March 18, 2011

The news that the U.N. Security Council voted yesterday to authorize military action, including air strikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and a no-fly zone, was met with a huge sigh of relief by all pro-democracy forces around the world who have been calling for international intervention since Col. Muammar Qaddafi's forces first fired on peaceful demonstrators from the air more than three weeks ago.

The resolution authorizes a no-fly zone, and authorizes member states to "take all necessary measures... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas." However, the resolution prohibits "a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory." It also condemns the "gross and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and summary executions."

SEE: "What a No-Fly Zone, Other Libya Measures Would Mean" (CNN)

This move denies Qaddafi his most important military advantage over the rebels. The approved resolution also paves the way for Arab, European (and possibly American) forces to take decisive military action against Qaddafi's air and missile assets. Using the harshest language to date, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday characterized Qaddafi as a ruthless "creature" lacking a moral compass: "There is no good choice here. If you don't get him out and if you don't support the opposition and he stays in power, there's no telling what he will do."

To the Libyan people, delays in international intervention mean more time for Qaddafi to massacre pro-democracy activists who have been forced to take up arms to defend themselves against the regime's deadly and relentless assault on the nation's population.

Responding to the resolution, Qaddafi issued a chilling warning to the people of Libya: "We will come house by house, room by room. It's over. The issue has been decided... We will find you in your closets. We will have no mercy and no pity."

He then changed his tune, and today announced there would be an immediate cease-fire; however, the charade of his announcement has been unveiled, as civilian reports have poured out that fighting has continued in Libyan cities and casualties are continuing to mount.

Qaddafi's brutality has only escalated in the past three weeks since Libyans first took to the streets to demand that he step down, leaving thousands dead civilians across the country frightened. Initially teetering on the brink of collapse, Qaddafi has been able to regroup and ruthlessly suppress the armed protests against the regime, and massacre thousands of innocent civilians through his use of air power.

Last week, MPAC sent a letter to the Arab League calling for the immediate suspension of Libya's membership in the Arab League, the coordination of medical supplies and food delivery, the formation of a joint force of Arab military troops, the implementation of a no-fly zone and the creation of a fact-finding legal team to collect eye-witness accounts in preparation on an international tribunal for crimes against humanity.

This week, MPAC joined more than 1,500 interfaith leaders and organizations in signing an open letter to President Barack Obama, which called for the U.S. to work with NATO and the United Nations to create a coalition that will impose as quickly as possible a no-fly zone for all Libyan military aircraft over the full extent of northern Libyan airspace. The letter also asked for such measured to be implemented as may be required to render the Libyan air force inoperable throughout the country.

Here in the United States, some have speculated White House officials are hesitant to intervene because of the political backlash it may provoke among some Arabs.

It is important to point out that any U.S. intervention in Libya would be different from the current wars being waged in Afghanistan and Iraq. Afghanistan was a case seeking to capture Osama Bin Ladin and destroy the Al-Qaeda network that attacked us on 9/11. Iraq was a war of choice launched on the false premises that Saddam Hussein collaborated with Al-Qaeda to attack us on 9/11 and had weapons of mass destruction he was imminently seeking to use against us. Libya reflects neither of these situations. Furthermore, it is the Libyan people themselves who have called for outside assistance to halt Qaddafi's maddening reign of terror.

Military intervention in Libya is needed now to save lives and end the brutal reign of Qaddafi. Plus, it would send a much-needed warning message to other dictators in the region who are considering using violence against their own peacefully protesting populations.