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[Ampersand]

It's so nice of the Arab League to invite us in to solve their problems...

You just don't get it do you? We wanted to go and help, but felt to do so without an invitation to do so would be seen in the same light as the War in Iraq, or other acts of aggression in the past. The United States in particular has been signaling to the Arab League to issue such an invitation for some time now, in order to avoid uncomfortable accusations of aggression from other Arab states.

[Sheb]

Well, the impression I have is that the US doesn't really want to go at all, and was looking for excuse not to do anything. Now that the Arab Leagues gave its approval, I wouldn't be surprised if the US decided to wait for the African Union or the UN.

[Christes]

I wonder if the USAF is dying to try out those F-22's?

[Ampersand]

Well, the impression I have is that the US doesn't really want to go at all, and was looking for excuse not to do anything. Now that the Arab Leagues gave its approval, I wouldn't be surprised if the US decided to wait for the African Union or the UN.

The African Union's voice, with Congo as a member, carries as much weight as Qadaffis in this regard.

Upon that, it's always been fairly well understood that the UN will never approve of this. Russia and China, as Security Council members, are more than happy to block any action at all, under any circumstances.

[Phmcw]

France and Britain just want to attack. Their public opinion would probably follow them this time and their leaders are desperately in need for approval.

EDIT : yup, France is really pushing for a least a no flight zone. Mostly because Sarkozy doesn't stand a chance in the upcoming election if he doesn't get his reputation of strong and dynamic leader back.

[Sheb]

And he really need to better his reputation after offering help to Ben Ali.

[Kogan Loloklam]

http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/international/6017.html

Seems more and more journalists are sick of being tools to the state, and the state is fighting back.

[ChairmanPoo]

Some food for thought from an article I read today:

Notice how the press (particularily the European press) is putting a lot of emphasis on the North African revolts, and how they want to be "like Europe", yet is keeping a sepulchral silence on the Iceland one, in which two goverments have been deposed, several important politicians are getting tried, and responsabilities are being demanded from the major financial players in the crisis?

[Leafsnail]

Probably because Iceland aren't revolting against dictators?

[ChairmanPoo]

Maybe. But more likely because the Iceland revolts hit too close to home.

[Leafsnail]

Totally.  Newspapers totally don't call for the same thing to happen to our governments all the time.

[ChairmanPoo]

Actually, many don't. At least here. And there's a difference between being worried with the crisis and demanding the heads of all involved on a plate.

Also, you disregard too casually the informative silence about a major political upheaval in an EU applicant, I think. IMO this is at least par to the events in Africa.

[RedKing]

After the events of the past couple of days in Libya, I'm just utterly disgusted with the entire international system. I've always been a defender of the UN, and I still think it does useful work in the arenas of development and humanitarian work. But as a security framework, it's utter bollocks.

If Qaddafi manages to crush the rebellion (the frontlines are already pushed back to Brega), and skips off with a minimal handslap from the international community, I think it will give tremendous encouragement to dictators not just in the Arab world, but the whole world. The message it sends is, "Do whatever you want to your own people, as long as you do it quickly."

This is Obama's Rwanda moment, and so far he's botching it with indecision about as well as Clinton did. He's certainly not alone in coming in for blame, but c'mon man...the French are ready to fight before we are.

[olemars]

The UN is only as good as its member countries want it to be. It would require a serious remodeling of the UNSC for that body to be anything other than a superpower arm-wrestling table.

[Stas]

The UN is only as good as its member countries want it to be. It would require a serious remodeling of the UNSC for that body to be anything other than a superpower arm-wrestling table.

United Nations Space Command?