The Libyan Uprising has now entered its fourth week.
A broad campaign of airstrikes is pounding the Libyan coast. US missiles are attempting to enforce a United Nations no fly zone to keep Qadaffi from crushing rebel forces. Apparently France, Britain and the US are working together to keep up a barrage against Qaddafi, however, US air power is dominating. Tomahawk missiles are being fired from American warships. French Mirage and Rafale fighter jets have also conducted strikes.
Overall, I support the decision of the United States to enforce the no fly zone. I appreciate the need to support the Libyan rebels. Qadaffi has had a history of being a great ally of African causes, but he lost my support completely when he fired on civilians. The war is causing a humanitarian crisis on the border of Egypt, as refugees flee the fighting and attempt to escape to safety.Qadaffi claims he is observing the UN mandated ceasefire, but rebels claim he has continued attacks against them unabated.
It is excellent that no military action began until the Arab nations agreed that a no-fly zone area should be enforced. This helps to avoid the perception that the West is unilaterally moving against the Arab world. The secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, is a likely candidate for the Egyptian Presidency, and he called for an enforcement of the no-fly zone. Many Arab leaders have called for Qadaffi to quit.
I am very dissapointed that the Saudi Arabians have chosen to send troops into Bahrain instead of sending troops in to support the Libyan rebels. Obviously, the Saudi government is one of the worst examples of an oppressive authoritarian regime in the region, so it is no surprise that they are reluctant to remove another autocrat.
March 20, 2011 11:19 p.m.
In a slightly confusing development, Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, has criticized the coalition strikes against targets in Western Libya. He claims that the intention was to protect civilians, not bomb civilians. Apparently, the Arab League had said there was no need for military intervention.
March 22, 2011 12:16 p.m.
According to Juan Cole, "Reports of Arab League backtracking on Sunday were incorrect, based on a remark of outgoing Secretary-General Amr Moussa that criticized the taking out of anti-aircraft batteries. The Arab League reaffirmed Sunday and Moussa agreed Monday that the No-Fly Zone is what it wants."
References
US Missiles Strike Libyan Air Defense Targets, New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/africa/20libya.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=middleeast
West Pounds Libya with Air Strikes, Tomahawks, AlMasryalyoum
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/365381
Amr Moussa Criticizes Allied Bombing of Libya, AlMasryalyoum
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/366790
The Drawbacks of Intervention in Libya, AlJazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/03/201132093458329910.html
March 22, 2011 12:13 p.m.