by Simon Assaf
The Western military assault on Muammar Gaddafi has been welcomed by millions of people horrified by the cruelty he is unleashing on the Libyan people. This war is being sold as a “humanitarian intervention” with strict guarantees that there will be no ground invasion.
The case for this intervention is very powerful, and has the tacit support from organizations such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, that have been, and remain targets for Western imperialism. There can been no question that Gaddafi is deeply hated among Arab peoples, and that he is a cruel despot.
His attacks on civilians, the aerial bombardment of demonstrations, the mass round-up and executions, has left the people in despair. The uprising that began on February 17th took place under the most difficult conditions, and the bravery and sacrifice of the revolution remains an inspiration to all.
The US and its allies, we are told, have been dragged into this war against their will. But the West is not innocent, nor is it impartial. Its interests are not those of the Libyan revolution, but aimed at guaranteeing a series of deals made by Gaddafi to the West.
It is ironic that among the heavy weapons destroyed by Western warplanes outside Benghazi were artillery pieces supplied to the regime by the US, or that Gaddafi’s airforce was recently refitted by France, or that UK supplied his security forces with some $65 billion in arms, including crowd control equipment.
Western powers have from the beginning made it difficult for the revolution to succeed on its own terms. Libya’s Transitional National Council (TNC), the body that grew out of the revolution, made a series on simple demands in the first days of the uprising. Western governments refused to accept these until certain “guarantees” were in place.
The rebels asked for the recognition of the Transitional National Council; they demanded access to the billions in sequestrated regime funds in order to buy weapons and other crucial supplies; and they demanded an immediate halt to the “mercenary flights” that provided the regime with its foot soldiers.
The answer they received was an unequivocal No. The West declared that they did not recognize “governments”, only countries. They refused to block the mercenary flights as these “security contractors” play an important role in other conflicts — such as Iraq and Afghanistan. They objected to any weapons sales as they feared that these could fall into the hands of “Islamist terrorists”, and they refused to release the funds on “legal grounds”.
Instead Western powers put a number of conditions on a revolution. They demanded that any future Libyan government would abide by all contracts signed by the Gaddafi regime. These contracts, including “generous” oil concession, had to be honored without question. Western powers demanded that the strict repression of “Islamist movements” would remain, and that Libya would maintain its role as a guardian against the migration of Africans into southern Europe.
The UN made it a condition that a “genuine ceasefire” by the regime would bring the war to a halt. This would in effect pave the way for the partition of the country — the West of Libyan under control of the old regime and the east beholden to foreign powers.
In effect, the West has blackmailed the revolution. The TNC was forced to mortgage its future in order to guarantee its survival. One cannot but wonder why one month into this uprising the rebels still have few weapons, or body armor, or effective anti-tank weapons. That despite controlling key ports the rebels are still begging for ammunition and other other crucial supplies.
There is a second important principle. That “humanitarian intervention” is a dangerous precedent that has led to other disastrous wars. The case for humanitarian intervention made during the Balkan Wars in the 1990s became a cover for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. These disasters exposed this credo as a lie. Now it is being repackaged and resold.
The hypocrisy and double standards of the imperialism do not need spelling out. In the days leading to the UN resolution and the launching of cruise missiles, Yemen’s ruler (an important ally of the West) was gunning down democracy protesters, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states were invading Bahrain to violently suppress the democracy movement there, and Israel launched its warplanes, once again, on Gaza.
The West and its allies in the Middle East have been thrown into turmoil by the huge movements for change sweeping the region. Now it is using its intervention in Libya as a way of regaining its foothold, and rebuilding its credibility. This intervention is without any doubt popular. But the interests of those making these revolutions are not those of the imperialism or the Arab regimes.
The Libyan revolution is not lost, but it has been forced to make deep compromises. The demands for freedom, for an end to poverty, oppression and humiliation still burn strongly. The movements sweeping the region are facing bloody repression, and are winning important victories. The real hope for Libya lay in the progress of these revolutions, especially those in Egypt and Tunisia.
