Well, events in the Arab world have continued to progress. Unfortunately, Libyan strongman Moamar Quadaffi is less willing the Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak to see the writing on the wall and he has chosen to make war upon his people.
This begs the question: should the US intervene militarily to stop the brutality?
My short answer is no. US intervention gives Quadaffi an enemy to rally his supporters against, and it would take the “Made in Libya” label off of the revolution.
My more complex answer is yes, but only under certain conditions.
First, if a recognizable opposition organization were to emerge and formally ask the US to intervene, I think it could be considered, but frankly, an Arab League or UN force would be more effective.
Second, I could get behind using US airpower to establish air superiority over Libya and deny Quadaffi the ability to strafe and bomb his opposition while allowing events on the ground to play out on a relatively level playing field.
Difficult one this; we know Ghaddafi even better than Mubarak, and he’s a madman…he ‘ain’t moving anytime soon and people are going to suffer.
On the other hand, they have fostered such an anti-black sentiment in that part of the world that the rest of Africa isn’t the least bit bothered.
They talk about the rest of the world just wanting their oil. Here, they’re the ones who just want our water.
Very difficult situation…the people need help but how to do it? Ghaddafi is going to be ruthless.
Thanks for the comment Kolembo. Where are you exactly? Kenya comes to mind, but I’m not certain where I got that. It’s really interesting hearing a view of things from a perspective other than that of the US and the West. In particular, water scarcity seems to be a major issue that no one in the US is really aware of.
Hi there! I enjoy your blog very much. Yes, I’m Kenyan, and around here it’s all about water. Egypt, Libya, Israel and that lot are in conflict with us over the Nile. We’ve had an agreement that hasn’t been broken (yet) that stops us from using the water from Lake Victoria (6 countires, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan I think, Ethopia and Tanzania) since colonial times.
Alot of the war that goes on in ‘black africa’ is funded by African Arabs – Angola, Chad, Sudan, Burundi e.t.c. but as this changes, the pressure on us grows.
The agreement stipulates an act of war if we tamper with the Lake, but like I said, this was colonial, and with the growing realisation that the Lake is ours is a growing desperation in the region.
I don’t know whose idea it was not to just ask. We’re a sharing bunch of people but the devil is powerful, and there is bad blood in the air.
Tomorrows war is over water.
Anyway, that’s me ranting, I think you write really well, and think very deeply. It’s been wonderful following you.
May you and your family be in peace.
Thanks for the kind comments. Can you please point me in a direction where I can read a bit more on the water issue? It’s interesting and a bit disturbing. I’ve seen it mentioned in conjunction with climate change, but mainly in the Mid-East and Central Asia.
Pingback: No Fly Zone in Libya « "Great" Thoughts