Conservative Commentary on the Libyan Crisis

     The United Nations Security Council has just approved the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.  The unprecedented support for such an action by the Arab League against a fellow Arab state made the difference in the international organization's opinion.  The measure had been introduced by the British and French in response to the indiscriminate bombing of cities by Libyan dictator Colonel Muamar Qaddafi. 

     Contrary to the claims of isolationists, domestic strife is often a cause of international concern, in addition to the necessity of evacuating fellow countrymen.  The Libyan Civil War is an example.  Libyan refugees have overburdened neighboring Tunisia.  Libyans have joined Tunisians and Egyptians who have poured into Italy's Lampedusa Island, between North Africa and Sicily.  Italy has gained a committment from the European Union to share the burden for the North African refugees.  Also, international trade has been interrupted as Libya's oil production has plummeted while oil speculaters have taken advantage of fears of further supply decreases in order to increase the price of oil.  A general international concern is that instability is a danger to peace and commerce, especially in Muslim countries where al-Qaeda or other Islamists might try to take advantage. 

     Moreover, foreign states must not become morally complicit in crimes against humanity such as are being committed by Qaddafi's regime, which is why they have imposed economic sanctions on Libya, frozen its assets imposed bans on travel by members of its regime, or withdrawn their diplomats.  The United States Navy is enforcing the arms embargo on Libya.  The French and British even recognized the Libyan opposition government.  Meanwhile, the international community is threatening the prosecution of the Qaddafi regime for crimes against humanity, as is its responsbility in order to deter such abuses in the future.  There has also been an international effort at humanitarian aid for the Libyan people in the rebel-held areas.

     Qaddafi's regime has lost any legitamacy it might have had.  After taking power from King Idris al-Sanusi in a military coup d'etat in 1969, Qaddafi became a Soviet client state and a state sponsor of terrorism.  The U.S. listed it as a terrorist sponsor and imposed economic sanctions.  After a U.S. bombing in 1986, in retaliation for a deadly Libyan bombing in Germany that targeted American soldiers, a member of the Libyan regime orchestrated the bombing of an American civilian airline over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.  The terrorist was caught and later succesfully prosecuted, but any orders from Qaddafi were never proven, although recent defectors are now claiming that he was behind the terrorist attack that killed hundreds.  Libya did agree to pay reperations for the bombing, as well as a bombing of a French airliner.  After the Liberation of Iraq, Libya agreed to give up its weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which included a nuclear program and chemical weapons and materials.  It also renounced terrorism.

     The international community legitimatized Qaddafi's regime by establishing diplomatic relations and ending its sanctions.  However, Qaddafi's regime continued to be problematic.  Its human rights record was horrendous, it lashed out at Switzerland over a minor private matter and engineered the early release of the Lockerbie bomber.  Meanwhile, it failed to eliminate all of its chemical weapons, as it had promised.  The Western hopes that Qaddafi's son would be a more moderate successor have been thoroughly dahsed by his support for his father's brutal crackdown on the opposition.  Indeed, there has been a growing fear that if Qaddafi vanquished the opposition, he would revert to terrorism and devloping WMDs.

     The actions approved by the U.N. Security Council are serious and risky and may not succeed in protecting Libyan civlians or the rebels, let alone liberating Libya from its tyrant.  The no-fly zone may be too late.  But the world could not turn its back on the slaughter of innocents and the brutal suppression of a legitimate opposition while leaving such a despot in power.  It is hoped that the U.N. action will end the bloodshed and deter further crimes against humanity.  The sale of arms to the Libyan rebels ought to be considerd, in addition to sharing intelligence with them. 

     I hope that the American and other pilots participating in the no-fly zone will be safe and that the nightmare of the Qaddafi regime will end for the people of Libya with the dream of liberty.