Really, I think we all know what's going on in Libya. To some point at least. The Libyans are rebelling against their tyrant of a president Muammar Gaddafi. It has been 42 years since Libya has titled a new power, and ever since that man went up to his "throne," Libya has been drastically rolling downhill. It was not until the recent months that the Libyans started a street protest, a protest that quickly escalated into a bloody civil war. On one side, the rebellion forces, seeking to remove Gaddafi from power, on the other, those defending their president and the nearly half-century regime.
News of the rebellion quickly surged into our American news, and, once the violence broke out, NATO decided to joined the fray. Over 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles, sorties from the French and the British, a naval blockade by the Royal Navy, a no-fly zone established... all to aid the Libyans, because we don't want Gaddafi there as well. The enemy isn't relenting though, far from it. He claims that alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs secretly put into beverages and pills, the latter by Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, were the cause of the mayhem. He also refuses to step down until the rebels (rats and cockroaches he says) are crushed.
These "rats and cockroaches" are primarily civilians, just like our own Civil War decades ago included many farmers from the South. Then again, what else would soldiers be other than people taken from everyday life to serve their country? Libya is lucky that among its rebels there are veteran soldiers as well. Otherwise, the war would be harder to win, even with NATO's force as support.
We Americans really have a lot to do in the Middle East, huh?
Libya has things that the US needs and its not very favorable to upset them... Sadly. Some people believe that our energy security is compromised if we allow the removal of Momar. Or that whoever replaces him will most certainly not be in favor of the US. Some people feel too much direct intervention will lead to more terrorism against the US since were in everyone's business. Its a very hard line to walk.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I heard about that too..darn. Forgot to include that in the blog. :x Good to refresh my memory though, thanks!
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