World

General: Because of Stalemate in Libya, U.S. May Send in Ground Troops

Though President Obama has repeatedly said that there will be no U.S. ground troop presence in Libya, and though Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also made it clear there will be no American ground troops there “as long as I am in this job,” one Army general said that the U.S. may consider that option nonetheless.

CBS news:

The United States may consider sending troops into Libya with a possible international ground force that could aid the rebels, according to the general who led the military mission until NATO took over.
Army Gen. Carter Ham also told lawmakers Thursday that added American participation would not be ideal, and ground troops could erode the international coalition and make it more difficult to get Arab support for operations in Libya.

Ham said the operation was largely stalemated now and was more likely to remain that way since America has transferred control to NATO.

General: Because of Stalemate in Libya, U.S. May Send in Ground Troops

He said NATO has done an effective job in an increasingly complex combat situation. But he noted that, in a new tactic, Muammar Qaddafi’s forces are making airstrikes more difficult by staging military forces and vehicles near civilian areas such as schools and mosques.

The use of an international ground force is a possible plan to bolster rebels fighting forces loyal to the Libyan leader, Ham said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Asked if the U.S. would provide troops, Ham said, “I suspect there might be some consideration of that. My personal view at this point would be that that’s probably not the ideal circumstance, again for the regional reaction that having American boots on the ground would entail.”

Read the full story.

Comments (128)

  • Silat
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:03pm

    This is to pay back the European nations for helping the USA in Iraq and Afghanistan. We receive 0 energy from Libya. But our allies need help in securing their energy source.
    Tit for tat!

    Report Post »  
  • I SPY
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:59pm

    He never said “Soros says”.

    Report Post » I SPY  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:56pm

    I know that this will never happen because our President said that we would not send in ground forces. Besides, why would we send in troops to help al quida members, remember those guys who want to destroy the United States, attack kadafi? Where is our national interest in putting ground forces in Libya? This is just to crazy to believe that anyone in their right mind want to do that?

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • andthepointis
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:48pm

    agreed!

    Report Post »  
  • MidwestConservativeCoalition
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:48pm

    You know hwat I find interesting…the lack of Media Matter’s trolls in this thread…they are all over the Beck leaves Fox new’s threads….but oddly silent in this thread.

    Come on Fellas! Obama lied, people died! Racist! Unjust! Illegal War! This is what democracy looks like! Left wing hate machine! No blood for oil!

    The hypocrisy knows no bounds!

    Report Post » MidwestConservativeCoalition  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:44pm

    they better not.. enough is enough.. this is absolute insanity and they say gaddaffi is crazy.. hey obama.. look in the frigging mirror .. oh I have so much to say that is best not said in polite company… (&*^(^(*&^*&^*(&(&*%^%$^$%$##$#%(*)(_)(_(+_( and then some..

    Report Post »  
  • Gail
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:43pm

    That would be a HUGE mistake! Please……no!

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:34pm

    The communist in chief is a man made disaster lies lies lies,that’s all we hear from this moron.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:32pm

    No!NO!NO!no!NO!no!NO!

    Somebody, with the money, get planes and go over there (Iraq/Afghanistan), pick up our troops and weapons and bring them home.

    NOW!

    Report Post »  
    • Grandmadar
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:38pm

      I have been saying for 2 yrs. that B.O just wants to leave our troops over there so they won’t be here. He doesn’t care about them. And he sure doesn’t know how to be Commander in Chief. Does he even know how to do anything? Besides agitate?

      Yes, if we could have people with planes and money, I too say, BRING THEM HOME!

      Report Post »  
  • kissmyazobama
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:29pm

    Everyone knows that NATO is all but worthless. Everyone knows you can’t win a conflict without ground troops. Everyone knows that except Obozo and his minions……..what a complete idiot.

    Report Post » kissmyazobama  
  • Mobmember42
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:28pm

    Well at least he will lose more of his liberal base. I guess that’s good news.

