Libya

In 1969, Gadaffi led a military coup in the Kingdom of Libya and he has been the de-facto dictator of that country ever since.

As Libya is a northern African country it is strategically important, not only because of its oil reserves, but because of its location. Europe has had to deal with the country, however unpalatable its leader. Indeed the same can be said for a lot of nations. As the world is getting smaller, we have to deal with all kinds of nations and their governments.

During the first Gulf War, the remit was only to remove Iraq from Kuwait. There was a lot of criticism as many felt that the Allied troops should have continued onwards to liberate Iraq from Saddam’s rule, supporting the rebels that taken the opportunity to try and free themselves from the autocratic rule. The fact that we didn’t resulted in that regime smashing any opposition and a cry of “why didn’t you help us?”

In recent times, the people of Egypt and Tunisia have decided that they want to have a say in the running of their countries and organised mass demonstrations which resulted political changes.

Similar protests are happening across the Gulf States and we wait to see how these will be resolved.

In Libya, the people have spoken. They no longer want to live under an autocratic rule and be ostracised and wish to have a say in the running of their country.

Gadaffi has reacted in a predicable manner, by sending his forces against his own people. In fact, much of his armed forces consist of non-Libyan mercenaries.

The rebels need help, and it is our duty to provide them with that help, if only to even out the playing field by destroying Gadaffi’s advantage with air and ground power. If we do nothing, slaughter of innocents will follow and the death of so many that only wanted freedom will be on our heads.

“What about Zimbabwe”, I hear you cry. Exactly my point. We should have helped out there and shame to the rest of the world for sitting on their hands whilst Mugabe and his thugs stamped and crushed opposition.

I find it shocking that I hear people in this country questioning the action of our armed forces in this situation. They are querying the logic of helping the Libyan rebels when we have to suffer “hardship” as a result of the deficit. The Libyans are risking their lives for freedom, for the ability to express their opinions without fear of prosecution and here we are whining because we have to paid a few bob more for the electricity that run our 39” TVs, X-Boxes, I phones etc..., or a few extra pence are added to the imported strawberries and oranges, or that we have to do without essential services such as Street Football Co-ordinators, Bouncy Castle Attendants, Toothbrushing Assistants etc...

These are the same people who will wave the flag with pride during international games and bellow out “God save the Queen” with gusto and who dare anyone to deny what a great country we are, but when asked to help out, to prove to the world that we are a compassionate race, they say “sorry, mate, can’t help you, can’t afford it. I’m down to 2 holidays abroad as it is and my SKY subscription has gone up”

It’s lucky that we didn’t take that attitude when Aldolf piled into Poland, isn’t it?