The Great Humanitarian ???

Once again, in the name of humanitarian action our great nation has deemed it necessary to intervene/interfere in another nation's internal conflict. In less than 24 hours we (the taxpayer) have spent an additional $58 million plus, according to the U.S. Navy's own figures,  just on the launching of Tomahawk Cruise missiles. Then  there is the cost of our military's deployment.

Granted, it is a United Nations' sanction and action that has been taken against Libya and we are supposed to a leader in that body. All the action has been and continues to be taken in the name of humanitarian assistance. Yet, from all accounts this is, in reality, a civil war. A war between the citizens of Libya and their head of state.

Moammar Gadhafi, the proven power thirsty head of this African country, has vowed to fight to the death to remain in power. His history of retaliation and terrorist tactics are well documented. His tribal mentality is evident in all he does.

However, he is not alone. In Rwanda and the Darfur region of the Sudan the governments have been slaughtering people. Yes, the United Nations passed various actions but none included the military intervention to stop what some called a genocide.

Our military is stretched thin as it is without deploying more men and women and more assets in an action no one is willing to state the obvious ... a regime change. Once more I have to wonder if we haven't learned from the past.

As much as we would like peace and harmony around the globe the reality is that just won't happen. It is an honorable and idealistic thing to want to help people in need. Again, the reality is we, as a country, cannot afford to further the myth that we are the savior of humanity.

What about saving our own people. Our government's spending is legendary and it will take generations to one day maybe see a debt free America. But to pay our bills we cut the very areas that can least afford it. Education, at a time our nation is declining in world wide rankings. Job training programs, when our unemployment is still a major problem. So many needs and so few dollars.

I wonder just how much of the multi-millions that have been spent in the past 24 to 48 hours could have helped to alleviate some of the issues here at home. While I can understand those brave people in Africa for wanting a better life and to be free I can also see the difference between perception and stark reality.

There is a song lyric that goes: "I can't be right for somebody else if I'm not right for me." Eventually, our great country may wake up and discover if it is not right for its own population, how can it be right for another's country.