The brutal 42-year-old dictatorship of Muammar al-Qadhafi is close to collapse and his own whereabouts are unknown. But the confusion over the Libyan situation cannot obscure the problems caused by the military intervention of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Heavy fighting continues in and around the capital, Tripoli, with Nato giving heavy bombing and shelling support to the rebel body, the Transitional National Council (TNC); and atrocities by both sides have been reported. This is, in large part, the outcome of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 — which bars landings by foreign forces but allows member states to use “all necessary means” (diplomatic terminology for military action) to ensure Libyan compliance with the Resolution. Humanitarian intervention as conceived by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France under cover of the U.N. has meant using highly advanced weaponry in helping the TNC, which includes militant Islamists of the sort who have been fighting Nato and other western forces in Iraq and Afghanistan for a decade, to bring about violent regime change. This western commitment to regime change, which could not have been achieved without Nato bombing, amounts to a total U-turn from the time, barely a year ago, when the same leaders were making much of Mr. Qadhafi in order to win access to Libya's substantial oilfields.
The entire rebellion and the Nato campaign are riddled with inconsistencies. Western proponents initially claimed the campaign would be over in days. It has lasted six months, is yet to end, and has cost the U.S. alone more than a billion dollars. Secondly, there are severe tensions among the TNC's three main factions; it is still not known who murdered the rebels' top officer, General Abdel Fattah Younes. Furthermore, many leaders among Libya's 140 tribes, including longstanding Qadhafi supporters, will want office in the new order. Above all, the western powers will almost certainly exact a heavy price for supporting the uprising. Their demands are likely to include — as they did in Iraq — preferential, if not monopoly, access for western oil corporations. It is no coincidence that as reports emerged of the rebel advance on Tripoli, the price of Brent Crude fell 1.7 per cent to $106.8 per barrel in futures trading. There are also likely to be lucrative contracts for western companies to rebuild Libyan cities; and the European Union members of Nato may want the new government to impose tight controls on Libyan migration to the EU. In effect, the U.S., Britain, and France, with help from Italy, have used the U.N. and Nato to bring about regime change and pull off a gigantic oil-grab.
Keywords: Libyan crisis
Death of Qadhafi is not the end of revolution in Libya. We saw what happen in Egypt -- after Mubarak regime the Military dictatorship is ruling the Egypt the real essence of Arab Spring lies in the establishmnet of the democratically elected government, a nation in which the rightful will of the citizen is supreme,a nation where principles of liberty,equality,fraternity,rule of law,secularism,repuplic will preavail. The NTC in Libya are required to work in this direction otherwise we will again see one dictator is replaced by other . As far as International community is concerned they come for their OIL DIPLOMACY. In order to help these Arab and African countries in establishmnet of Democratic government so that atlast, entire humanity on this planet will be benefitted.
The imperialist powers may have won a vistory of sorts in Libya but for how long. Western media reporting has been utterly biased in fact misreporting has been the norm. Forget the retarded US media even -- the BBC has no credibility. Colonel Gaddafi for all his shortcomings did give the people of Libya quality material welfare that the western countries cannot even dream for their people. The west is in terminal decline and the US will soon meet its second Vietnam in Afghanistan.
It was fine for Shell and ENI to be in Libya even while human rights violations took place, but suddenly Gaddafi was a monster and so Libya must be bombed to the medieval ages! Gaddafi should have been removed years ago. And there was good cause to go after him after the Lockerbie tragedy. Now it looks like a ploy for the western world to carve up the oil resources amongst themselves. France was especially quick with air strikes given that their companies could never set foot there. Never mind that Total SA continues to earn profits in the midst of the worst military regime in Myanmar. The double speak of the western world is amazing. One would have thought that the UN Charter would never condone a mandate that allowed offensive military strikes or pit itself for a rebellion against a ruling regime. Now the common man will pay the price for the greed for oil resources. And the Arab world has sold away one more of its peoples to the devil!
In 1953, the CIA at UK's behest toppled the democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh because he dared to nationalise the British owned Anglo - Iranian Oil Company. The Iranian Prime Minister did what Gadaffi did when he toppled King Idris of Libya. The Iraq war and the toppling of the secular dictator, Saddam Hussein again was to prove an annexation of another oil producing country. This was on the pretext of ushering in democracy.
Shift to Africa, one of the richest continents in the world where their dictators live a life of luxury not available to leaders of western countries, but no one dare do anything - Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Uganda, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea etc. All this while Africans live on a $ or less per day. Will the west ever invade these countries to better African lives? At the same time their Middle East invasions have left people far worse off than they ever were under overthrown dictators. Millions of them refugees in their own country.
