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Do we have to get involved with the situation in Libya ??

I know, its all about oil.

Just heard on the wireless that the UN has given the go ahead for military airstrikes.

We do seem to be pretty selective as to which dictators are unacceptable and which aren't.

Mugabe continues to run his country into the ground with impunity.

delilah?
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Its all a bit of a mess isn't it. One where we pick and choose which countries we interfere with, like we have some mandate of World Police - albeit with UN backing of sorts.

Do you see us helping out Bahrain, or Zimbabwe either. noooooo. might piss too many people off.

edit: LR got there first.

gadaffi has been left alone for years to do as he liked.as soon as there is an uprising we are all over it.oil oil oil.riches we need.

Good point.

We dont get anything from zimbabwe though, this is probably the reason.

Still dont see why we have to get involved though

Summed up above

Burma have been killing their people for years.

Nobody is sorting them out though, and it's an ex-British colony.

Policy tends to be based on the best interests of those the politicians serve (Supposedly).

While it may be morally questionable not to be involved in conflicts where 1000's of people are being slaughtered, it is not within other countries mandates to become involved (Unless you're the US).

This all goes out the window when intervention is seen as beneficial to others. In other words, if there's oil involved we are interested, if it's just genocide with no oil involved we aren't.

I'm surprised how blasé the government(s) seem to be about it this time though. After the protests and criticism they recieved for going into Iraq, I'll be amazed if there isn't a similar reaction from people if the US drags us into serious military intervention in Libya.

But this time they've got the support of The Arab League.

So everything's kosher!

:)

Assuming that was done on purpose!

And this is the shallowness of so much of the debate about development/free trade/"the third world".  Actually, before Mugabe went off the rails (and remember for many years he was actually a model ruler), Zimbabwe was one of the wealthiets and most forward-looking countries in Africa, with a huge agricultural industry that led it to be called 'the bread basket of Africa".  It could have been one of the key stabilizing influences in a tragically unstable continent....and that, as Tony Blair supposedly understood in setting up his Africa Commission, would have had huge spin-offs for other parts of the world.  But that sort of strategic, long-term thinking and planning is exactly what doesn't happen, so far as I can see, anywhere in the murky agenda of international affairs.



The Government is blase because it has an idot as Foreign Secretary, and it is actually the US which is holding back from suggesting military action, and the UK and France which seem to be leading the way (though a 'No Fly Zone' is not technically military action.

This one is different though.

When it comes to Libya the UN, or at least somebody, should do something. Iraq was very much a grey matter and an apparent case of warmongering.

What most will complain about is the hypocrisy. Why does Libya get help when a country like Burma doesn't?

Of course, it's a rhetorical question.

Think it's different this time.Obama has tried everything to get out of supporting attacks this time round.

;)
I miss my debates with Bennett, the anti semitic cunt.

Fair enough, I realise this situation is a bit different.

As you say, my main issue with it is the way we pick and choose which countries' affairs to intefere in.

I think it's more subtle than that - the US seem to have been delaying because they didn't want to be the ones to take the lead in actually imposing the secure zone, they wanted the regional powers (ie Arab League plus Mediterrenean countries) to be the ones who imposed it. Which seems to be what is happening.

Bit weird to see the French so gung-ho, obviously looking for an opportunity to be able to surrender early on.

Anyways. The RAF have a brand new toy to play with, it needs a good run-out.

Presumably the Surrender Monkeys, see Libya as being very much in their self interest, what with Algeria and Morocco being in the region.  If Libya falls into  pit of chronic instability, it might have a knock on effect in the rest of the Maghreb.

Will Italy be leading from the front, as former colonial power?  :)

Ha, ha a joint Italian-French task force. That would be brilliant. Truly terrifying

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This sounds pretty much on the mark...especially like the comment about the French :D

No one says anything about the Saudis going in to Bahrain...?

Two key differences:
1) They were invited in by the Bahrain government as part of a Gulf Cooperation Council force to help out local law enforcement
2) Bahrain is a key western ally in the region (hosts one of the largest US bases in the region) so their anti-government protestors are not heroic battlers for liberty, but unruly fanatical scum who their not very democratic government can therefore feel free to dispose of as it sees fit.

Breaking news: the French have begun bombarding Gadaffi's forces with a selection of soft cheeses, while a crack squad of Belgian pastry-makers is "on high alert".

Looks like Gadaffi's backing down anyway. Put the Brie bombers back in the hangar.

It was the Belgians wot won it

In fairness France was involved in a conflict with Libya as recently as the mid 80's. While there was very few actual frenchmen involved, The Foreign Legion were utilised extensively and kicked the arse of a much larger Libyan army.

Fuck off being fair to the French. Pffft! What on earth's got into you, man?

We have a French student at the mo, what a complete and utter knob he is too

Chic alors.

Yes we do, immigrant white farmers who have had their farms stolen

:)

Its a beautiful country though. Went the 10 yrs or so ago. Victoria Falls is amazing.

The pedantic cunt in me has always been really irritated by this phrase; or specifically by it's almost universal use as a synonym for "anti-jewish", particularly when it's aimed at Arabs, who are themselves a semitic people.

Bring on the Air Strikes!! I hope they blow the place off the fucking map ! Sick i hearing about it.

Bennett is an Arab?

I'm sorry you've had to deal with so much trauma.

It's been a terrible time for me :)

He could be for all I know. Unusual name if he is but you never know. Should I have said that I was going off at a bit of a tangent?

So it sort of begins...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7V6FAoTLc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3BO6GP9NMY

Libyan gvt to distibute weapons to 1million civillians.

Fuck sake, all i get from our government is a census

At least you got something ! I didn't even get that.