The governments of the Arab League had no issue unilaterally applying military force to squash anti-ruling class protests in member states Bahrain and Yemen. They have the power to attack and disable Gaddafi’s air strike capabilities. If the Arab League supports war to end Gadhafi’s rule, their member states should be the lead aggressors in the military action in Libya. They aren’t.
Robert Gates said it succinctly: a “A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses.” The US, Britain and France are now waging war on behalf of the rebel militia in Libya. The Arab League sanctioned a “No Fly Zone” but still wants to be an arms length away from any consequences.
Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa told reporters before an emergency meeting Sunday that what is happening in Libya is different from what was intended by imposing a no-fly zone, according to Egypt’s state-run Ahram newspaper.
“What we want is the protection of civilians and not the shelling of more civilians,” Moussa said, adding that “military operations may not be needed in order to protect the civilians.”
But Arab League chief of staff Hisham Youssef said Moussa’s comments did not signify a shift by the organization.
“The Arab League position has not changed. We fully support the implementation of a no-fly zone,” Youssef said. “Our ultimate aim is to end the bloodshed and achieve the aspirations of the Libyan people.”
via Libyan military calls for cease-fire amid allied successes – CNN.com.
The only Arab League country that is an active coalition member is Qatar. The rest of the member states don’t want their fingerprints on the US, Britain and France led attacks. It’s our war.
It’s our war on our dime in the Arab League region, the fourth ongoing war in the heart of the Muslim world. I don’t think hurried diplomatic meetings with rebel leaders desperate for military aid let’s us understand what, besides the end of Gaddafi’s rule, the rebels truly desire for Libya’s future. We are the Bad Cop of the Arab and Middle Eastern world. And yes coalition bombs will kill innocent Libyan civilians.
I don’t know how this will turn out, but I still don’t agree with US, UK and France effectively being the security forces for Arab League member nations who themselves are engaged in the same oppressive tactics we are find so objectionable in Libya.