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UN orders air strikes against Gaddafi - World Politics, World - The Independent
The abstainers Brazil Has a long history of supporting pariah states. India Like Germany and Brazil, has no veto on Security Council. Its abstention came even as the US championed its promotion to permanent membership. China Usually abstains when it disapproves of a resolution, sparing its veto for issues of direct strategic interest. Its authoritarian government is concerned about setting precedents for interfering in a sovereign state. Germany Outspoken critic of the UK-French plans for a no-fly zone, saying it did not want to get sucked into a war. Russia Has its own internal problems, including in Caucasus. Unwilling to get involved in other countries' affairs.
The abstainers
Brazil Has a long history of supporting pariah states.
India Like Germany and Brazil, has no veto on Security Council. Its abstention came even as the US championed its promotion to permanent membership.
China Usually abstains when it disapproves of a resolution, sparing its veto for issues of direct strategic interest. Its authoritarian government is concerned about setting precedents for interfering in a sovereign state.
Germany Outspoken critic of the UK-French plans for a no-fly zone, saying it did not want to get sucked into a war.
Russia Has its own internal problems, including in Caucasus. Unwilling to get involved in other countries' affairs.
Doesn't bode well for the multipolar world.
Then again, based on past experience, The WestTM could be doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, and could also botch it. So, in what may be my last act of "advising", I'll advise you to cut the jargon. -- My old PhD advisor, to me, 26/2/11
My instinct is that they are doing it primarily under pressure of public opinion. Those who are sticking out their chins and their chests brashly (not naming names...) are doing it to gain popularity, to be sure.
International public opinion is a good reason. (In this case, at least.)
I don't believe they are doing it primarily for access to energy, because nothing the rebel leaders could promise now would be enforceable. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
I don't believe they are doing it primarily for access to energy, because nothing the rebel leaders could promise now would be enforceable.
In the case of the UK, it could be trying scratch the Lockerbie itch, and so on... So, in what may be my last act of "advising", I'll advise you to cut the jargon. -- My old PhD advisor, to me, 26/2/11
If anything, I think access to energy might explain the reluctance to act to some degree. Gaddafi winning would likely be better for that anyway. By going for the NFZ and airstrikes, we're pretty much guaranteeing that the oil fields are going to be offline for the foreseeable future.
Like Mig says, the argument will undoubtedly be made by Gaddafi and others, but in this case I don't think it's terribly convincing, particularly as the rebels asked us to do this and enjoy a lot more popularity in the Middle East/North Africa than Gaddafi. Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.
Which reasons would those be?
The autocrats in the Arab League is going to sign off on this tomorrow as I understand. What are they being promised? A blind eye as they strike down their own rebellions? Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se
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