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The Spectacle Blog
Muammar Gaddafi and his vile sons are currently committing crimes against humanity — ordering wholesale slaughter of civilians that dwarf the violence in other Arab countries during the current wave of uprisings. Protestors have been fired on from planes and helicopters. (Two pilots sought asylum in Malta instead of carrying out those orders.) There are reports that the city of Benghazi (population: 600,000), which is apparently now under control of Gaddafi’s oppenents, may be bombed within hours.
Numerous Libyan diplomats have resigned in protest (whether out of conscience or a sense that the regime is in its death throes). In a press conference today, one of those diplomats, Deputy Ambassador at the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi, called for a no-fly zone to be established over Libya.
Like Dan Foster, I think the President should order the enforcement of a no-fly zone as soon as possible (bringing along the UN Security Council and/or NATO is fine but not essential). Libya may be descending into the abyss no matter what, and I certainly wouldn’t want American troops on the ground playing referee as armed factions turn on each other, but US forces can at least limit Gaddafi’s capacity for mass murder by keeping his bombers grounded.
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More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/21/time-for-a-no-fly-zone-in-liby
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Red Phillips | 2.21.11 @ 6:34PM
What possible authority does the President of the United States have to declare a no-fly zone in Libya? Does Gaddafi conversely have the authority to declare a no-fly zone in the US?
Occam's Tool| 2.21.11 @ 8:39PM
If it is in our national interest we do, Red. Hell, if our Presidents were pusses, we would have nuked Tripoli for destroying that plane with American citizens in it. Fused glass communicates well.
Occam's Tool| 2.22.11 @ 3:00AM
Sorry, "if our Presidents WEREN'T pusses."
Red Phillips | 2.22.11 @ 1:58PM
OT, your deranged blood lust is truly disturbing. You can't indiscriminately nuke civilian population centers because you don't like Muslims. Not only would that be a war crime, but it is a moral abomination.
Your lack of self awareness is something to behold. In your mind wanting to end foreign aid and withdraw militarily from the Middle East makes one guilty of the thought crime of anti-Semitism, but it is perfectly OK to condone the indiscriminate nuking of cities and dams because of your irrational hate of Muslims.
Take a look in the mirror and cool down your rhetoric. You are embarrassing yourself and your cause of interventionism.
Jamie| 2.22.11 @ 11:43PM
Too bad you haven't lectured your ranting and raving Ron Paul buddies in this regard.
Now you know why Ron Paul will never be elected POTUS.
Red Phillips | 2.23.11 @ 9:13AM
If Ron Paul will never be elected POTUS it is because the people are not ready for true constitutionalism and what that would mean in the way of program cuts. As a conservative, the fact that the masses don't want to follow the Constitution as intended should make you sad and more determined, not be a reason to dis the only elected figure at the national level who is trying to make it happen.
MikeN| 2.21.11 @ 6:50PM
Yes Gaddafi has the authority if he has the guns to make it happen.
I don't see why this is any of the US' business. Gaddafi already dropped his terror program after seeing what happened to Saddam.
Kingofthenet| 2.21.11 @ 7:16PM
This 'might' be possible under a UN mandate, OTHERWISE no way, that's just what the Dictator wants is to blame this on 'US' meddling.
Red Phillips | 2.22.11 @ 1:48PM
"This 'might' be possible under a UN mandate, OTHERWISE no way"
A supposed conservative (I assume) deferring to a UN mandate? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The UN is an illegitimate sovereignty trashing supranational organization and the US has no business being a member, much less deferring to them to justify some new foreign meddling.
Bob K.| 2.21.11 @ 7:37PM
As I recall there also was a no fly zone to Libya when Reagan was President which Reagan ignored but which Gaddafi most definitely did NOT ignore! Quite effective diplomacy it was too!
Sean| 2.21.11 @ 7:41PM
Why don't we stay out of this and let them fight it out?
PCC| 2.21.11 @ 7:43PM
A U.S.-imposed no-fly zone is a ridiculous idea, with or without a UN or NATO mandate.
Talk about imperial overreach!
Curly Smith| 2.21.11 @ 7:53PM
AFAIK, Libya is not a signatory to any treaty that would grant us the right to intervene. And, even if it were, the Gaddafi regime is the lawful government so if we intervened it would be on Gaddafi's behalf.
