By Bill O'Reilly

It is now becoming clear that the Libyan rebels do not have enough firepower or organization to overthrow the dictator Qaddafi. With NATO airpower protecting the rebels, Qaddafi can't defeat them either, so a stalemate looms.

That is not the outcome President Obama and other world leaders want because the longer this drags on, the more expensive and complicated it gets.

Former CIA guy Michael Scheuer opposes the Libya action. On Thursday, he challenged CNN:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL SCHEUER, FORMER CIA COUNTERTERRORISM ANALYST: This is not a Democratic problem. This is a Republican problem, too. Both parties love to intervene in other people's business where there are no U.S. interests at stake and where we spend enormous amounts of money at a time when we're nearly bankrupt. That doesn't seem to me to be a wise practice of American statesmanship.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: And that's a whole other story. To call the United States bankrupt -- the United States is running humongous deficits, yes, but the economy and this mission in Libya are two separate issues.

SCHEUER: They are not separate issues, ma'am. You're just carrying the water for Mr. Obama.

ROMANS: I'm certainly not carrying anyone's water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Dr. Scheuer brings up an interesting point.

Right now, the Libyan action is estimated to have cost the USA more than a half-billion dollars, and of course that figure will rise. The CNN anchor is wrong when she says the Libyan action and the American debt are separate. They are not.

The sad truth is every action America takes from now on will have to be evaluated from a cost standpoint. That's what happens when you are $14 trillion in debt.

It is important for all Americans to understand that the nation's power is eroding because we spend far more money than we take in. That will impact everything. Do we have a billion dollars to spend getting rid of Qaddafi? It's a judgment call.

The more debt that a person or a country has, the weaker that person or country is. Are you getting this, President Obama and the Democratic Party?

As Donald Trump said Thursday, we are not in a power position with OPEC or China or even Afghanistan. We don't have the money anymore to run expensive, long-term operations, even if they're worthy.

So Dr. Scheuer was right. Libya and the American debt are intertwined. It's sad to say.

And that's "The Memo."

Pinheads & Patriots

Chuck Schumer, a very liberal guy, as you know, said this on the Senate floor:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, D-N.Y.: It was very interesting to see on Fox News yesterday three commentators all on the same show plainly agreeing that it is time to accept a compromise with Democrats to avert a shutdown. Charles Krauthammer was adamant that a shutdown would be avoided and that if the government did shut down, Republicans would be blamed. Kirsten Powers, a conservative columnist…

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Whoa, wait a minute. Kirsten Powers, a conservative columnist? Was there a miraculous conversion? Sorry, Kirsten. A very liberal lady.

Now, we know how this is going to turn out, but we just want to see what the plurality is. So is Sen. Schumer a pinhead or patriot? Vote on BillOReilly.com.

Thursday night, another liberal guy said this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ANTHONY WEINER, D-N.Y.: And this is really a huge thrill for me. This is all being broadcast on C-SPAN 3, so tens of Americans will see this. Down at the C-SPAN -- down at the CNN table they're saying, "Tens, what's their secret?"

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Sixty-nine percent of you say Congressman Weiner is a pinhead; 31 percent a patriot for mocking CNN.

— You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" and "Pinheads & Patriots" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com.