The Libyan Rebels Deserve Outside Military Help Posted by David Shorr

There are many good reasons to be cautious about outside international intervention (especially American) on behalf of the Libyan rebels. For that matter, there are always good reasons to pause before getting involved in a violent conflict. In the current case, those reasons have been swamped by recent developments -- i.e. the apparent appeals from the opposition themselves and the support from within the region and the wider Muslim world.

When it comes to the so-called 'values agenda' (aka freedom agenda), I'm always genuinely ambivalent. On the one hand, Americans are often too presumptuous and sanctimonious in our self-image as a beacon of democracy. Yet there is something true and essential about the values we represent and the international role that goes with them. The trick is to fill that mission with self-awareness and practical sense.

In the Libya situation, my main qualms about a genuine local desire for help and legitimization from a broad segment of international opinion are being met. First off, let me thank Steve Clemons, with whom I disagree but who has done great service to the debate on this issue. While I reject Steve's main argument, I accept two of his caveats. The entire question hinges on what help the Libyan opposition is indeed seeking. If there is the kind of ambiguity about their requests that Steve has flagged, then this needs to be cleared up (I'm guessing the administration is trying to).

As to the question of international legitimacy, the recent calls for a no-fly zone from the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) strengthen the case substantially. Need I even say it? Historically, neither of these bodies has been a hotbed of interventionism or democratic values. President Obama is right to worry about reactions to yet another US military involvement in a Muslim country. When the possibility looms, however, that you could actually be outflanked by the Arab League and the OIC, events are trying to tell you something. For that matter, the OIC is the multilateral representative of the Muslim world.

Now as for Steve's worries about a fundamental shift in the narrative -- from homegrown people power to 'what's America up to' -- I don't see it. Yes, that was the danger of an loud and over-eager American profile in the earlier stages of this democratic wave. But the credit for the revolutions earned by the people themselves isn't so fragile. In this regard, President Obama's low-key response helped, and rightly so. At this point, it's not only clear who are the real authors of the struggle, they seem to be asking for help.

Closing the loop on the issue of legitimacy, there's the matter of a mandate from the UN Security Council. It was very interesting to see how Anne-Marie Slaughter tiptoed around the issue of a potential veto of a Security Council resolution. But Anne-Marie is correct that pushing for passage of a resolution is the question at hand. The United States should do so.

There is also a debate about military efficacy, where Steve Clemons makes a good point. If other forms of military and intelligence support would be more effective, more ardently sought from the rebels, and less delayed by Security Council divisions, then by all means -- that's only practical. Some of the pessimistic assessments from the US military though, should be taken with a grain of salt. There's an old and familiar dance involved. The military wants civilian policymakers to think a mission will be harder rather than easier; as civilians make clear their serious interest, options become less stark. Speaking of which, for those interested in some smart ideas about international burdensharing in a Libya operation, see Kori Schake over at Shadow Government.

Comments

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We need some clearer military assessments of the actual facts on the ground. Because the way things are looking now, this business is going to be over long before these international perambulations among the various international debating societies are complete.

I don't see why we should care what the Arab League thinks. The Arab League's decision neither strengthens nor weakens the case for intervention. Isn't it pretty obvious that the Arab League is on the counterrevolutionary side in the Middle East democracy revolution? Saying the UN needs the Arab League's say-so to intervene is like Lafayette saying he needs a permit from the King of England to help the American's out in their revolution. Are we next going to ask the Arab League what they think about pro-democracy demonstrations against the Saudi despotism?

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