Can I just throw in, that I am quite ashamed for my government's decision to abstain in U.N. and to not take actively part in the military actions? Rumour says, that foreign minister Guido Westerwelle even wanted to vote "No" and could only be forced to change his view after an intervention from chancellor Merkel.
I feel, that we have a special responsibility to go against dictatorships and despots, who slaughter their own people. The abstention was a serious blow against over 60 years of post-war German foreign policy.
Anybody from Germany with me?
Noted, but don?t beat yourself up, all governments do stupid things occasionally. Would be grateful for a brief overview of what was the motivation, since it wasn?t covered here at all. (Nor was why France, well Sarkozy anyway, was so hawkish about the operation.)
I had some reservations about a ?No Fly Zone?, for both political and operational reasons. Though I never had any moral doubt than Gaddafi was a bum, who should go.
Anyway, it turned out not to be a ?No Fly Zone?, which probably would not have helped the Benghazi citizens at all. They got a UN resoultion for ?all necessary means? passed instead. This saved Benghazi from the promised ?no mercy? slaughter, as has been seen during the last week. No idea who pulled that rabbit out of the hat at the UN, but it was a good job.
So long as the Gaddafi regime goes, then there is less likely be a political mess. The problem comes if he doesn?t leave and a political stalemate ensues.
* * *
In today's developments, the Rebels have made more gains where the regime forces have already bugged out.
BBC News - Rebels take Ras Lanuf, Brega , Uqayla, Bin Jawad
The media has been banging on about Sirte being a "Gaddafi Stronghold"; this city is the next along the coast.
Maybe it will be too much for the Rebels, will have to wait and see. The media are often wrong about such things. Also, it will be an interesting political dilemma for the coalition, since Gaddafi will not be shelling his on tribe?s people in the city. Therefore, no justifiable mandate to exercise "all necessary means".
A tricky political situation may arise.