President Barak Obama spoke at a news conference, where he explained the reasoning behind the push for a no fly zone.
He stated that NATO, and Arab countries, will take the lead in enforcing the military option, while the U.S. will supply various support for the military action, and humanitarian aid.
Obama said this came after Gaddafi refused to back off of attacking “peaceful” protesters, and that he made threats of “no mercy” against the rebels.
Point 1: The Libyan protesters are NOT peaceful. Look at how the protesters in Egypt and Tunis behaved. Early on Libyan protesters attacked government forces, and police, then captured military weapons which they have been using since. The Egyptians & Tunisians did not do that.
It has become clear that Libyan rebels have also been supplied from outside Libya with weapons and ammo. A Libyan arms dealer in Egypt has admitted that this is happening. Libyan rebels have admitted the same. We now know that some how the rebels have developed their own air force, seemingly overnight.
In the eastern half of Libya, where the majority of oil fields are by the way, Libyan police and government forces joined the rebels, and it seems they were paid off.
This is not a case of peaceful protest, and certainly not on the same level as the events in Egypt and Tunis. This is a full blown civil war.
Point 2: Many of the Arab League (League of Arab States), who are supporting the no fly zone, are at this very moment suppressing the peaceful protest going on in their countries. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen, etc. In fact Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirate are currently helping Bahrain suppress a truly peaceful protest by the majority of the population.
Point 3: The push for a no fly zone and military action against Libya started before Gaddafi made threats of “no mercy”. In fact, very early on Obama demanded that Gaddafi step down. Obama did not do this with Mubarak in Egypt! The Obama administration actually made supporting statements for Mubarak for at least a week, before asking Mubarak to implement changes, and then finally asking Mubarak to step down. Very different treatment when compared to Gaddafi.
Point 4: If a similar situation happened in the United States; violent protests, attacking government forces, capturing military weapons, defections of military and police to the rebels side, you can be sure that President Obama, or any President, would not hesitate to do exactly what Gaddafi is doing. This policy even has an official name: National Security.
Yes Gaddafi is bad, but so are the governments of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, etc. Hey, don’t forget that President Bush Jr took Gaddafi off the terrorist list, in 2006. And the UN lifted sanctions in 2003.
So President Obama, why are we helping “peaceful” heavily armed rebels in Libya, while ignoring the murders of truly peaceful protesters in other countries? All I can hear is lies, lies and more lies.