The Arab Spring

[Jubal]

Apparently there's some talk that it might've been a rebel plane that Gadaffi's guys hit, but nevertheless. ***t is definitely hitting the fan.

[comrade_general]

Military action by the rest of the world was needed yesterday. By yesterday I mean weeks ago.

[Goldyrulz]

Yesterday now means week ago  :blink:  

I should catch up with the times  

[Jubal]

Well, the French are blowing things up as of now.

[comrade_general]

It's a combined effort; someone has to be there to prevent the French from surrendering.

[Jubal]

Is that trope really common in the US too, or have you been talking to us English folk too much?

[comrade_general]

Quite common here too.

[Dimos]

But... is it JUST for foreign countries to enter a country under rebelion? Bahrein and Lybia in that case?

[Jubal]

I think it is under certain conditions, as follows (this is a simplification, but some simplification is needed);

1 - That the side we're fighting on has majority support. Given that at his low point Gadaffi only really had his hometown of Sirte and central Tripoli under his control, in a country where he's controlled the media for forty years, we can safely say that his support is really very limited.
2 - That we were asked to go in. The rebels explicitly asked for the airstrikes that have now been implemented.
3 - That we make every effort to minimise civilian casualties, do not attack targets that do not pose a threat, and concentrate on it as a purely military operation.
4 - That international law expressly allows the action to take place.

To my mind, as the rebels express the vast majority (anti-Gadaffi) view, I consider them a more legitimate authority than Gadaffi for Libya. Given that, plus the use of unprincipled and deadly assaults by Gadaffi's forces, plus a United Nations resolution being passed which essentially urges UN members to protect Libyan civilians, I think that we have every right to comply with their request for assistance.

Bahrain is different. The government only has minority support, the protesters are unarmed and being suppressed by police & troops. The Saudis do not have a right to enter in that case, because whilst part 2 was fulfilled part 1 most certainly wasn't and nor was 3. Let alone 4. Those are the critical differences between the two operations.

[debux]

I wish this would be talked more often in the news at my country... all they care of is whatever load of s*** happens in the whereabouts and in the local media (a model gets new implants! 30 minutes coverage of that)

[comrade_general]

a model gets new implants!

Really? Where!? I want to hear about that!

See it too.  

[Jubal]

Much back & forth on the ground in Libya.

On the minus; Brega, Ras Lanuf, Ughayla lost today, Gadaffi's forces seem to be pushing some seriously uncoordinated rebels back.
On the plus; Libya's foreign minister has seen the writing on the wall and legged it to dear ol Blighty, we've kicked out some Pro-Gadaffi folks from the embassy.

Also, eyes are now turning to Syria, despite cabinet resignations there seems to be no sense of concessions. President Assad probably isn't unpopular enough to go - yet - but if his hand is forced and too many protesters get shot that may tip the balance towards rebellion.

(Worth noting that it looks like Kuwait's cabinet may resign soon).

[Cuddly Khan]

I think I might buy it than. I always needed a cabinet.

[Jubal]

The rebels actually took a border town from Gadaffi's forces! Omigosh!

[debux]

Yay for Brigands! I knew those peasants could do something one day