No-Fly Or Nothing At All? What About Door Number 3?

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.

Libya Roundup, March 4, 2011

Reality leads US to temper its tough talk on Libya

The Obama administration is tempering its tough talk on Libya with a dose of reality, explaining that even a no-fly zone over the country would require a military attack on Moammar Gadhafi's regime. Two leading senators on defense matters responded Thursday by urging a strong U.S. stance aiding Gadhafi's opposition.

The Pentagon is making it clear that it doesn't want war.

Statements Wednesday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton illustrated the administration's effort to rein in "loose talk" about military options to force Gadhafi from power. It was an acknowledgement that, short of an unlikely military offensive by a U.S.-led coalition, the options for international action to stem the violence appeared highly limited, even as armed rebels pressed their fight against troops still loyal to the Gadhafi regime.

Report: Gadhafi's warplanes attack Libya rebels

Moammar Gadhafi's forces renewed air attacks on rebels in Libya Friday as both sides struggled for control of a strategic coastal road and oil industry facilities.


Bombs were dropped on the oil terminal town of Brega in the east of the country, the Al-Arabiya news network reported.

And rebel volunteers guarding a military base in the eastern town of Ajdabiya told Reuters that a Libyan warplane had dropped bombs just beyond the walls of the base Friday but did not hit it. 

"We were sat here, heard the jet, then the explosion and the earth shook. They fell outside the walls," said Hassan Faraj, who was guarding an ammunitions store at the Haniyeh base.

Uh-Huh..  Libya bombings were only to 'frighten' rebels: Gadhafi son

Bomb attacks on Brega harbour were intended to scare rebels fighting Moamer Gadhafi into leaving Libya's oil and gas hub, his son Seif Al-Islam said late Thursday.


"The bombs were just to frighten them to go away," Gadhafi told Britain's Sky News. "There is no city there, the city of Brega is miles away. I am talking about the harbour, only oil refinery there."

Libyan rebels braced for attacks ahead of anti-Gaddafi protests

Tripoli/Cairo - Libyan rebels were braced for more attacks by forces loyal to leader Moamar Gaddafi on Friday as they prepared for mass protests across the country.



Witnesses in Libya's third largest city, Misurata, said they aimed to have a 1-million-strong march and that some of them would head for Tripoli, where Gaddafi remains in control.


Opposition forces in the capital have also called for mass protests, set to begin at the city's mosques after traditional Friday prayers.

Gadaffi faces investigation over killings..  From the I.C.C...

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided to investigate Libya’s leader over the killings of hundreds of civilians during uprisings across the country. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor at the ICC, concluded there was enough evidence to warrant and investigation of Gadaffi and his closest allies.

It doesn't really have to, but Oil rises to near $103 as Libya conflict escalates

 Oil prices rose to near $103 a barrel Friday in Asia as Libyan government and rebel forces dug in amid fierce fighting, raising investor fears of protracted oil output cuts in the OPEC nation.

Again:  The price of oil doesn't have to change, but Speculators can't control their greed.  Time to reign 'em in..