The day Gaddafi pledged he would die in Libya, three weeks ago, any reasonable person should have realized that the current situation was entirely plausible. Instead we saw nothing but useless tough language, the forever ineffective "freezing of assets", the whatever "sanctions", the same historical pattern of self delusional responses to a madmen bent on a bloodbath. I've watch the Gaddafi "pressers", almost comical to think he is moved by the great debating society and their paltry threats. While the world went at a snail's pace, Gaddafi was planning his counter offensive and now we are in a situation where the Libyan "revolution" is days, weeks away from utter collapse. Is the world prepared to watch the people of Benghazi slaughtered, because barring any real intervention, the birth of the uprising is now set to fall back to Gaddafi's advancing forces.
It's time for the West to stand up for our supposed principles, we stand for freedom, democracy, we stand against repressive regimes, or at least we like to think we do. There is little risk of backlash from the Arab world, IN FACT clear indications they welcome INTERVENTION. And yet, we wait for impotent nations to drive the ineffective United Nations towards an urgent conclusion. THREE weeks since the no fly zone entertained, and all we've heard is it's "complicated", along with some odds reliance, Gaddafi would fail, the rebels would succeed. Guess what, Gaddafi is winning, brave people that dared to challenge are now threatened, while we "debate" further. Madness.
There are no longer any rationalized stumbling blocks to delay a military intervention in Libya. The Arab world is on side, the west faces no blowback for an aggressive response. The saddest part, American planes have already flown over Libyan skies previously, already bombed, already went after Gaddafi, there is a precedent, further proof that EXCUSES now are just that. All that is required is will, conviction, otherwise we will sit and watch Gaddafi crush people we supposedly champion. If these countries believe their rhetoric, if what they say about Gaddafi is true, if they TRULY do support the "freedom" forces, then the time is clearly right now. A few cruise missiles into Tripoli, ground the aircraft, the world is waiting, apparently everyone is on side, SO...
16 comments:
Russia and China do not want to interfere with other countries and are against the no-fly zone, unless the UN and the UAE are for it, as well as the US, then they might agree.
What did the Russians and Chinese do the last time the Americans flew over Libyan airspace, dropped bombs?
Good comments.
As you know the west pretty much had to wait for the Arab League to make a public statement. As you also know, a "no fly zone" isn't just complicated it is inherently dangerous and may cause another Bosnian type stalemate.
Hopefully the rest of the world will act to save the brave Libyan people.
The west has no principles but corporatism now, and war is a profitable racket and they want populations wiped out, that's why they do nothing about climate change or oil spills after they sink the evidence out of sight. Wake up and smell the stench people, this little fantasy is coming to an end quickly. There may be only 400 people in America that own the same wealth as 155 million Americans, but around the world, there are probably a 1000 people who own the wealth of half the world, and they want it all. They both hope and plan for billions of people die. And if turns out to be pro-democracy forces in Libya, all the better for them.
I don't mean to simplify a "no fly zone" appreciate how complicated. My point remains though, Reagan bombed Libya, so where there is WILL, international niceities vanish.
A few cruise missiles into know Gaddafi haunts, is there really any blowback to be had? At best, empty rhetoric, which would be perfect to be honest.
"...just who is opposing military action against Gaddafi?"
I am. There is no role for Canada in this civil war.
Supporting the rebels was always a very iffy proposition -- they were driving to the front in pickup trucks, no real organization or equipment. Now that Qadaffi has reorganized and at least some of the army has apparently picked his side, I agree the rebellion is going to fail unless they get some real help. I think there is going to be a bloodbath in Libya, no-fly zone or not, and many western politicians will end up pointing fingers and blaming someone else.
Thank the Junior Bush for the lack of enthusiasm for intervention by the West in general and the US in particular.
The war in Iraq has pretty much turned Western populations away from any kind of military action in the Middle East, even actions that could be justified.
This is the true legacy of George W. Bush. Finally, after decades of misrule the Arab peoples are attempting to throw out those who have misused and abused them for so long. However, they are on their own because there is absolutely no appetite in the West to assist them.
I heard it was all about oil..period..make one sick.
ottlib,
I agree with you that this is part of the Bush legacy.
The Arab League has the planes, and the weapons. Why aren't they taking the lead on this?
Now, that's a good question.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/opinion/13dowd.html?src=recg
ottlib said...
This is the true legacy of George W. Bush. Finally, after decades of misrule the Arab peoples are attempting to throw out those who have misused and abused them for so long.
This part of your post is closest to the truth. George Bush had it exactly right: topple one Middle-Eastern dictator and install a democracy, and the rest will fall like dominoes. It's inevitable.
(yes, yes...corruption is endemic and deeply ingrained. That's unavoidable in the short term, but you have to start somewhere, right?)
I agree with your whole point, except that of the bloodbath.
Kaddafi might not initiate a bloodbath, and instead force some sort of legal surrender of the rebels, while acceeding to some political reforms, so as to make himself look magnanimous and conciliatory.
If he's seen to be generous after his military victory, the activist population might decide to support him, as a lesser of two evils (the other being dying in a hopeless war).
crf
You know, you make a great point I hadn't really considered. Gaddafi could well try what you suggest.
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