Foreign Intervention in Libya: A Good Thing?

We’re making progress people, slowly but surely. This time not on the fighting front, but on the political front. Which is arguably more important.

            The NTC is starting to flex its political muscles and foreign leaders are taking notice. Just recently, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Tripoli to meet and talk with the new NTC leaders. I think this is huge symbolically if nothing else. It’s more of a ‘Let’s-see-how-you’re-doing-throw-our-support-behind-you’ dealie than anything else. But that’s what Libya needs right now, a good foreign support. If they don’t have that, organizing a clean transition to a new government will be challenging. And it’s not just my opinion either. 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron with NTC leaders in Tripoli. [Reuters]

Al Jazeera recently interviewed a few Libyans on their views about this. When asked why he thought France and Britain played such a prominent role in the fight, Seraj Eddin Youssef (A 19 year old technology student)   said this: “Apart from the obvious reasons like oil contracts and other economic gain, I also think that both the UK and France realized they missed the boat during the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. That is why they now claim such a prominent role in Libya.” This brings up many good points about foreign involvement.

How much needs to happen before foreign powers get involved? Human rights violations were happening long before any intervention, even before any revolution gained traction. So why does it take huge revolutions to bring about intervention where it is so obviously needed? Governments like the U.S. and Britain, and especially international groups like NATO need to realize that they don’t need massive uprisings in order to do what is right. But would it be right?

That’s the problem with all of this. It seems to me many Arab countries would rather deal with it themselves first than accept help. I feel like it’s a pride thing, and that if the tables were turned and it was America, we’d feel the same way. We want to feel like we can do this by ourselves, and only if it gets so terribly bad will we accept help. So there’s the thin line between domineering and helpful. Help too early, you’re too controlling and you’re messing in affairs that don’t concern you. Too late and you ignored obvious human rights violations. Touchy to say the least.

So when Seraj says that France and Britain wanted to get on the boat after they missed Egypt and Tunisia, he’s illustrating that conflict between looking intrusive and looking indifferent. But luckily, they have a chance to stay in that happy-medium. Most Libyans seem to want strong ties with the West economically and politically. This gives the countries a chance to show they aren’t indifferent by supporting the new government with strong political ties and by helping with economic development.

              

Can’t get enough of my riveting opinions on Libyan intervention? (Sarcasm here by the way) No need to fear! Part two of my insightful analysis will be up shortly, covering American response to recent NTC announcements, problems within the NTC, and progress made.  And as always, many thanks to Al Jazeera for their many news articles, many of which are referenced in this post.