When British troops entered southern Iraq in 2003 they were welcomed by long oppressed Iraqi Shias. But they also had a message for the foreign troops: “Don’t forget to leave.”
But they also had a message for the foreign troops: “Don’t forget to leave.”
Excellent article! Thank you for grounding this conflict historically and transnationally.
****The real hope for Libya lay in the progress of these revolutions, especially those in Egypt and Tunisia.****
This is the key point. Those cheering on Western intervention don’t see Arabs as having any historic agency. To them, people in the Third World always have to be ‘saved’ by their benevolent overseers. Such an outlook overlooks the fact that imperialism is the major cause of their misery, including in this case.
This is a good, solid analysis of the situation, devoid of appeals to emotion and the usual cliches.
Could Simon Assaf (or others) provide documentation or attribution for the TNC demands/requests and the Western powers’ responses and conditions?
I haven’t seen this detailed elsewhere.
Burton Steck, Chicago
Hi Burton,
You are welcome to trawl my facebook page as I published detailed notes and links.
regards,
Simon Assaf
Blah, blah. Why isn’t the Arab World able to help their “brothers”? Where are the non-Arab islamic nations? Blame the west: it’s easy, popular and most of all u don’t get killed for it. Which I can’t say of the countries who didn’t help the Libyan ppl. About double standards. Yes the West has them, just like the rest of the world. Playing the victim and make others more powerful than reality is, makes yourself weak and childish. Shame so many ppl get killed for that.
wkr
“Blah, blah. Why isn’t the Arab World able to help their “brothers”?
Aloys please remember that the Arab World is ruled undemocratically by kings and princes indebted to U.S. and Western imperial interests to stay in power. Details like that may bore you, but I am quite sure that Arabs and Muslims alike are not bored and support the people’s revolution in Libya.
highly interesting, thank you for the facebook page suggestion, great article
Which weapons destroyed outside Benghazi were made in the USA?
What did Gaddafi buy from the UK for $65billion?
If you start an article with blatant inaccuracies how do you expect to be taken seriously?
I find this article to be simplistic, unoriginal, and frankly, quite boring. It’s being posted everywhere, as if it is a beacon, shedding light on this situation in which everyone, including Libyans, are in the dark. I had crafted a response to this “article” within a group I am a part of, but I would rather just post this brilliant analysis by the best site out there, jadaliyya.com.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/977/missing_agency-and-alternative-in-the-anti-interve
I have read this same article over and over and over again, written by different authors, and the common thread is that they are all written by self-identified Socialists. I’m sick and tired of people–I don’t care if you are Arab or not–speaking for Libyans, and talking at us like we don’t understand history, precedent, or implications. Of course, we are all entitled to our opinions. But, it is deeply flawed and provides no sources or backup. I concur with Burton about documentation. Please provide some here, as I am not FB friends with you, and I don’t have time to trawl anyone’s page looking for info to back this boring analysis up.
…everyone, including Libyans, *is* in the dark.
Please do more research, before you condem any actions taken by the western countries trying to help civilians.You made many accusations which are wrong. And if you really are that concerned about what has been allowed to happen in Libya Scream your abuse at Russia an Ukraine both sold Qaddafi weapons but were not willing to neutralize them when used on his own ppl.
The interim gov for freedom was given $30billion to finance what they needed urgently. Egypt & Tunisia are far from free their struggle has just begun. The finger of scorn should be firmly pointed at the gutless corrupt Arab nations which had to be bribed bullied and dragged by the tail to help brave young libyians. The west made many mistakes but things are changing and fast so keep up. Our youth is growing up as well as Arab youth and they want a different world.YALLA LIBYA HURRIYA HURRIYA HURRIYA SHALLA
Imperialism? In which century are you living? Nobody is going to conquer countries anymore and call them colonies. Even Hongkong isn’t british anymore. To my knowledge Libya is independent as well and the fancy psycho Ghaddafi has been playing his games with the West.