    Report Post »  
  • dcwu
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:27pm

    What for? Targets?

    Report Post »  
  • teaparty teamster
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:26pm

    After 20+ years in the military, now retired, and I was not going to receive a paycheck to support my family, I would not fight. To hell with the adgenda of those who do not care about the rest of us. NO PAY, NO FIGHT!!! The three branches of government can grab a gun and take the place of our fighting men and women. EVERYONE withing the three barnches of government make me want to puke!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Rob
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:24pm

    When can Obama get his next Nobel Prize for Peace?

    Report Post »  
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:23pm

    Camp Lejeune Marines were sent there two weeks ago. They are already there. They just need to replace their tennis shoes with boots so the Commi in Chief isn’t lying.

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
    • NSDQ
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:47pm

      just like 94 when I was never in Haiti, pfft hate this damn oligarchy.

      Report Post » NSDQ  
  • hiramsmaxim
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:23pm

    WHO IN THE HELLL appointed this moron. LMTUW his a$$ goes in numero uno !

    Chubby illusionist politically influenced officers to front and center.

    Report Post » hiramsmaxim  
  • xcblur
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:21pm

    You know when he specifically says they won’t do something, they actually do…

    Report Post » xcblur  
  • Islesfordian
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:18pm

    Delightful. So Obama has gotten America into a situation where we can choose between the humiliation of defeat or another ground war in a Muslim country.

    Report Post » Islesfordian  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:17pm

    Another huge mistake, Obama is not a War Hawk and we can not do another war especially with a dumb-a$$ for a leader.

    Report Post »  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:29pm

      That would imply that we ever could do war.

      Our latest engagements aren’t exactly known for their good planning.

      Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:16pm

    Here we go again. I thought the Traitor in Chief was against war.

    Report Post » ares338  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:27pm

      He may or may not be, depending upon whether it benefits him or not, sorta like yes and no, taxes will or will not be raised.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • jackeric61
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:29pm

      Only in Iraq. Seems all other wars are still on the table. I.‘m not saying he will go to war and I’m not ruling it out either. Sound familiar

      Report Post »  
  • ladyda
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:16pm

    “Death by a thousand cuts”

    Report Post » ladyda  
  • BigPaulie
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:15pm

    Wonderful. Obama is a complete disaster. Why can’t we recall this fool?

    Report Post »  
    • texanpatriot
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:37pm

      We can – we have about 18 months until he gets shown the door. We must not lose focus…

      Report Post » texanpatriot  
  • MidwestConservativeCoalition
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:15pm

    Racist! Unjust! Illegal War! Bush lied, people died!

    (Oh wait…that’s only if the president is a republican…nevermind.)

    Humanitarian effort! Kinetic Military Action! Yay! This is what democracy looks like!

    Report Post » MidwestConservativeCoalition  
  • Showtime
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:15pm

    The (Oh, I wish I could remember what someone called the usurper in the White House on the Blaze yesterday!) usurping foreign national should be arrested or impeached. Enough is enough!

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:23pm

      @Showtime:

      Call this only a feeling yet I have a hunch that God’s providence will soon be shown mightily and there will be a accounting called upon the leadership in DC who have dealt falsly for so long. What or how it would be is unknown to me, it is more of a feeling from above…nothing more.

      We need to pray, watch and wait.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:23pm

      Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Grandmadar
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:32pm

      @Snow… Something needs to happen and I also feel that something IS going to happen soon. Sometimes I don’t exactly know how to pray but Know that God is in control.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:43pm

      @Grandmadar:

      I honestly hope and pray the hunch is wrong, almost all of my gut and instincts scream the event of judgment will begin or happen on the weekend. There is a window almost closed, and it centers about the ending of tommorow night.

      I hope and pray again, that, for once I am completely wrong.

