Gadaffi, let's kiss and make up

[Mediocrates]

It looks like the EU has thrown in the towel.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/20...o/#more-761659
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/20...s/#more-761721

From news article:

Reports that France has persuaded Britain to agree to new terms for a ceasefire in Libya allowing Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi to remain in the country are a signal NATO knows its effort in the North African nation is failing.

Though the NATO bombing campaign against Libyan government targets continues, the public acknowledgement that “one of the scenarios” that could end the fighting will permit Qaddafi to stay in the country can only mean both France and Britain are coming to grips with the fact the insurgents cannot prevail. This means after months of bombing and incessant talk about Qaddafi having to go, the half-hearted humanitarian intervention could end in a fiasco that will further undermine the credibility of the West.

Despite formal recognition by Western countries, including the United States, as well as military aid and training, the rebel government in Benghazi appears no more capable of taking Tripoli today than it did months ago. While many observers thought Qaddafi’s defeat was just a matter of time, both Paris and London appear to be convinced that all they have bought themselves is a nasty stalemate that neither side has the ability to break. By stating publicly that Qaddafi may stay after the fighting stops, they are making it clear they have neither the will nor the patience to prevail.

And therefore Syria will remain as-is.

From news article:

As I wrote earlier today, the announcement that NATO is prepared to let Muammar Qaddafi stay in Libya as part of a peace settlement is a defeat for the United States and an illustration of President Obama’s failure to exercise leadership. But the consequences of this astonishing turn of events will be felt beyond the borders of that unhappy North African country. While those who supported the Arab Spring revolts may have thought intervention in Libya put other dictators on notice their time was coming to an end, Qaddafi’s apparent victory sends the opposite signal.

In particular, the West’s decision to start backing down on Libya will have an enormous impact on the outcome in Syria.

For months, dissidents have taken to the streets of Syrian cities and braved attacks from the military as well as other security forces. While the Bashar al-Assad government has made symbolic gestures toward establishing less repressive policies, the essence of this dictatorial regime remains unchanged. It is estimated that government forces have killed more than 1,600 persons and hundreds of protesters have been jailed.

[Achihud]

*sigh* ...it is so frustrating to know nothing about nothing and yet to have it right nearly all the time.
From the beginning I've said that they should leave him alone, no oil country run more effectively into the ground then by a megalomane dictator.

[Mediocrates]

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/20...-to-step-down/

This is essentially the end of NATO. Norway is rushing to embrace Iran, France and England stumbling around to keep Gadaffi in power, Turkey most likely selling secrets to China and Iran for the most part, the US footing 75% of the bill for operations in Libya, NATO involvement in Afghanistan which was never credible and for most part silly is winding down.

We may as well close NATO down. At the least, at the very least, the US should dial-down participation or create a new organization with the eastern European former Warsaw Pact states to form a defensive perimeter against Russia. Let the EU states form their own defensive organization o whatever military posture they want. EVERY European state is reducing the size of their standing army, both EU and non EU, NATO and non NATO. With the exception of England, France, Sweden and Germany, the armed forces were essentially maintained as an employment and jobs program anyway. For example in the Benelux, the army is unionized and can go on strike.

The UK has reduced their air force by 20%, flight training by 30%. Nuclear sub patrols are down. With the exception of their nuclear subs, England is on the edge of not having a blue-water navy for the first time in nearly 300 years.

France's air force and naval air power exists solely to maintain Dassault, Thomson and related defense contractors. They admit that much of their operations in Libya are advertising for their arms export industries in order to pump up orders.

And so on. In any case, it's time to end this farce. And it's time to end the US financial underwriting of it.