The news from Libya is good. I don’t mean Gaddafi’s last murderous stand which seems likely to go on for a bit but not for ever, I mean in the parts which the protesters have already captured, in the East of the country, centred on Benghazi.
The Corriere della Sera’s Lorenzo Cremonesi reports from Benghazi, suggesting that some sign of what life will be like after Gaddafi is beginning to emerge. The town is being run by a 15 man committee of prominent citizens and steps are being taken towards peacekeeping and getting people back to work.
The significance of this is that it has not descended into an Islamic theocracy. There are still risks, because Libya is a tribal land and other tribes may have different ideas.
The leaders of the West have spoken, as they should, and it is time to urge a light touch. Special forces should not, in my opinion, be used to evacuate civilians: these people are highly paid and knew the risk they were taking. Their companies will have taken measures for their safety. Nor am I convinced about a ‘no-fly’ zone. Anyone wanting to escape to his Liechtenstein bank account would only need to drive to Algiers and take a plane. The Libyan military seem already to have refused to slaughter their own people, and there are many ways for Gaddafi to commit a massacre without using the air force. Against that what happens if someone does try to escape in a plane, military or otherwise? Or a Libyan air force plane takes to the skies? Do we shoot it down, which would be an act of war?
I further think we must be wary of sanctions: they tend to hit the ordinary people who are having it pretty tough already.
It may be the West has to risk looking toothless or timid, but I believe we should limit our activity to freezing the assets abroad of Gaddafi’s family and a handful of his henchmen, and assisting with bringing the guilty to trial.
The people of the West will not stand for another Iraq.
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