Web Letters | The Nation

Forcing Change in the Skies Over Tripoli

Not genocide

Technically, Libya does not qualify as genocide, as the core opposition and Qaddafi forces are both Libyan. I use the term core, because Qaddafi has troops from Algeria, and some of the African countries that pushed the most recent version of a cease-fire. I understand from Al Jazeera that Turkey is rather miffed, because the plan is similar to the one the Turks previously put forward. Qaddafi will agree to any cease-fire, and keep on attacking the opposition forces. The opposition will not agree, because if Qaddafi retained control, he will kill them to stay in power. Since he would be killing his own people, it would, technically, not be genocide. Whatever one’s position is on Libya, any cease-fire would be brief to non-existent. This is a war for survival for both sides of this conflict.
The opposition understands that enforcing the no-fly zone may result in some civilian casualties, but Qaddafi’s Air Force, tanks and artillery will produce far more casualties. Without the no-fly zone, they face certain defeat and death!

Abstractly, I am not in favor of missionary foreign policies, but this is an aspect of the Arab Awakening and people will die. I favor supporting the opposition. We could also use an American awakening.