One would hardly be surprised to find out why US/Europe wants to assist Libyan Rebels and what is the quid pro quo? On the contrary, it would be an interesting editorial that exposes china's murky activities to gorge Africa/Burma's wealth in order to maintain the momentum of its roaring economic engine.China, turning a blind eye and illegitimately assisting few elites to plunder the African oil/Burma gas, is unequivocally as brutal as US/Europe strategically assisting Libyan Rebels under the cloak of humanitarian grounds.
In Libya, anarchy succeeds anarchy.
Thought the 'oil grab' sentiment is going a little too far. Otherwise, NATO has no idea what it just gave birth to. If you observe the 'rebels', you'll notice that they're really Islamists that Gadhafi put down in the 60s and 70s. The flag already changed for a plain green signifying Libyan secular unity to a multi-colored flag incorporating the colors black and white, and the crescent, all of which have huge significance with Muslims. Much like Iraq, Tunisia, and Egypt, the overthrown dictators were the Wests' biggest allies in combating the Islamists.
first of all i would like to thank the Hindu for its continuous and transparent news.. its really appreciable that the newspaper is still maintaining the transparency while most of the other work for profit, name and fame..because of Hindu most of the people in India are able to know about the truth behind every news and issues..i think Hindu is the one which has the right to question all the malfunctions as it is distributing the true news and analysis consistently from long time..
Some opinions are based on truth and some on prejudice. However for an unnamed editorial column that typically reflects the views of the newspaper, the lack of research behind this piece is appalling. The saying still holds true that if you dig deep into any modern war, you'll find oil at the bottom of it. It is easy to extrapolate this to mean that Libya has oil and so NATO has a stake. Taking this to mean that Western nations will plunder Libya's resources like they did in the case of Iraq is merely a myth. Facts: TNC spokesman, Guma Al-Gamaty said that all business contracts signed with foreign companies during the reign of Gaddafi will be honoured. Intl oil companies in non-kurdish regions or Iraq were from Angola, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, Russia, S Korea, Turkey, UK and US. The US and Canada have the highest number of companies active in Kurdish areas. The Iraqi govt does not recognize the KRG contracts. The US gets no preferential access in Iraq.
While no one can support a tyrant like Gaddafi, if the NATO's method of 'regime change' is accepted in the case of Libya, the same principle could be applied to many trouble spots in the world where the West might see their self-interest, and assist a group of disgruntled people, without sending in ground troops, to overthrow the regime that, unlike in the case of Libya, might even be popularly elected but does not kowtow the US and EU lines! This could even happen with regard to our own country! One must think about the long-term implications of such a policy before joining the chorus of 'oust the tyrant'. After all, what's the guarantee that a rule by this motley crowd will not be worse for the Libyan people than even the dictatorship of Gaddafi?
another making of al qaeda...
Whosoever has written this article deserves a pat on the back. Communicating the truth to the People is absolutely essential for any representive democracy to function. The writer has gotten directly to the heart of it by pointing out double standards of Bloodthirsty Western powers. But again, it goes without saying that the Western elites who are still deeply rooted in the culture of Imperialism by no means represent the wishes of the Western masses. The whole post 2nd world war history is mostly about this : Death, destruction and Chaos in the name of Freedom, Democracy and Liberation. And the Western media which is essentially a mass propaganda weapon is even more deadly than the lethal bombs that these civilized nations have dropped on many a countries- especially in Central America and the Middle East. I hope that going forward Indian media too does not become hostage to these blood sucking corporations.
This editorial is highly opinionated. Looks like, the editors want Gaddafi to rule and loot Libya forever. Most of Libyan citizens wanted to overthrow him but did not have the capability on their own. US,France,Britain and Italy provided them support. I think out of all the wars that US got involved, this was the most sensible one. They didn't dictate terms to either Libyans or the UN. Your points regarding Libyan oil deals are assumptions about what might happen but the current reality is Gaddafi is out. Hindu should appreciate that first, condemnation can come later!
The American and European powers' lament for democracy and Human Rights violation is a masquerade to intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. Their only motto is plain plunder, not concern for the subject nations. Would Libya go the way Iraq and Afghanistan did? Your editorial makes a brilliant exposure.
Can we see an editorial from the Libyan peoples point of view ? What it does to them? Good or bad compared to previous regime. India will never be a major power deserving a seat at the security council if it does not promote what it deems as good around the world. Now that the editors have said what the west should not have done, can they say what India should have done when the uprising is brutally suppressed ? How can India advance its interest in the world ? Atleast, the west has the courage and means to stand by their principles. What has India done so far ?
