The topics to write about seem to multiply on the world stage daily. However, none is more intriguing than the evolving saga surrounding the war…wait, no, military action…wait, no, intervention in Libya.

In case you didn’t know, the United States of America is involved in a full-scale military operation in Libya. If the headlines have been confusing you on whether America wants to be there, is there, or plans on staying there it’s because the headlines have been saying all of the above.

The reasons for going into Libya remain unclear because there is no precedent since America did not act in Egypt earlier this year, Iran in 2009, and, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, we “will not intervene” in the uprisings occurring in Syria right now. So why are we there? Why are we sending ground troops into a region of the world that didn’t attack us?

These questions are being posed to the President, not by Republicans, but by members of the President’s own party. They are wondering why the President led us into Libya without clearly defining the goal of the operation. There are some who even bring up his own words condemning former President Bush’s actions in Iraq as being unconstitutional because he lacked Congressional authorization.

The Republicans are saying Obama over stepped his authority to engage the military. President Obama says he’ll explain the mission at a later date but that “we are succeeding in our mission.” Nevertheless, the irony of the entire situation, the turning of the political tables, and the flip-flop by President Obama regarding unauthorized and unprovoked military action is cleared up by the eloquent words of the most recent two Presidents spoken exactly eight years apart as they each launched a military attack on another nation:

MARCH 19, 2011 (Libya)

OBAMA: “Today we are part of a broad coalition. We are answering the calls of a threatened people. And we are acting in the interests of the United States and the world…”

MARCH 19, 2003 (Iraq)

BUSH: “American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger…”

Can you spot the difference? I can’t. Regardless of why we are there, I do hope America takes the leading position in the international coalition so that the men and women in our uniform can be directed and led by American Generals. God Bless our Troops.

The last bite…

Sunday I went to the festival at Oak Alley Plantation and had a taste of

only a few of the many food items

being served. The ultimate flavor experience was when I took a bite of a banana and Nutella crepe served by “Crepes a

la Cart” out of New Orleans. The experience was enhanced even more because

I got to watch my meal get made from the cooking of the crepe to the slicing of the banana. The Nutella warmed up nicely and made a heavenly bite when combined with the subtle sweetness of the banana. I give it 4.5 (out of 5) crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of LaPlace, is a former parish administrator and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears every Wednesday in L’Observateur.