Unless your Constitution or other founding documents state that your rights flow from the Creator then the government has the right to slaughter the citizens "for the good of the people". The folks living under the EU Constitution had better take notice because their "right to life" flows from the State, the same as in Libya. What government giveth, government may taketh away. Gaze upon Libya and understand why Obama and the left so hate the Constitution.
Chris| 2.21.11 @ 9:03PM
Have people lost their minds? Why should we be involved in this internal matter? Considering the al-Qaeda just declared one Libyan city as under their control now, maybe Gaddafi is the lesser of two evils. I'm baffled has to how some commentators on this site are constantly having us meddle in every country.
David W| 2.21.11 @ 9:15PM
If they had attacked our embassy and taken hostages maybe - but any action would have to be limited to getting the hostages out.
I can't see any rationale that would allow us to do that. Yes, it might be humanitarian, but would we be cheered for it? Or would we be accused of interfering or as some say imperial overreach. If we do it for Libya, would we not be required to do it for other countries? Goodness forbid if the palestinian people were to "revolt" and we moved in to save them from Hamas or Fatha.
Though I believe we had justification for kicking Saddam's butt and trying to kick out the Taliban (though why we only kill the fighters and not take out the "spiritual leaders" is beyond me) I see no justification for interfering (though it would help Obama take our attention away from Wisconsin).
bobmontgomery| 2.21.11 @ 9:24PM
What we should be doing is declaring a "NoSail Zone" in the Mediterranean for Iranian warships.
Bob K.| 2.21.11 @ 11:33PM
And in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia for the Pirates working out of that country!
ncatty| 2.22.11 @ 11:22AM
You may get it now that 4 US citizens have been murdered.
Anthony| 2.21.11 @ 9:27PM
We should not only declare a no-fly zone, we should aid the rebels in any way we can. Let's not forget Lockerbie. Khadafy was responsible for this horrific attack and is nothing more than a terrorist. Of course since the tinhorn colonel is and has always been an enemy of the USA and freedom, our president will do nothing against him, we only aid rebels against our allies.
Brooke| 2.21.11 @ 10:26PM
Be careful what you wish for--another Iranian sympathizer in the Middle East will be a disaster.
PCC| 2.22.11 @ 8:58AM
Lockerbie was a Syrian-Iranian operation and the Lybians were scapecoats concocted by the CIA.
Will| 2.22.11 @ 5:14AM
Wait, am I missing something? Isn't the world-wide riot scene a.k.a. "Egyptian Democracy" the handiwork of the community organizer with the keys to the armory? Why would he declare a no-fly zone, is Skip Gates traveling in the area? Chaos and disorder leads to change, and if there are some unintended consequences, so be it. It's all part of "the movement". Mahan had some interesting perspectives on the Barbary Pirates, and it's time (once again) for a ferocious Naval presence in the region. The Iranian Navy is making it's way through the Suez (what a coincidence!) so hopefully, we will see some civilized nation standing with the only real democracy in the region.
ncatty| 2.22.11 @ 9:15AM
We will now see if Gaddafi can win out by killing enough of his own people. He probably can if there is no outside intervention. I bet Chavez is taking careful notes.
Mistral| 2.22.11 @ 9:15AM
Qaddhafi is a foul terrorist who gained power illegitimately & only oil money has kept him where he is. Time for his demise....at last! Obama Hussein is sure to make a public ass out of himself on this one too.
Bobo| 2.22.11 @ 11:06AM
Of course, what is going on in Libya is bad, but it has been bad for decades and much longer. Where has Mr. Tabin been on all of that? Where is Mr. Tabin on the slave, murder, prison camp that is present day China? How about Russia? Or Venezuela? Please, this ginned up, isn't it horrible today, when it has been horrible everyday for centuries all over the world is a little much. 6 million murdered with knives in the Congo since 9/11...who cares, right? I do. How about no machete zones in the Congo. Tabin wants a no fly zone in Libya? Why not a no fly zone over every nasty dictators regime around the world? Why not get into all of them? People need to get some perspective on what goes on in this world and grow up and make some consistent remarks about it. It is the least that you could do.
Too Many Tims| 2.22.11 @ 1:00PM
This would be a good job for the Egyptian Air Force, no?