oh great - another war

[wobbegong]

nothing short of an Iraq style invasion will end this - which is probably being planned as we speak.

So anyone still think this isn't a war?

While Cameron does seem strangely keen to have a pop at Ghaddafi (payback for making the UK look foolish over the al-Megrahi release?), I doubt he has either the stomach, or probably more importantly, the resources, to mount a ground assault.

"Take the bugger out from the air and let the Libyan people sort out the mess" seems like a far safer plan than getting embroiled in another exitless guerrilla war.

[shaunbhoy]

"Take the bugger out from the air and let the Libyan people sort out the mess" seems like a far safer plan than getting embroiled in another exitless guerrilla war.

In a nutshell. Not that the pragmatism of such an approach will do anything to assuage the panic-stricken hysteria that is currently afflicting some of the forum Guardianista birdbrains!!

[xoggoth]

Good article in the DT:

Defeat the Libyan regime. And then? - Telegraph

TV reporting has a lot to answer for. It creates an impression of downtrodden young people just wanting freedom and democracy and people rightly sympathise with those but it often does not begin to describe the reality of opposition in the area - Islamist groups, tribal leaders as bad as the dictators they are replacing, Shiahs wanting their turn at repressing Sunnis. To get involved in this is in any way is purely insane.

[OwlHoot]

The only reason the West is doing anything is that Gaddafi announced a plan to nationalize all oil production in Libya, and shut out western companies.

These potty dictators never learn - As soon as Saddam Hussein announced in 2002 that Iraq would start selling its oil in Euros instead of Dollars, his fate was sealed (even if it did take a couple of years).

[Incognito]

It is basically a war:

A Libyan no-fly zone is no different to invading Iraq – Telegraph Blogs

FT Alphaville » Not just a no-fly zone [updated]

It is basically not a war.

Definition of ‘armed conflict’
44. Technically the United Kingdom has not formally declared ‘war’ on any state since 1942. The Law of Armed Conflict (also often called International Humanitarian Law) which regulates the conduct of armed conflict, applies to any armed conflict between states, however the participants choose to describe it. So a formal declaration of war is not a condition precedent for the application of international humanitarian law. The Government does not propose that any of the canvassed options should be predicated in any way on a formal declaration of war.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/cp2607a.pdf

[Shimano105]

Xog, that Torygraph article basically sums up my views - interestingly not a Grauniadista lefty pinko rag.

For a more balanced view there is this:

The Daily Mash - Fingers crossed Libyan rebels aren't insane

Whichever way you look at it, the govt never thinks these things through. Make no mistake, this is going to hang around and haunt us for years, especially now the arabs have changed their mind (as soon as we went in).

Now who would have predicted that? I know Shaunbhoy wouldn't but to be honest he struggles with most things.

[shaunbhoy]

Whichever way you look at it, the govt never thinks these things through.

Of course they don't. If only they had a crystal ball like yours eh?



Tip for the day, get yourself a helmet. That way when you come off your bike and land on your head again, you might not do so much damage.

HTH

[EternalOptimist]

Xog, that Torygraph article basically sums up my views - interestingly not a Grauniadista lefty pinko rag.

For a more balanced view there is this:

The Daily Mash - Fingers crossed Libyan rebels aren't insane

Whichever way you look at it, the govt never thinks these things through. Make no mistake, this is going to hang around and haunt us for years, especially now the arabs have changed their mind (as soon as we went in).

Now who would have predicted that? I know Shaunbhoy wouldn't but to be honest he struggles with most things.

there was a very large number of countries who wanted to get materially involved right from the off. It might be a bit dumb long term, but it seemed to me there were lots of people who saw a relatively risk-free way to stick one in Gadaffis eye

i.e. it was more anti-tyrant than anything else

[Dearnla]

Is it safe to go on a mediterranean holiday while it's all kicking off?

Yes - I would recommend Sharm-el-Sheik or Hammamet

[EternalOptimist]

Yes - I would recommend Sharm-el-Sheik or Hammamet

and take care if you book Tripoli. make sure you get the right one