Good intentions, bad ending
Photo: AP
Don’t interfere in Libya
Op-ed: Western invasion of Libya will create Mideastern swamp worse than Iraq and Afghanistan
There is no doubt that Western military interference in favor of the Libyan people, who are engaging in a heroic battle against Gaddafi, is the type of noble idea that appeals to our hearts. Indeed, why shouldn’t the whole world end its indifference and enlist for the cause of the brave masses fighting to free their country from the burden of a cruel tyrant abusing them for four decades now?
Why not? Because just like many other good ideas replete with good intentions, even if it starts wonderfully it shall end badly.
A Tyrant's Promise
Associated Press
Defiant Libyan leader gives vitriolic speech calling on his backers to attack protesters 'in their lairs'. Meanwhile UN calls for 'immediate end to violence' which has left some 300 dead, Germany's Merkel says speech 'declaration of war on people'
Everyone shall laud everyone else and feel wonderful; there, we removed yet another Arab tyrant.
Two or three months after the dust settles, the United States will discover that it is caught in a swamp that would make Americans long for Iran and Afghanistan. It won’t take long to understand that as opposed to the Iraqi people, which at least have some kind of shared ethos, there is in fact no such thing as a “Libyan people.”
At most, we are dealing with a violent gang of tribal leaders, each one of whom aspires to become the next Gaddafi. In democratic elections, if and when such elections are held, the head of the largest tribe shall win.
Help in other ways
And here is another problem that should be taken into account: If the West interferes once, democracy fans in Arab states ruled by dictators – including our neighbors Jordan and Syria – would naturally expect Western interference the moment they embark on their own uprisings. And indeed, why interfere in Libya and not help the people in other states as well?This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to offer help, yet this time we can do it in a different way - without tanks and fighter jets, but rather, using other, quieter means: Funding and supporting resistance groups, or formulating a secret proposal that would ensure the future of Gaddafi and his loved ones in exchange for his quiet departure.
The above ideas may not look as good in photographs compared to a violent invasion, yet they may end up proving themselves as highly effective.
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