      May God’s providence and miraculous ways shine unto the world and this land, for her restoration and His will to be carried forth by His people, who are called by His name, wherever and whoever they be.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Showtime
    Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:13pm

    “Though President Obama has repeatedly said that there will be no U.S. ground troop presence in Libya, …”

    His lips were moving.

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:21pm

      And we should have believed Obama? The simple fact is most of us have been expecting it, just a matter of when, not if.

      Saudi Arabia is tightening relations with Russia and China, the communist party of Iraq is moving itself into the politics of the region to be in a greater position when the troops finally (if ever) are pulled out…and now we may have troops going into Libya.

      Remember yesterday a man in Holland appears to have torched himself in protest over matters, just as one man in Tunisa set this whole mess in the middle east on fire.

      Anyone wish to guess the next move?

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:24pm

      He needs to break the military, or faith of the military and the American people.

      Wonder how long until we start slamming the Ivory Coast to peices.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:26pm

      And another war without any semblance of an exit strategy.

      Par of the course, really.

      Report Post »  
    • pajamash
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:29pm

      What was it Encinom was saying about Glenn Beck’s lies? How’s your buddy Obama doing on his lies now Encinom?

      Report Post »  
    • ManThong
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:31pm

      He doesn’t lie about everything. He’s good for those fundamental trasformation and electricity rates skyrocketing things.

      Report Post » ManThong  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:41pm

      Showtime:
      His lip were moving…..lol
      ________________________________________________________________________

      Why tell us the truth, or consult congress, we are all inconsequential to the Stick figure dancing on the end of his masters pole. He has and will continue to push his evil agenda upon us until we finally snap. At which time his hidden private army will rush in and crush us like the fetrid bugs we must be in his eyes.

      Report Post »  
    • Whostolemypig
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:51pm

      He means “Officially” send in ground troops. They are some already there and have been for a month now.

      Report Post »  
    • thegrassroots
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:54pm

      The Liar-In-Chief Is Always So predictable. He ALWAYS Lies!

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:55pm

      @Showtime:

      I agree with you on the people not losing faith in the military, Obama just needs one excuse to make a play to break them to his control. Imagine what would happen if he could exploit a move where the morale and confidence of the troops is shaken, the officers lose faith in their leadership, and our forces become in the shape of post-Vietnam.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:56pm

      It is a matter of what ( is ) ………………..is

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Katayno
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:00pm

      This is totally off the subject. Have you all heard yet…..In Wisconsin they found 7,000 missing ballets from the April 5th election so the Scott Walker and the Republicans won!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:01pm

      Well as you might have guessed I have a couple of problems with our President. Military force should always be a LAST resort. Once the decision is made to use it then, by gosh, USE it. Smash your enemy and come home with as few American/Allied casualties as humanly possible. Even though our military is tired, worn out physically & mentally and using equipment that is aging; No other military force on earth can defeat us. However we can be beaten from the inside. Everything, I mean everything from international diplomacy to the confidence of the individual warrior on the front line depends on a strong, safe and secure homeland. The Commander in Chief has to have that confidence as much as an infantryman has to know his/her family is okay at home.

      I don’t believe President Obama is a strong or wise military commander. His political beliefs & ideology are weakening us from the inside out. It’s a recipe for disaster.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:06pm

      Needs to increase value of Coolness, desires of a madman.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:10pm

      Did the Republican’s really win control of the House of Representatives on Nov. 2? The
      Tyrant continues to violate the Constitution that he swore to uphold.

      Why have the eunuchs in Congress not started impeachment hearings? http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • mill
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:23pm

      Freakin lying bastard. What else did we expect. He needs to be taken out of office, NOW..
      This really upsets me. He is doing our country a great disservice and is out to tear us apart, doing a fine job so far.

      I think all the gang members should be put into service to go to Obama’s little war, which is actually a full blown war in everyone else’s mind..

      Report Post »  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:40pm

      GET US OUT OF LIBYA, DAMN IT!!!

      (mandatory lower case)

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:40pm

      and the trolls are silent once again

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:42pm

      The war in Libya is unConstitutional!

