[EnderD_503]

I'm opposed to Western military involvement in Libya at all. Perhaps if it was as simple as "fighting for democracy," but I don't think the West's intent is as kind hearted as that.

It once more smacks of Western imperialism and don't think that UN should be taking sides here. I find it beyond coincidental that Western nations are particularly interested in Libya's "fight for democracy" when Libya possesses the largest oil reserve in Africa. Additionally, over 80% of Libya's crude oil is exported to Europe. As far as why France and others are opposing Gaddafi rather than the rebels, there might be a few reasons and I don't particularly believe that the UN is all that interested in democracy in Libya (probably about as "interested" as the US was in democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq). One could be that Misratah is one of Libya's major ports.

What supports the theory of oil once more being of more importance than democracy is the fact that the West did not see fit to involve itself in any other of the revolutions or rebellions that occurred throughout Africa and the Middle East. Oddly enough, Libya seems to be one of the only locations of Middle Eastern/North African rebellion where democracy is actually threatened by organised Islamic extremists posing as "freedom fighters" (Afghanistan/Taliban all over again?) moreso than the present leader (in this case Gaddafi).

Bahrain is currently going through a similar upheaval, and yet the West obviously doesn't give a shit enough to get involved there (or anywhere where oil isn't threatened for that matter). I suppose Bahrain is not a strategic enough location for the West. But it is apparently important to other Arab states with oil interests in Bahrain, who entered Bahrain for the specific reason of protecting oil interests. Rather telling. The difference between the two approaches is likely that the West likes to add a little decorum to its greed.

So why get involved in the only country with significant amounts of oil to export. Why support potential Islamic extremists?

I honestly do think it all comes down to economic greed. The West, despite having the resources, has yet to come up with an alternative form of energy that is as immediately convenient as oil. Because of this greed, I'm not sure that the Middle East will develop into democracies any time soon largely due to Western involvement and continuous unsettlement. Iraq was one example of the West completely disrupting an Arab nation that was growing closer to becoming a democracy. With the Middle East still being ridden with Islamic extremists that want to take the region backwards, men like Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi and others were what was necessary to keep them at bay and to move the Middle East forward. And it was working.

While I fully support democracy in the Middle East, I'm not sure many nations are really at the point where they can have leaders who will not take an iron fist to Islamic extremists (the kind Hussein was charged with killing/trampling on their "human rights." The truth is, that's part of what was bringing Iraq toward progress. Even Christian Iraqis were saying that they'd never felt safer than when under Saddam...but he wasn't playing the role the US wanted him to play, heaven forbid).

Additionally, the unfortunate side of many of these revolutions (and past rebellions in the Middle East) is that it is a mix of average people who just want to live in a democratic nation, leftists and, the most organised of them all, Islamic extremists (who are unfortunately among those calling themselves Freedom Fighers in Libya) like the Islamic Brotherhood. It's unfortunate, but true, hence why Gaddafi may be much better for Libya than the alternative.

Edit: Also wanted to add that I find it very interesting that Germany has decided to diverge with their usual ally on this one (France). Continues to confirm my suspicions that the German government has had more of a head on its shoulders with Angela Merkel in power than neighbouring France under Sarkozy. Also, reading some of Putin's comments I find myself agreeing there, and I think it's important to listen to what Russia's saying here.