In Libya, U.S. Takes Wide View for Military’s Role – NYTimes.com
Don’t miss this important article by the New York Times’ Eric Schmitt revealing the real role being played by US airpower in Libya. Perhaps inadvertently, the article exposes the exaggerations, evasions, and omissions that disfigured Obama’s speech last night defending his decision to intervene, and asserting that “regime change” through military means is not his goal. Schmitt’s subtitle: “A mission to protect civilians turns into an all-out assault on Qaddafi’s military.”
The great question now is whether American gunships will be used to decimate Libyan troops in cities like Sirte and Tripoli, where Qaddafi commands mass support. Now is precisely the time to use nonviolent processes of conflict resolution to empower Libyans to decide their own future. If, instead, US and NATO forces are used to destroy the Libyan army — with “collateral damage” to civilians, of course — I think we need to organize quickly and massively to oppose this unjust slaughter.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
The questions that interests me are: what are political & economic sub-texts to our involvement? It smells that it’s all about the money. Where was our humanitarian engagement in Sudan or Uganda?
Important questions! The fact that Libyan oil is of particular importance to the Europeans surely has something to do with their highly selective “humanitarianism” as well as their decision to take the lead in supporting the rebels militarily. The French and English, in particular, have a long history of arming opposition groups in Libya and plotting against the unpredictable, overly independent Qaddafi. What they will do now that civilians in West Libya are being threatened by NATO, the CIA, and the rebels is anyone’s guess.
And it gets worse…Also from the NYTimes:
“Several weeks ago, President Obama signed a secret finding authorizing the C.I.A. to provide arms and other support to Libyan rebels, American officials said Wednesday.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=1&hp
We are pouring fuel to the fire of a civil war, and I honestly can’t see how this can end well for the Libyan people, both pro and anti Gaddafi.
I agree, Jose. In addition, nobody at all seems to be worrying about whether people in Libya (or elsewhere)
will take revenge on us for the violence that the CIA secret army is perpetrating in our name. We just
don’t seem to learn.