Libya: Benghazi unrest, to Civil War, to a new government and Gaddafi's death.

[ilikeverin]

Wow. Libya has dissolved into chaos. This is no Egypt, that's for sure - it really shows the downside of breakdown of law & order.

It's interesting what's going on in Eastern Libya, though; the people are apparently trying to create law and order on their own.

[ilikeverin]

Unconfirmed media reports say Ghaddafi's son, Saif al-Arab, has joined the protesters.  I emphasize "unconfirmed" because no reliable news sources have picked up on the story, yet, that I can find.

[ilikeverin]

At the very least, it sounds like there might be some sort of British operation to get rid of Gaddafi's supplies of chemical weapons, which make sense to get rid of.

[ilikeverin]

Oh, Beet.  I could never go through life as pessimistic as you are.  I don't know how you survive.  *hughughug*

The issue isn't "realpolitik." The reason why I am concerned about protests is that when they turn out the way the situation in Libya has turned out, it can end up hurting more people than helping. Isn't the fact that the country has fallen into civil war, some 140,000 people have been displaced from their homes, and some 6,000 people have been killed something to consider? Or are these facts on the ground irrelevant because we were taught in school that any armed uprising purporting to speak in the name of liberal democracy is automatically worthwile?

Liberty is the most important thing.

Is it? Where was the liberty on 9/12 when the Patriot Act was being proposed? In theory, "give me liberty or give me death" is what Westerners tend to admire, but in reality, even most Westerners will take government provided security over physical danger or death. It's a mistake to project our own values and dreams onto other people's lived reality. The lived reality in Libya right now isn't very good.

@ Antonio: the West should definitely consider intervention, as I've mentioned many times.

So you favor the Patriot Act?

I don't. I would rather die than live in a dictatorship.

DRAMAZ!

[ilikeverin]

French planes are in Libyan sky.

About time!

[ilikeverin]

Here's a map of the UN vote on letting the NTC take over Libya's seat.  Green is "in favour", red is "against", yellow is "abstain", blue is "absent" (which seems to be a bloc of its own).

[ilikeverin]

South Africa is pro-Gaddaffi???

I had the same reaction.  Botswana stands alone!