What I Learned About War This Weekend

1.  The UN Security Council resolution circumvents the War Powers Resolution of 1973 (and Congress doesn't seem to give a shit about this either - go figure)

2.  Bombing Muslim countries and policing the globe is totally fine, so long as you have the token approval of the Arab League as they sit on the sidelines, and an international coalition. 

3.  War is always a national fiscal priority and never has to be paid for. These things are free:

The Americans, working with the British, French and others, flew a wider array of missions than the day before, when Navy cruise missile barrages were their main weapons. They deployed B-2 stealth bombers, F-16 and F-15 fighter jets and Harrier attack jets flown by the Marine Corps striking at Libyan ground forces, air defenses and airfields. Navy electronic warplanes, EA-18G Growlers, jammed Libyan radar and communications. British pilots flew many of the bombing missions, and French, British and American planes all conducted ground attacks near Benghazi, American commanders said.

You'll note that opening up a third foreign war won't be making it's way into the budget debate (unsurprising considering Congress could not even be bothered to exercise their power to restrict the Executive branch from unilaterally conducting wars), but we better get right on defunding NPR and home heating oil subsidies for dirty lazy poor people.

4.  We have no clue what the fuck we're doing over there (sound familiar?), or what we will do if/when the air strikes do/do not succeed.

5.  The usual assholes are already calling for escalation:

“I hope it’s not too late,” Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said on the CNN program “State of the Union” Sunday. “Obviously, if we had taken this step a couple of weeks ago, a no-fly zone would probably have been enough,” he said. “Now a no-fly zone is not enough. There needs to be other efforts made.”

Would have never guessed that guy would be on another Sunday talk show either. Weird.

The early reports are not confidence inspiring to say the least. There seems to be a common thread that Qaddafi is digging in and that the air strikes are not having the immediate effect to which they were expected. Granted, it's very early, but this still isn't a good indication, especially given the fact that the United States does not "lose" wars and will throw every bomb, bullet, and soldier at their discretion at the problem, no matter how bleak or Pyrrhic the situation may be.

So bring on the "shared" sacrifice! I don't know about you, but I am totally stoked about having my Social Security gutted to pay for bullshit like this.