Sunday, May 01, 2011

There are no human rights abuses when you are at 30,000 feet

What is the difference between suicide-bombing innocents in a bus for a purported cause, and blowing up innocents in an air attack, also for a purported cause?

A NATO assassination attempt on Moammar Gaddafi in Tripoli is said to have killed one of his sons (who had little involvement with his father's regime) and three grandchildren. For all we know, the news may be fabricated, but only underscores the fact that 'targeted' NATO bombing in Libya is likely to have killed innocents.

This is not to defend Gaddafi, but to point out the moral hazard involved with foreigners' intervention in a quarrel that is not theirs to fight.

* * *

In other news, US Senator John McCain lambasted the Chief Warmonger for "taking a backseat role in Libya". He wants America to lead NATO's war on Libya, not just be a part of it.

Two weeks ago, McCain was in rebel-controlled Libya himself, whence he argued for greater material support to the rebels. Said he:
"Same thing we did in Afghanistan...weapons delivery can be facilitated."
Of course, delivering weapons is second nature to the federal government of the United States.

Ever since the Libyan revolution started, there has been an argument that the violent but relatively secular Gaddafi regime will be replaced by a more Islamist one. McCain turned this argument on its head:
"If there is a stalemate (in Libya), it could open the doors to radical Islamic fundamentalism..."
True that. Except that it is likely to happen even if the rebels come to power. Just like the fall of Saddam Hussein opened the doors of Iraq to religious extremists (Psst, here is a secret - Mr. McCain egged on that regime change as enthusiastically as in Libya).

It is hard to say who the more attention-hungry performer is: McCain or Donald Trump.









See, you go to war for me, and I clown for you.
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