This article has the same level as Fox News. All arabs are terrorists, violent and women suppressors and additional unsuitable for democracy. And all the western countries are imperialistic care for oil and business only and want to suppress the rest of the world to live in luxury.
The West supported your dictators? Well so did you. The West supplied your dictators with arms and money to hold you down? Well, as we can see now if you want to overthrow your government you can.
And where does your negative views of the West come from? From your own dictators, who kept on telling you that all the misery in the arab world comes from the West. It does not. It comes from your own governments. And those governments are the ones the West had to deal with, because you didn’t bother to change them. The more I am looking forward now for your countries to rise and be valuable members of the world community. Many things can change now if you manage to fix your countries.
You haven’t provided an proof for your claims and let’s say the West insisted on keeping the contracts alive made by the Ghaddafi clan, did you hear about the cost of the first day campeign and the daily maintenance cost of the No-Fly zone?
And where are the other Arabs? Notable exception UAE, congratulations on your gutts. Or do you prefer China and Russia?
[...] an international statesman and addressing public concerns about immigration from North Africa. Others have suggested that certain European powers have made it a condition of their support of the anti-Gaddafi forces [...]
Clodwig,
Imperialism is not just defined as old time colonialism. It refers to the domination of the client states by the imperial state. In return for the economic domination of the developing world and their acquiescence to our military bases, we support dictators and so called democracies alike that are have favorable policies to transnational corporate interests. That’s imperialism. The U.S. has well over 700 foreign military installations. That’s imperialism.
Well Chlodwig, I have to say you do sound naive. Oh yes, imperialism indeed is alive and well. I am as anti-interventionist as they come, but, I am also discerning enough to see the many shades of gray. I have seen some of Simon’s comrades actually quote Libyan State TV–i.e. Gaddafi’s propaganda–to further their argument!!! Just because someone spouts about the ills of the West doesn’t mean you listen to everything they say.
The Arab states are pus***s, and are afraid of Saudia. The evil trifecta of the world as far as I’m concerned is Saudia-Israel-US. I do digress, but I want to say I disagree in your disagreement of Simon, while simultaneous fervently disagreeing with this baseless and simplistic “analysis” he poses.
Yansoon asked me to post some links that can help inform debate on the west’s role in Libya. Below are some links, and anyone is welcome to look at my notes and links, comments etc on my facebook page. (I took them as events unfolded and they are very detailed.)
Many of the sources I cannot reveal for obvious reasons.
Otherwise here are some useful links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/africa/24minister.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
Many of the proclamations and demands of the TNC are recorded here. http://ntclibya.org/english/
This is the TNC statement on foreign contracts: “The Council also notes that it will honour and respect all international and regional agreements signed by the former Libyan government, emphasizing its aspirations in seeing Libya play a significant role in the establishing international peace and security.”
Here is a piece on US fears of Islamists:
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/03/17/libyan-rebellion-has-radical-islamist-fervor-benghazi-link-islamic-militancyus-milit
This piece shows how these Islamists have been transformed by popular revolution. I believe they are genuine, and part of a phenomena across the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/world/middleeast/08darnah.html?_r=3
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365523/Obama-administration-approved-40billion-private-arms-sales-countries-including-Libya-Egypt.html
Here are UK sales:
In the third quarter of 2010 (the most recent period for which figures are available), equipment approved for export included wall and door breaching projectile launchers, crowd control ammunition, small arms ammunition, tear gas/irritant ammunition, training tear gas/irritant ammunition. Ammunition comprised £3.2m of the £4.7m million of military items licensed.
Sniper rifles were among the other equipment licensed in 2010. No requests for licences were refused in 2010.
Libya is a UKTI/DSO priority market country, and the UK has made ‘high level political interventions’ in support of arms sales to Libya.
Libya was also invited to attend the UK arms fairs: the Farnborough Airshow in 2010 and Defence and Security Equipment International in 2009.
