Libya; what is going on?

I’m confused about the British relations with Libya. Our previous government was mending fences, and generally bringing Col. Gaddaffi in from the cold. This rehabilitation even went to the extent of deeply upsetting our American cousins with the decision of the Scottish Executive to release Mohamed al-Megrahi, convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. Al Megrahi was freed compassionately on dubious medical grounds, allegedly on his deathbed, and has since continued to survive and live in Tripoli.

Tony Blair could barely contain his enthusiasm whilst supporting George Bush and being allowed to send our forces to join in the Iraq war game, which still rolls on, as does Afghanistan.

President Obama doesn’t want another war; he can’t afford the two he has inherited from George W. So he was lukewarm about any more Middle East involvement. But President Sarkozy of France and our own Prime Minister has showed no such reticence and promptly headed the United Nations to gain a mandate for a no fly zone over Libya.

Let me pose a question: When civilians become armed rebels who wish to overthrow the incumbent army and government, as Gaddaffi overthrew King Indris in a military coup in 1969, do they not attain a status other than civilian?

Prime Minister Cameron and French President Sarkozy said the international community could “come together to support a new beginning for Libya”, adding: “Our countries are resolved to continue to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect the people of Libya...It is only when the civilian population are safe and secure that military operations will come to an end.”

Coalition warplanes have destroyed armoured and ground forces of Muammer Gaddaffi’s army. Inevitably, there have been incidents of friendly fire with civilian casualties.

Even with the support of the powerful coalition air force the rebels have ground to a halt. The Americans lent a hand for a bit of window dressing and have now headed back to their proper wars, leaving this mess to NATO.

As it stands, the insurgents are confined to the environs of Benghazi, a city which is rapidly turning into a disaster area.

Nato has had no strategy for victory from the beginning, and is now paying the price. After Iraq, no-one wants to use the expression regime change, even though this is what they really want. Gaddaffi is a manical monster who remains in power and will stay there until the Libyan army decides otherwise.

Having again decimated the British armed forces in the latest defence review the government has now spent £100 million trying to overthrow Gaddaffi’s regime and the meter is still running. Some estimate it will reach a billion.

As the American poet George Santayana said, “Those who do not learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.”