Why we indians think that world is civilized place. Game of power was always the same and eventhough western world claim that they are civilized,they are the most savage when it comes to the foreign affair. The difference is that Indian foreign affairs are always weak, we cannot take clear position on any foreign affairs, leave libya alone, we cannot even talk clearly about Nepal or Burma. This weak, so called neutral, position stops us from having benefits or losses on one or other side. Also, I dont understand whether we should ask whole world to be civilized or we should practice what works for the whole world. At the moment we are loosing only by not speaking as we are perceived as if we are really weak. I agree that it is wrong to manipulate countries like Iraq or Libya but if we wont than others certainly will. Looking to our import bill i think it would be in our favour if we had such position so that we could have benefit of cheap oil.
The article clearly demonstrates the price NATO and EU will extract from democratic Libya. Today the majority of media speaks one side of the coin, it's The Hindu that tells the story of other side of the coin as well. It is the moral,professional and democratic duty of media to write full story of the events that happens around the world. Readers should cultivate the habit of knowing in-depth of everyday news which The Hindu alone brings it.
The article does well in exposing the selfish motives of some of the west's leading Military and Economic Powers. Despite all claims of championing democracy and fundamental rights, the efforts of these self appointed International Policemen have been nothing but a mad scramble for economic resources across the world.Libya is just another example in the long list of nations who have had the ill fortune of receiving 'International Help'. This along with several other occurences in the past has important implications and Lessons for India. In the eyes of the west, we are just a burgeoning market with ever rising demand and cheap man power.All overly friendly advanvces of the west, whether in political or economic, must therefore be looked upon with caution.
Yes this is definitely an oil grab exercise by the west, but whose gonna benefit?its the civilians in Libya and the west too.Though bombings could have been avoided with a better alternative like arresting gadaffi and his aides or so but bombings are a quick way to obliterate his rule. Even under enormous debt US is investing in it,may be for US its like an investment,to input funds to eradicate dictatorship and then enjoy profit from oil.
There are many brutal dictators ruling many countries.Why not Western countries are liberating them? Only reason NATO helping so called rebels of Libya to occupy oil well of that country.They rushed to Iraq for same purpose.Have anybody heard western countries helped to trouble countries for humanitarian purpose?Why not NATO sending Drone Aroplan in Syria or Bahrain?
US and other Western forces are trying to grab the oil share but the result was horrible like in iraq and now in libya.as the rebel army does not seems will settle peacefully even if there is a regime change.
Rightly said! it is a gigantic oil grab exercise nothing less. This is not the first time the US and main EU nations have misused their powers in the UN. Remember the Afghan war with Russia, it was US who through its much priced CIA spawned militants to counter Russia, but look at the price it is paying today.Hope, at least now America and the other EU nations give up their colonial attitude and support the rise of true democracy.
Why is it that The Hindu's views are always so skewed and conspiratorial when it comes to the West and very placid when it comes to China or Russia? India is in dire need for factual reporting and balanced OpEd. While The Hindu certainly does a good job of the former, often, its OpEd pages are single sided. In the case of Libya - there wasn't one article about the attorcities leashed by Gaddafi and family on its people. The total isolation and non development of Eastern Libya, the attorcities on the tribes opposing Gadaffi and the innumerable pain imposed by judicial and military courts have is all visible in Libya. Gadaffi imposed violent measures to cull peaceful protests. India and China had deep investments in Libya and therefore our stake was high with possible intervention and regime change. But by the same token the West demanding economic returns is a Sin, but us or China supporting a terrorist and brutal dictator for economic purposes is noble. I hope The Hindu will publish this.
While Qadhafi is no saint, what appears to be in the making is another Iraq like situation in its infancy. But what also cannot be denied is that Qadhafi brought it upon himself by his intransigent attitude and lack of concern for his people whom he attacked with war planes, to say the least.
I appreciate this Very direct editorial. The western world follows Oil and the revenue thereby to control the world. Although there are technologies that can completely substitute oil and coal for energy and power, west keeps Oil and Coal as the essence of wealth and control, for the convenience of them. West thinks they are specialists in wars and military exercises, they sometimes create trouble in nations and go out to solve them and get the benefits in the form of contracts. The other times when there is a conflict, they support the likely winner to gain those contracts. It is not in their interest to solve the problem without dragged wars and bloodshed. This is the way they think they can protect their citizens with jobs and wealth. This old ways of doing business is rotten and ended up losing millions of lives and financial depression. West, please raise above National boundaries, you can see the ray of hope is in living together and not in gaining contracts in cemeteries.
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