alive in their tanks" as GeorgeDillon posted. I don't ever expect much from the Left, Sean but I did expect better from YOU on this matter. Do you REALLY want the next President to feel free to place the US military just whereever he chooses? That's the trouble with precedent, Sean. I therefore repeat, this war is immoral, expensive, illogical, and unwise, and it makes for a TERRIBLE precedent.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 15, 2011, 07:50 PM EDT

kaydog and towngate never let the facts get in the way of a good lie. As one who lived in Libya and knowing how the system worked you are full of it.

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kaydog1 | Apr 15, 2011, 06:53 PM EDT

Awww, shucks.....(kicks shyly and embarrassedly at dirt clod).

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Towngate | Apr 15, 2011, 06:54 AM EDT

kaydog1 : The Sensible Voice here on this subject! The Civilised world is relying on you to go to Washington to Regime-change that Monstrous Mad-Dog Obama and his blood-thirsty Irish Bitch!

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