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:57pm

      You mean the Traitor-in-Chief is looking to put our troops in harm’s way — AGAIN? You mean TiC is contemplating doing the unthinkable, namely, sending our troops to fight WITH our enemies instead of AGAINST them?

      When are we getting rid of this roach and his intrusion? Whose voice will you listen to, oh bravest of all troops past and present: the voice of treason, or the voice of reason penned by our Founding Fathers?!

      Report Post »  
    • nptden
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:03pm

      20,000 shoulder fired missals, MISSING that we gave the Rebels. They will probably show up in GAZA, and HEZZBOLA….Watch out Israel, Hussein is setting you up.

      Report Post » nptden  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:04pm

      Barack Hussein Obama Jr is sending Ground Troops into Libya because U.S. has no vital national security interest in Libya.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • redneck
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:05pm

      Lets show the Rebels how to shoot it up! Yee Haaaaaw!

      Report Post » redneck  
    • nosycophant
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 9:43pm

      the campaign chant “four more wars four more wars” this idiot is wonderful.

      Report Post »  
    • ConsiderThis
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:05pm

      This whole business is going to get very messy…
      Obama will do whatever it takes to make sure radical Muslims gain control of the Middle East.
      I believe one of his goals is to marginalize Israel and I hope there are enough good people left who will stand up against him.
      November 2012 can not come soon enough!

      Report Post »  
    • Evileye
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:34pm

      I am a Veteran of the Korean Kinetic event.
      And some A-hole said not one American boy would be sent to the Vietnam kinetic event.

      Report Post »  
    • marine249
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:35pm

      wth

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:39pm

      Send in congress they can do it….ha ha ha

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • WEHTexas
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:48pm

      You will not win any battle or war without sending in ground troops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw this coming when there was talk about a no fly zone. A no fly zone that took to long to develop.

      Report Post »  
    • marine249
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:50pm

      one more honest Army Gen
      on the way out.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 11:20pm

      Asked if the U.S. would provide troops, Ham said, “I suspect there might be some consideration of that. My personal view at this point would be that that’s probably not the ideal circumstance, again for the regional reaction that having American boots on the ground would entail.”

      Ham is out of the loop. Even he disagrees with the idea, and Gates and President Obama have ruled it. Make all the hay you want out of the two word “some consideration” but that’s nonsence. That’s not going to happen. Putting American boots on the ground is a out of the question politically, if for no other reason. Americans or the military wouldn’t stand for that. Not going to happen, despite the two words this out of the loop guy said.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • warrior21
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 5:12am

      This is hard to believe! We have been unable to win the war in Iraq, or Afghanistan, and now we are talking about going into Libya!!! We were told that Petraeus and the surge won the war in Iraq. Listen up; you only win a war when you completely defeat your enemy. A quick look at Iraq today will tell we didn’t accomplish that. Nor did we accomplish that in the 1st Afghanistan war. We call them wars when in fact they are more like police actions. We have never really fought them…all out.
      Will Libya be another Petraeus tea party where we chat and drink tea with rebels? When will we learn that they only way to win a war is to go all out. It is about time we get some military leadership that will stand up and tell the truth. Comparing Petraeus to Patton, MacArthur, Grant and our other great military leaders is a stretch. Take a little time and research him, compare him to our great military leaders and you will see he is just another yes man who got ahead by not causing waves. Taking on a ground role in Libya is just another nail in our coffin.

      Report Post » warrior21  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 6:57am

      Who didn’t know this was going to happen?

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • jackrorabbit
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 9:27am

      NO MORE WARS. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME! When will we learn that we cannot control other countries. I used to be supportive of “preemptive” war, but since Iraq and Afghanistan haven’t really changed anything. I don’t see how adding another stressor to our military can be anything but bad. We are being set up, and we will suffer major damage to our military, at the very least. I warned against this early on, because I knew that Saudi Arabia wouldn’t respond well to our getting involved in any way against Libya, and this hasn’t done anything to change the ground situation. We have to quit being the police of the world!