The UK had by far the largest pavilion at Libya’s arms fair LibDex in 2010, and was supported by a team from UKTI DSO.
http://www.caat.org.uk/press/archive.php?url=20110217prs
And more here: http://www.sify.com/news/libyan-forces-using-western-arms-to-deal-with-anti-gaddafi-protestors-eu-news-international-lc2ouhjeaai.html
More info on mercenaries and migrants below:
http://www.law.wisc.edu/gls/documents/gomez_del_prado_paper.doc
José L. Gómez del Prado, chair of the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries has a very good piece on “security contractors” and international law.
Here is a piece on the “migrant question”.
http://migrantsatsea.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/ep-foreign-affairs-committee-calls-for-reinstatement-of-eu-libya-migration-agreement-once-new-libyan-govt-in-power/
Here is very informative piece on US options for a new Libya by Steve Yetiv in the CSM. He sets out a list of priorities that include:
Identify strong military leaders who can provide order in Libya – as the military in Egypt is doing today – while democratic institutions are slowly built. Some liberal-minded, defecting generals could fit this bill. Without order, democracy will face difficulties.
• Delegitimize Libyan radical jihadists or autocratic elements. The council must do this by re-stating in the global media its commitment to a secular, democratic Libya. This will help it earn global support.
• Try to bridge the divide among the tribes in western Libya that have supported Qaddafi and those of the east. Historically, they have been at odds, and if they are not bridged, Libya could end up in civil war or as a country with two capitals: Tripoli and Benghazi.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0325/Political-strategy-in-Libya-US-and-others-must-recognize-a-rebel-government
The struggle within the revolution:
Here is a note I took 27 feb (with link below)
“Revolutionaries launch National Council following attempts by former justice minister Mustafa Mohamed Abdel Jalil to declare a Provisional Government in Benghazi. Jalil has the backing of the diplomats who abandoned the regime over the past week.”
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/africa/2011/02/2011227175955221853.html
Here is very good piece by AJE on the revolutionary aspect of the TNC (the “organic leaders” of the insurrection):
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/201122753146444424.html
Here is the FT on Libya’s opaque overseas acquisitions.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f3502e0-3df2-11e0-99ac-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1EdAeasvz
Of course looking through the comments again I note a few insults are thrown about etc. Ho hum. This is to be expected, I guess.
Hello Simon
Can you post a source to the claim that the National Council have accepted the oil-contracts signed under Gadaffi, namely:
“Instead Western powers put a number of conditions on a revolution. They demanded that any future Libyan government would abide by all contracts signed by the Gaddafi regime. These contracts, including “generous” oil concession, had to be honored without question. Western powers demanded that the strict repression of “Islamist movements” would remain, and that Libya would maintain its role as a guardian against the migration of Africans into southern Europe.”
Thank you for the sources so far – very helpful.
More on arms question, and the US military reservations
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/29/libya-rebels-armed-by-us-uk
@Peter:
This is the TNC statement on foreign contracts: “The Council also notes that it will honour and respect all international and regional agreements signed by the former Libyan government, emphasizing its aspirations in seeing Libya play a significant role in the establishing international peace and security.”
http://ntclibya.org/english/
Statement of the Transitional National Council on Counter-Terrorism:
http://ntclibya.org/english/counter-terrorism/
[...] 2. How Western Powers blackmailed the Libyan revolution [...]
[...] How Western powers blackmailed the Libyan revolution http://yansoon.net/2011/03/24/how-western-powers-blackmailed-the-libyan-revolution/ Libya’s biggest tribe joins march of reconciliation to Benghazi [...]
Why the US won’t release finds to the TNC.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704503104576251160239688124.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
65 billion dollars? That’s surely a typo. I can believe 65 million dollars, but 65 billion is more than the UK spent on its military in 2006.
Some $53bn in Libyan oil money is slushing around in western banks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/may/26/uk-banks-held-billions-libyan-state-funds
[...] writer who supports intervention in Libya. We also have an article from a Lebanese writer who is against Western intervention. We posted viewpoints on both sides of the intervention issue in order to open up the conversation [...]