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The speedy intervention by America,
France and Britain in Libya in the name of UN Resolution in favour
of ‘No Fly” Zone is nothing but an old imperialist goal. All these
three nations are old imperialist powers who have colonized half the
world during 19th and first half of 20th century, France and Britain
directly and America indirectly. The cover of course was to ‘save
‘civilian lives though they themselves, along with their allies,
have killed, in colonized countries civilians many more times be it
in India, Algeria, Vietnam and several other countries.
They have also supported allies who are mostly dictators and keep on
killing civilians as a matter of routine but none of them would
protest even symbolically as it suits their vested interests. Israel
virtually destroyed Lebanon and killed thousands of civilians but
America not only did not protest, let alone stop Israel from doing
that as it was in its interest. Their civilians, including women and
children, all become ‘terrorists’ and worth killing and hence extend
full cooperation to Israel.
When Israel was bombing Ghaza and destroying everything including
residential houses and even hospitals killing the sick, women and
children, America kept quiet along with Britain and France. As they
were all worth killing to ‘protect’ Israel. People thought since
Republican Party was ruling and Bush was the President, it was their
ideology and hence they are doing it though it was not correct
position. Whether president is Clinton, Bush or Obama it is the same
story.
When Bush administration attacked Iraq telling lies that Saddam
Hussein possesses ‘weapons of mass destruction’ blame was mainly on
him and when Obama contested for Presidentship against the
Republican candidate all of us thought he is a liberator and
supported him emotionally and celebrated when he won. He was even
awarded Noble Prize for peace for ‘opposing war’ in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Did he deserve Noble? In fact no ruler should ever be given
Noble as rulers are hardly motivated by ideals and values but by
their own interests. However, Noble is known to be pro-establishment
in its approach.
Obama, however, along with rulers of Britain and France justifies
the attack on Libya by saying that the Arab League was also a party
to the UN resolution and they urged for stopping bombing of
civilians by Muammar Qaddafi. This is only technically true. The
Arab League has changed its position now as it was embarrassed by
such speedy and destructive invasion by three western countries.
The Arab League’s support had not much credibility even otherwise.
Firstly, most of the member countries are ruled by those who are US
supporters, monarchs and dictators. Secondly, these rulers
themselves fear rebellion by their own masses and look towards
America for support. Thus the Arab League support hardly had any
legitimacy in the eyes of the Arab masses.
Let us point out here this author is no supporter of Qaddafi. He has
ruled Libya with iron hands for last 41 years and must be toppled
sooner than later. His own people had revolted against him and his
bombing them also would not have stopped them from fighting against
him. However, this intervention, by three countries, has given his
rule some kind of legitimacy to perpetuate himself.
Now many Arabs will think it was indeed some kind of western
conspiracy to topple him and control Libyan oil. Their sympathy now
will be more with Qaddafi than otherwise. Qaddafi’s supporters will
also fight bow with greater determination. In fact these western
powers were in a hurry for armed intervention as they were not sure
which way the rebels would go, They were uncertain especially
because this was a democratic revolt against Qaddafi’s dictatorship.
In that case they will have no Access to Libyan oil.
Cuba’s Fidel Castro has shown in his lucid article what is tempting
for these western imperialists. The real motive, according to
Castro, is oil reserves of Libya. He writes: “Total desert covers
95% of its (Libya’s) territory. Technology made it possible to find
significant fields of excellent quality light oil, currently
providing 800 billion barrels per day, and abundant natural gas
deposits. Such wealth allowed it to achieve a life expectancy of
close to 75 years and the highest per capita income in Africa. Its
harsh desert is located above an enormous lake of fossil water,
equivalent to more than three times the land surface of Cuba, which
has made it possible to construct a broad network of fresh water
pipes which extends throughout the country.”
Thus for America and other western countries who are greatly
dependent on oil and gas reserves, there are enormous implications
for controlling Libya’s natural resources. They cannot simply let
them go. No wonder than the way speedily they have attacked Libya in
the name of saving civilian lives. Their invasion has already killed
several hundred and no one knows how long these operations will
continue.
Qaddafi will not give up easily. He has already declared his
intention to prepare for a long term fight. However, after the
experience of Iraq and Afghanistan it may not be easy for peoples of
America, England and France to support misadventure of their rulers.
Moreover the lie that this intervention is for saving civilian lives
will soon be out and people would know it is in fact for filling the
rich coffers of oil giants rather than saving human lives. Then it
will indeed be very difficult to sustain the fight.
Iraq and Afghanistan is very much on the minds of people and their
support cannot be taken for granted. Russia, China, India and Brazil
have refused to support US-England and France armed intervention in
Libya and from Europe Germany also declined to join US led invasion.
It has become obvious to the peoples of the world that America waits
for some pretext to invade (behind cover of some higher cause) WHERE
THERE IS OIL and where Israel’s interests are involved. Given these
two factors, America will never hesitate to intervene.
Now there is one more factor involved: the peaceful movement against
dictators and monarch’s to topple them and replace them with
democratic alternative. This totally belies Prof. Samuel
Huntington’s theory of clash of civilizations and that Islam is not
at all compatible with democracy. The former theory was evolved to
create new enemy – Islam- to replace communism which collapsed and
the later to legitimize support for dictators and monarchs in the
Arab world and both stood to the total advantage of America.
Osama’s terrorism – projected as Islamic terrorism for obvious
reasons – reinforced these images of Islam and Muslims and if
peaceful resistance to dictators and monarchs in the Arab world
continues it will prove these theories i.e. Islam is terrorist
religion and incompatible with democracy, will be proved wrong and
would no longer provide False excuses to America for armed
interventions this imposing its dominance over the area.
The American intervention in Libya has complex motives apart from
oil politics. All remaining Arab dictators are looking at America to
save them and terrorism is very much needed by them led by Osama to
legitimize their rule. This democratic revolution in the Arab world
is not only proving Osama wrong that violence and terrorism is the
only way out but also giving these dictators sleepless nights. It is
totally knocking off their feet all political legitimacy.
The Arab masses are quite hopeful today that the other world is
possible and possible quite peaceful and democratically. But western
powers want to prove them wrong and prove Osama right. In fact
America needs Osama and Osama needs America. They have become each
others mirror image.
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