      Report Post »  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 10:06am

      This does not surprise me at all. Everything out of this (maybe) Prez is a lie and the whole administration is the same. Their way of life is lie, cheat, steal (tax). 577 days to the election.

      Report Post »  
    • pajamash
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 11:51am

      “Ham is out of the loop. Even he disagrees with the idea, and Gates and President Obama have ruled it. Make all the hay you want out of the two word “some consideration” but that’s nonsence. That’s not going to happen. Putting American boots on the ground is a out of the question politically, if for no other reason. Americans or the military wouldn’t stand for that. Not going to happen, despite the two words this out of the loop guy said.”

      Yep JZS, we were just supposed to enforce a no-fly zone in Libya (take out the anti-aircraft batteries and keep Gadhaffi’s planes on the ground). Then we were going to “protect innocent civilians” so we started bombing tanks. Somehow we expanded “protect innocent civilians” into bombing Tripoli (eventhough there are innocent civilians that live in Tripoli).

      History is repeating itself. We got sucked further and further into Vietnam. We are getting sucked further and further into Libya. So JZS, you keep drinking the coolaid.

      Report Post »  
    • K. Iandoli
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 3:56pm

      I knew troops were being called to go into Libya over a month ago.
      My son-in-law was called up for rapid deployment, even though he wasn’t suppose to leave for another month to Afghanistan. I asked him why he was leaving so fast. He told me, it was to replace the troops that were being pulled out of Afghanistan to be sent to Japan and Libya. I wondered why Libya, we weren’t engaged there at the time. He told me, that they were being readied to go in once “Obama made up his mind about what he wanted to do”.
      5 Days later, they starting the “no fly zone”. The President knew exactly what he was doing while vacationing and golfing and not talking to congress or the American people. Just watch, the troops are waiting for the call.
      Though, he also told me, we don’t have enough troops to cover all the places we are involved with right now, since Obama has down-sized the military and they will be stretched too thin.
      Of course, they may not even be paid after tonight, but the President sure will.

      Report Post »  
    • UPSETVET
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 4:54pm

      I’m completely surprised by the possibility of US ground forces being deployed in Lybia. After all, the POTUS has repeatedly stated that US ground forces would NOT be deployed in Lybia. Well it looks like the Commander-in-Chief , Obama-Bin-Lying is having second thoughts about using US ground forces to help the rebels that are heavily infiltrated by Al Queda .

      It’s just one more LIE from the lips of the recent Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Barack Obama has a problem dealing iwith the reality that he’s an unfit and unqualified leader of America. His talents and unique qualities might be useful to, let’ say, Kenya, but not the USA. Suddenly, Gaddafi is a more dangerous enemy than Osama-Bin-Laden who heads Al Queda. What ?

      Report Post »  
    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 7:38pm

      Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » MIBUGNU2  
    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on April 8, 2011 at 7:54pm

      Two Easy Steps to Success in Libya
      1 – Intel
      2 – Bunkerbuster

      We have been to Tripoli before, How hard can it be??
      Old Yahoo Right Winger , Semper Fi..

      Report Post » MIBUGNU2  
    • sjssb
      Posted on April 9, 2011 at 7:45am

      Yes you are correct. If his lips were moving then LIES were spewing out both sides of his trash mouth. The jive talking-walking community organizer is in his hip hop dance mode now. Dancing around the world, burning tons of carbon fuel and wearing out Air Force one on dinner dates with his Jane Fonda like wife in NYC allat tax payers expense. We know it has to be the independents like me and Republican tax payers since NO PROGRESSIVE/SOCIALIST/DEMOCRAT pays taxes. Look at his staff’s record. New name for “Planned Parent-hood=Planning for No Parenthood via tax payer financed abortions”

      Report Post » sjssb  

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