In the past few days, Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi/Qaddaffi/Quadaffi/GaDaffy (OK that's my own spellling) has sent his air forces to attack rebels who now hold multiple cities and sections of the countryside. Some have called on the United States to intervene, either alone or under the aegis of NATO.
As gratifying as it would be, this would be a bad call. America attacked Libya during the Reagan Administration because that nation backed terror assaults on American troops in Europe. International law, such as it is, tends to back the sovereign power of the internationally recognized state in most cases. Without some sort of UN resolution or threat outside his borders, such intevention would set a dangerous precedent.
That being said, the unrest in Libya does cause strategic problems in terms of the oil supply. That country produces 2% of the world's oil. Assuming the idea that intervention does become a real issue, we must do this intelligently.
First, any U. S. move would discredit the anti-Ghaddaffi forces. Only an IDF attack would look worse. That also eliminates most European states with colonial backgrounds, such as Britain, France and Italy. Turkey once ruled Libya directly as a province in their empire, so they are out as well.
That leaves us with Poland, and, well, Poland. American and European financial support behind NATO airstrikes conducted by Poland, the Czech Republic, and a short list of others might do the trick without raising the accusations of imperialism. That being said, the removal of the regime seems a foregone conclusion at this point as Ghaddaffffffie's military is slowly defecting to the rebels. Foreign intervention might halt that process.
Best to give moral support, but not intervene directly.
No comments:
Post a Comment