Quote Originally Posted by Bob's World View Post
This is what happens when we decide to out-compete AQ and similar non-state actors as the "De Oppresso Liber" force.
I thought the Libyan rebels were the "De Opresso Liber" force, and we're just helping them out. That works and is a reasonable idea, IMO, as long as we don't decide to take over as the "De Opresso Liber" force.

Assisting people striving for liberty is a good thing, within the bounds of national interest and reasonable caution. Trying to initiate that struggle in another country... not such a good thing, and likely to make a huge mess.

Agree that "maintaining friendly dictators" is bad business, but a lot of today's friendly dictators - notably the Saudis, Kuwaitis, Qataris et al - do not depend on us and are not subject to our influence in any significant degree. Imagining influence we haven't got is risky, acting on that fantasy is downright dangerous.