@AtLast,
Personally still not thinking the UN is as benevolent as it claims to be, and I continue to think this is all about oil. If Sarkozy and David Cameron were so concerned about Gaddafi they wouldn't have been so friendly as to be selling him weapons/weapons systems a few months back (again, are we not seeing a pattern here?). And if it wasn't, then why would the West
only be extending military aid to a country with a rich oil supply that exports 83% of its crude oil to Europe? Why not get involved in Egypt? Why not get involved in Tunisia? What about Syria? What about Algeria? Apparently Libya is the only one worth taking a military stance on. Again, the West benefits from a destabalised Middle East/North Africa.
I also wonder if the French elections are playing any role on Sarkozy's stance, which is something else to consider.
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Yes, I am concerned about the US getting into yet another quagmire military situation, the cost to us and I don't trust the fact that Libyan sweet crude is the major type of oil used for heating in western European countries (the ones joining in this action). Yet, I don't want to dismiss the social movements that have been rising in the Middle East. What is changing in these countries? Why are these movements robust at this time? Am I understanding fully what a people that have been ruled under such oppressive regimes live with? What are international obligations here in terms of these movements? Or, am I falling prey to just another brand of propaganda?Anyone else have feel this way? Or, have helpful links, etc.? Guess my jury isn't out yet. I need to think further- read material- guess just kick it around more!
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I totally share your concerns about people taking a stance on the oppression they face. But unfortunately there is a danger to it. Most of the people protesting against their respective dictatorships right now are not members of organised groups, and there are no real organised groups ready to replace Gaddafi should he step down or be forced out. The reality is somebody has to take his place if he's to step down. The only organised groups ready to step in and take control of the country are Islamic extremists. So yes, I think people should want to free themselves from dictatorship. However, the problem is that they may be freeing themselves of one dictator that is leading the nation to some semblance of prosperity and eventual democracy, and may very well lend themselves in the hands of religious extremist dictators who would be far, far worse and, instead, be leading them backward. What is worrying is that, at least in Egypt there seems to be a clear intent about the direction the protestors want to go that won't be likely to allow the Islamic Brotherhood to take hold of the country. Particularly interesting is that there are some women's rights groups who are speaking out particularly loudly at this point. What is worrying is that doesn't seem to be the case in Libya, and it seems more likely to fall to religious extremism rather than further toward democracy.
Do we really need more Middle Eastern and North African nations in Iraq's/Afganistan's shoes? If the West
were actually concerned about democracy in Libya or any other such country there would be far better ways to support it than to go in guns blazing...that much is for sure. Right now the West just seems set on destabalising another North African/Middle Eastern oil nation.