Quote Originally Posted by Adrian II View Post
Oh sure, technically we can. But since we have invested in this thing and we would like the episode to turn out well, we are going to be around for quite a while. Libya shouldn't become a new hotbed for al-Qaeda or a new Somalia now should it? That's in no one's interest.
The biggest problems at the moment are probably Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and Syria. We are doing nothing in any of those (a few drone strikes in Pakistan does not really count). There is already Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan for insurgents. How much room does a training camp need? Almost none. The only difference in Libya is it's slightly closer, and the majority of attacks have been against overseas assets rather than homeland as they are a lot easier to do.

If assistance is passing along some intel, giving advice on setting up governments and trading then fine - we gain a lot for a little. If it's garrisoning the place then no thanks - we tie up resources that are already stretched and are even less able to counter the next threat.

Libya's sovereign wealth fund is something like $65 Billion. That should keep them going for a while. After they've spent all of that then... they can sell their oil.