The New Libyan Adventure

What, the mission in Libya that Canada and other NATO countries became involved in so successfully with that no-fly zone that somehow became transformed into bombing of Moammar Gadhafi's troops and armoured vehicles to protect the peaceful protesters has turned into something kind of ugly instead of the opportunity spouted to see democracy in place?

Who would've guessed it, imagined that things would come to such a pass. Well, actually, a lot of people theorized just that. Speculating on the basis of informed observation that a desert, essentially Bedouin society of tribal antipathies accustomed to brutally settling scores would not meekly accept a central government wishing to rule a pacific country.

Isn't this, after all, the by-now predictable pattern of the Middle East and North Africa? Torture is the game they're now resorting to openly, where previously it was slightly more discreet, knowing how offended their Western protectors would be at the very whiff of such actions. Almost excusable in the heat of war, when survival was the goal.

War's done with, and the central government is finding it rather difficult to exert its authority. Above all, almost impossible to persuade the various tribal militias to surrender their weapons, to agree to behave civilly, to recognize the authority of the state. What state? What government? And what are human rights abuses?

One supposes that the swift justice meted out to Moammar Gadhafi himself might have constituted just such an abuse, but he was good at dishing it himself, so it's easy enough to turn one's head and convince oneself that what isn't seen doesn't happen. Trouble is, Amnesty International keeps poking their curious eyes everywhere and they aren't fans of torture.

"Militias in Libya are largely out of control and the blanket impunity they enjoy only encourages further abuses and perpetuates instability and insecurity", according to Amnesty. Really. How about the expulsion of 30,000 people from the town of Tawargha, the only home they've ever known.

And the record keeping of various human rights groups indicating that roving armed gangs are committing non-stop atrocities? Plenty of so-called revenge killings, too. "The government should protect the rights of thousands of people who are held without formal charges or access to an attorney", moans Human Rights Watch.

Right you are.