Sunday, March 20, 2011

Arab League Withdraws Support on Libyan Action

The Arab League's actions are not necessarily contradictory. Support for a 'No-Fly Zone' is not the same as supporting attacks on ground troops. The former just prevents Qaddafi from using air power to bomb the rebels and protects civilians. The latter actively aids the rebels by destroying Qaddafi's ground forces. Either way, 'Smart Diplomacy' this is not.

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/03/20/obama-punked-by-the-arab-league-on-libya

"That’s about the only explanation after the Arab League reversed course and criticized the U.S.-led attack on Libya (via Reuters):


European and U.S. forces unleashed warplanes and cruise missiles against Gadhafi on Saturday in a United Nations-backed intervention to prevent the veteran leader from killing civilians as he fights an uprising against his 41-year rule.


But Arab League chief Amr Moussa said what was happening was not what Arabs had envisaged when they called for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.


“What is happening in Libya differs from the aim of imposing a no-fly zone, and what we want is the protection of civilians and not the bombardment of more civilians,” he said.



In comments carried by Egypt’s official state news agency, Moussa also said he was calling for an emergency Arab League meeting.


It only seems like yesterday that Hillary Clinton was citing Arab League support for Obama’s war against Libya. Oh wait, it was only yesterday.


Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States will support its European, Canadian and Arab partners in their efforts to stop further violence against civilians in Libya by Muammar Qaddafi’s forces, including “through the effective implementation of a no-fly zone.”


Arab nation leadership in efforts to stop violence in Libya has played a key role in mobilizing the international coalition, Clinton said. Clinton said that the Arab League with its “pivotal statement” changed the “diplomatic landscape” with regard to the approach toward the United Nations Security Council resolution this week authorizing “all necessary measures,” including a no-fly zone to end violence and protect civilians in that country.


If I were a betting man I would take the Arab League’s reversal as an indication they believe Gaddafi is going to survive. Welcome to Barack Obama’s AWOL presidency.

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To assuage my guilt over the liberal quoted amount, here is a link to the general site which you should go to and poke around a bit.

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