I remember very vividly the start of the second American invasion of Iraq. After months of protesting and rallying for peace, there was nothing to do but sit helplessly and cry while reports of death and destruction streamed in through the Internet. Since then, the long and drawn out military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a complete tarnishment of the United States’ reputation.
So now that the US and other Western powers have intervened in the conflict in Libya, how can we trust them? The short answer is that we don’t. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t judge the action on its own merits.
Clearly Gaddafi is a despicable despot whose own people have turned against him. It is his brutal repression which has turned the uprising in Libya into an armed struggle. Most of us have been unabashed supporters of the rebellion. Recently though its momentum has faltered. After a quick succession of early victories, including the stirring Battle of Brega, Gadaffi’s forces have been steadily taking back cities and encroaching on Benghazi, the main rebel stronghold.
In an ideal world, the rebels would win this battle independently and on their own terms. However, as the most recent events have shown, without outside intervention the rebellion would be all but doomed. If we support the rebels, can we justify standing by as they are slaughtered by Gaddafi’s forces?
Of course, Western military intervention raises a lot of concerning issues. Chief among them is what influence they will have in the formation of whatever form of governance emerges to replace Gaddafi. But a critical point that we must consider and accept is that it has been a direct plea all along from the rebel forces that the international community intervene in the form of enforcing a no fly zone.
So for the moment I say Go Team USA. Go Team France. Go Team England. As long as you are supporting the Libyan people and taking direction from them.
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