Stalled Rebellion
So the Gulf States which came out directly stating that Moammar Gadhafi has lost legitimacy in attacking his own people so venomously with unrestrained abandon, encouraged the Arab League to issue a similar statement. Solidarity among the Arab States even and despite their divisions on many fronts, might never have predicted that outcome. Particularly since so many of the Arab States are now facing their own growing insurrections.The ferociously ignoble, boastfully mendacious man who always posed as somewhat of a destabilizing threat in his inchoate distemper and propensity to encourage violence outside of his own domain would not be missed by his Arab brethren. The irony is that the Arab League has taken this step at a time when it appears that Moammar Gadhafi's push-back against the anti-regime brigades appears to be reaching success.
The spectre of a civil war and the prospect of interference by foreign powers in a country's internecine political upheaval speaks of a complex situation and unwarranted interference. The Arab League appears to have no appetite to assemble its forces to aid the rebels whose side they have now perched on. Their request for a 'no-fly' zone signals their agreement should NATO or the UN sponsor such a military intervention.
Turkey stands out, along with China and Russia, as powerful countries disinterested in having any hand in aiding one side against the other. As France and Britain try to encourage enthusiasm to act from among the European Union countries and the United States, the situation is escalating with increasing casualties to the rebels and decreasing potential for their rebellion to succeed.
The anti-regime rebels who at first would hear no talk of a 'no-fly' zone, and had no wish whatever to encourage intervention from the West, insisting that this must be a 'made in Libya' and 'success by Libyans' enterprise, now wonder what went wrong. They are being slaughtered by government warplanes and tanks in a counter-offensive that has surprised everyone.
"Everyone here is puzzled as to how many casualties the international community judges to be enough for them to help", said a rebel spokesman.
Labels: Africa, Conflict, Middle East, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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