You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Africa North
UNSC Introduces No-Fly Zone Draft Resolution
2011-03-16
Day late and a dollar short.
A proposal to establish a no-fly zone over Libya has been introduced to the U.N. Security Council, though both its chance of passage and effectiveness even if it does pass are very much in doubt.
It's only a draft resolution. By the time it's been staffed and finalized Tobruk and Benghazi will have fallen, the rebels will have been rounded up and executed, and the Arab League, OIC, Russia, and China will be reestablishing normal relations with Qadaffy. You heard read it here first.
The resolution would provide political and legal authorization for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya, strengthen existing economic sanctions -- including a more robust enforcement of an arms embargo -- and expand a list of individuals, organizations and companies that are subject to travel bans and to the freezing of assets from Libya. The draft also calls for a ban on the use of commercial flights to transport mercenaries into the country and other means to end the involvement of foreign fighters.

"It may prove to be too little too late," says Robert Danin, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "It could be of some assistance in creating humanitarian sanctuaries, but if the goal is to roll back Qaddafi's forces, it is likely to have little military effect, especially with the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on the brink of falling."
Thank goodness we have experts or the rebels in Benghazi would never know how imperiled they are.
Even though the U.S. is now backing the draft Libya resolution, Danin believes the Obama administration should have pushed harder for action much earlier. "Obama should not have called for Qaddafi to step down if the U.S. was not willing to back up that call with a real sense of an 'or else' ... consequences for failing to step down."
Better yet, he should have had the carriers moving from day one.
The resolution comes amid criticism of the Security Council's failure to react more forcefully. French U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud said he is "deeply distressed" by the Security Council's failure to act and is pushing for the resolution's passage. But Western diplomats tell Fox News they expect tough negotiations over the days ahead.

China, which has a Security Council veto, remains rather cool to the idea of a no-fly zone resolution. Facing its own civil unrest and separatist movements, Beijing also wants to safeguard its construction and oil contracts with the Qaddafi regime. Russia, another permanent Security Council member with veto power, has also expressed misgivings about how a no-fly zone would work, and who would participate in its enforcement.

"You need to be sure any decision the council takes is not going to exacerbate the military-political situation in Libya," said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
Don't need a weatherman to know which way this wind is blowing...
Posted by:Steve White

#6   Who's going to enforce it?

I hear the Americans have a nice little air force...
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-03-16 15:13  

#5  Who's going to enforce it?
Posted by: JohnQC   2011-03-16 14:44  

#4  STILL don't care.

Here's an idea: when your enemies are busy slaughtering each other, don't interfere.
Posted by: mojo   2011-03-16 13:23  

#3  tu,

some differences between this situation and Animal House are that, in Animal House, the fraternity did something and what they did actually worked pretty well.
Posted by: Lord Garth   2011-03-16 09:05  

#2  Beijing also wants to safeguard its construction and oil contracts with the Qaddafi regime.

BLUF: So does everyone else, they're just not saying it.
Posted by: Besoeker   2011-03-16 04:22  

#1  Life imitates Animal House...

I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!

And we're just the guys to do it.
Posted by: tu3031   2011-03-16 03:00  

00:00