As the civil war drags on Libya, Gadhafi is gaining the upper hand over the rebels. He has recaptured key port cities, sites of major oil wells. His airpower dwarfs the gun power of the insurgents whom the 42-year dictator is pushing back.
While Gadhafi is holding onto power through arbitrary bloodshed, Saudi Arabia has also quelled dissent within its borders and has sent troops into neighboring Bahrain to stop ongoing protests there.
The populist revolution sweeping the Middle East has stalled among major roadblocks. Either unmatched military might or long-entrenched dynastic authority have reserved sufficient power to the House of Saud and Gadhafi to maintain their autocratic rule.
Despite these setbacks, the United States must refrain from entering the ongoing fray convulsing these countries. Even if the Royal family in Saudi Arabia and the ruthless military complex in Libya stamp out the rebellions, these uprisings have shaken the stability of these regimes, which in turn may compel these rulers to offer some reform, to cede power to a new leader of their own choosing, or at least permit the revolutionary forces to regroup and rise up again.
An international coalition lead by France and Great Britain is now imposing a no-fly zone over Libya. The Arab League, also calling for a no-fly zone, wants to get rid of Libya dictator Moammar Gadhafi as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteIt is noteworthy to see an international coalition stepping up to this challenge. The international disruption casued by the Libyan civil war must be dealt with by the Mideterranean and European states most affected.
The coalition forces should not expect a quick victory, though. Gadhafi is not rational, cannot be reasoned with. Unlike Egyptian President Honsni Mubarak, who bellowed that he would die in Egypt only to flee the country two days later, Ghadhafi will stay in his homeland, fighting to the bitter, bloody end. The world has already witnessed his ruthless despeartion in killing his own people.
A no-fly zone will not be enough to effect the regime change which the international community seeks
So far, the United States has offered arsenal support, firing rockets to disable airplanes and airstrips. However, President Obama has pledged no ground troops. It seems hyprocritical to offer such ancillary support, when it is apparent to everyone that the goal of this military operation is to get rid of Gahdafi. To dress up this intervention as humanitarian in nature is a non-starter. The most humanitarian action would be to oust the dictator who is perpetuating the misery of the Libyan people.
The United States does not have a strategic military interest in causing this change. We are at the breaking point with troops stationed all over the world, fighting two wars, plus managing massive budget deficits and a national debt that will throttle the future economic life of the United States.
Let the Europeans and Arabs deal with Gadhafi. The United States needs to look to its own needs.
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