As America and the U.N. take some time deciding on a response to Libya, I am troubled by the two directions/ reactions offered as "solutions" to Libya's accelerating spiral into chaos. Establishing a No-Fly Zone involves Western troops and, more importantly, Western troops attacking another Arab country. All that militarism (not to mention explosions) plays into negative perception of all things American/ Western, all around the region.
Do nothing at all? Hell, NO. Something must be done. The Libyan people MUST be helped. Is this, really, the best the government can do? Could the West help the Libyan People organize, change the direction of the revolution, and accomplish all this from a distance?
Visualize two men facing each other, fighting. Another man dives onto all fours behind one man, and the other man pushes. The man on all fours gets up and walks away, and is not involved further. The UN is the man on all fours. Here's how that would work:
Deliver thousands of units of satellite phones, batteries, and chargers to safe areas (or safer, the closer to Tripoli) controlled by the opposition. Now, rather than having the Libyans have to set them up and charge them and establish networks, those tasks are already done. In fact, the Libyans are much less tech savvy than other parts of the region, so not only will the phones be networked with Internet, text, pictures, everything, the IT Support on the whole project would be massive, the likes of which not seen in customer service, not to mention in any military application! Technological cave men could pick up the phone, dial 0, and accomplish functions(sending mass text/emails, surfing the web, teleconferencing, uploading pictures and documents, and tracking the Gaddafi family/ government by picture and GPS) by telling the agent on the other end!
This undertaking would require some logistics. A lot of fucking logistics.. Creating groups of components, systems, and applications into a network, and then fostering the most user friendly service environment for optimum organization and efficiency during an armed conflict will be of some expense(No idea. A Lot., I'm sure), but less expense than any military action would require, and the human cost would be much lower, too. Note: There might *Might* be a scenario where popular opinion wouldn't be against a U.N. "targeted missile strike," if it were accurate. The GPS application helps minimize the risk of missing the target. If it boiled down to action, a quick, powerful, accurate, one time only response is the preferred response.
Several upsides:
If this network idea actually worked, it would put an end to the armed part of the revolution.
When Gaddafi's gone, the Libyans can use this network to jump start into technological society. Techno-literacy would be a great compliment to Libya's rising prominence as a Middle Eastern agricultural powerhouse.
No troops from either Iraq, Afghanistan, or Reserve would have to be used in armed conflict. The military still might be used for delivery or support, but major operations would be unaffected.
Could be used in future crisis situations that require action, but not necessarily military action..
"Al Queda," whatever that is, wouldn't have a lot of propaganda to work with, as American forces weren't involved.
And coolest of all, the West got in and helped without getting in and "helping" by "destroying." If this undertaking were performed well and we did help and we didn't stay, the entire region's stance might soften on us, not much, but maybe just enough upon which to start building trust, which has to start somewhere..
To end on a pessimistic note: This scenario is not likely to happen: Not at all. It's probably too unconventional for conventional minds to embrace.
Do nothing at all? Hell, NO. Something must be done. The Libyan people MUST be helped. Is this, really, the best the government can do? Could the West help the Libyan People organize, change the direction of the revolution, and accomplish all this from a distance?
Visualize two men facing each other, fighting. Another man dives onto all fours behind one man, and the other man pushes. The man on all fours gets up and walks away, and is not involved further. The UN is the man on all fours. Here's how that would work:
Deliver thousands of units of satellite phones, batteries, and chargers to safe areas (or safer, the closer to Tripoli) controlled by the opposition. Now, rather than having the Libyans have to set them up and charge them and establish networks, those tasks are already done. In fact, the Libyans are much less tech savvy than other parts of the region, so not only will the phones be networked with Internet, text, pictures, everything, the IT Support on the whole project would be massive, the likes of which not seen in customer service, not to mention in any military application! Technological cave men could pick up the phone, dial 0, and accomplish functions(sending mass text/emails, surfing the web, teleconferencing, uploading pictures and documents, and tracking the Gaddafi family/ government by picture and GPS) by telling the agent on the other end!
This undertaking would require some logistics. A lot of fucking logistics.. Creating groups of components, systems, and applications into a network, and then fostering the most user friendly service environment for optimum organization and efficiency during an armed conflict will be of some expense(No idea. A Lot., I'm sure), but less expense than any military action would require, and the human cost would be much lower, too. Note: There might *Might* be a scenario where popular opinion wouldn't be against a U.N. "targeted missile strike," if it were accurate. The GPS application helps minimize the risk of missing the target. If it boiled down to action, a quick, powerful, accurate, one time only response is the preferred response.
Several upsides:
If this network idea actually worked, it would put an end to the armed part of the revolution.
When Gaddafi's gone, the Libyans can use this network to jump start into technological society. Techno-literacy would be a great compliment to Libya's rising prominence as a Middle Eastern agricultural powerhouse.
No troops from either Iraq, Afghanistan, or Reserve would have to be used in armed conflict. The military still might be used for delivery or support, but major operations would be unaffected.
Could be used in future crisis situations that require action, but not necessarily military action..
"Al Queda," whatever that is, wouldn't have a lot of propaganda to work with, as American forces weren't involved.
And coolest of all, the West got in and helped without getting in and "helping" by "destroying." If this undertaking were performed well and we did help and we didn't stay, the entire region's stance might soften on us, not much, but maybe just enough upon which to start building trust, which has to start somewhere..
To end on a pessimistic note: This scenario is not likely to happen: Not at all. It's probably too unconventional for conventional minds to embrace.
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