Coalition of the Unwilling
Of the 28 member-countries of NATO, fewer than one-quarter are actually assisting in the 'no-fly' enterprise undertaken under the auspices of the UN Security Council resolution to protect civilian life in Libya. France and the United Kingdom, the early initiators of the defence of the protest movement in Libya, successfully cajoled the United States to engage with them on their initial forays into the skies above Libya.And it was the American planes, and offshore ships firing their $1-million-a-pop cruise missiles that primarily set the tone in the first few days of the onslaught against government military resources. And then, as NATO was brought into the picture, the U.S. withdrew most, but not all, of their planes and personnel. Leaving France, Britain, Canada, Norway, Spain, Denmark, Belgium and Qatar to fly sorties and patrols over Libyan air space.
The Libyan rebel protest movement is not quite satisfied that NATO is sufficiently aggressive for their taste; their initial fast advance has degenerated to a holding pattern after a few forced withdrawals, and Misurata is being bombed unmercifully by government forces. A representative of the National Transition Council claims that government forces have killed ten thousand, twenty thousand are missing, and thirty thousand wounded.
NATO member-nation participation is dismal, leaving the brunt of the action to a bare handful. And France and Britain are bemoaning the fact that the United States is no longer taking the lead; their more advanced planes capable of more precision strikes should be deployed, they feel, while for a change the U.S. balks at representing the major force in an allied front; a notable reversal from the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Besides which, this is far more representative of a European theatre situation given the geography and the unassailable fact that Europe is hugely dependent on oil exports from Libya. Italy has effectively bowed out, Germany and Turkey and Poland are unwilling to become involved, Spain and the Netherlands prefer an active back-seat contribution, leaving the strike missions to Belgium, Denmark, Canada and Norway.
The one thing that the uneasy coalition has finally agreed upon, in collaboration with the Arab League and finally with the African Union, is that nothing will be settled in Libya unless and until Moammar Gadhafi leaves of his own volition, which seems unlikely, or is goaded or thrust out of the country. He took the opportunity to drive about Tripoli in an open vehicle, cockily inviting NATO to strike him down. And that delivers his message.
And finally, the agreement was also made to arm the rebels, but cautiously. Britain is unwilling to provide more than elemental weapons to ensure that nothing too militarily deadly falls into the hands of Islamists who would most certainly use them in their jihadist campaign against the West. And Belgium and Germany protest that the UN Security Council resolution guidelines would be breached, by providing arms to the rebels.
There is no complete agreement on much of anything. The rebels protest that NATO is insufficiently involved to give them that needed leg up. Most of the NATO member-countries are lukewarm about participation, and the United States, while still flying missions over Libya, is content to let Europe absorb the fuller brunt of responsibility, which, given the circumstances, is fair game.
"Britain, France and the United States will not rest until the United Nations Security council resolutions have been implemented and the Libyan people can choose their own future. NATO and its coalition partners are acting in the name of the United Nations with an unprecedented international legal mandate. But it will be the people of Libya, not the UN, who choose their new constitution, elect their new leaders and wrote the next chapter in their history."Noble words, but the fact is this has not turned out to be a fully 'made-in-Libya' revolt; without the intervention and assistance of Europe, the Libyan rebels would have been incapable of wresting power from their dictator - and there are still no guarantees of their success. Should Gadhafi manage to hold out indefinitely, a civil war and partition could ensue.
Enabling Moammar Gadhafi to cruise about to his heart's content when the mood strikes him, pumping his fists in defiance and daring the rebels and their NATO allies to unseat him as he continues to pound Misurata and other rebel-held towns, giving NATO one huge headache.
Labels: Africa, NATO, Traditions, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Friday, April 15, 2011
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