Expo 2030 Riyadh registration dossier receives final BIE approval in Paris    Ministry of Hajj suspends 7 Umrah companies over transport violations    Al-Daqal Castle: A timeless sentinel in the mountains of Abha    Saudi Arabia participates in CERF advisory group meeting in Geneva    Riyadh ranks 23, up 60 places, among top 100 emerging startup ecosystems globally    Mobile Festival across Riyadh features Dar wa Emaar's annual Eid Al Adha celebration The mobile festival reinforces the company's commitment to building vibrant communities and enhancing quality of life beyond unit delivery.    Trump abruptly leaves G7 Summit as Israel-Iran conflict intensifies    Iran launches fresh missile attack on Israel as conflict enters fifth day    15 killed in worst Russian strikes on Kyiv in almost a year    Jeddah Astronomy reports solar flare triggering geomagnetic storm    California doctor to plead guilty to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine    Culture Ministry to present second edition of 'Terhal' performance in Diriyah this August    Saudi Arabia beat Haiti 1-0 to open 2025 Gold Cup campaign    Smart applications transform visitor experience and accelerate digital transformation in Saudi tourism    Riyadh residents to receive alerts on nearby infrastructure work    Saudi Arabia miss World Cup spot after Australia defeat, head to Asian playoff    Al Hilal president: No new signings for Club World Cup due to inflated demands    New York Gallery showcases AlUla Heritage sketches by French architect Heim    Saudi Arabia face uphill task against Australia in World Cup qualifier    Cowboy Beyoncé dazzles nearly sold-out stadium    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



The risks of foreign intervention in Libya
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 23 - 03 - 2011

Military intervention in another country's affairs is always a delicate situation and nowhere has that been proven more clearly than in Libya where France, the UK and the US have launched attacks based on a UN Security Council decision to create a no-fly zone there. The nations that led the attack were reluctant to do so without a UN mandate, but it was also a call from the Arab League for intervention that prompted action. Now, almost everyone involved is at odds over how to continue.
The idea of limited military action is always touted as a justification for intervention, but it seems naive to think that such campaigns are controllable, especially in cases such as Libya. The intention of the foreign intervention was said to be to protect civilians from the indiscriminate bombing and strafing executed by Gaddafi's forces. That certainly is an honorable goal, but given the open rebellion and, essentially, civil war underway in Libya, a no-fly zone could easily be interpreted as support for rebel forces. Indeed, the discussion over Gaddafi's own fate is being conducted in secret by the foreign forces even though world opinion appears to favor deposing the long-entrenched dictator. Nevertheless, foreign intervention to overthrow a government often borders on being illegal.
Even if there were an international consensus regarding how to proceed in Libya, it is still unclear who would replace Gaddafi if he were to be removed from power. A power vacuum in the country would be disastrous and produce even more turmoil than that which exists there now.
The truly frightening aspect of the discord among the foreign countries taking action is the apparent lack of detailed discussion and agreement on the nature of the campaign. It seems clear that anyone calling for military intervention will have no control over the action. And, in this case, it seems apparent that a hastily organized campaign is no way to intervene. We expect more of the world leaders and want them to meet that expectation. __


Clic here to read the story from its source.