"I Libyen, har døden af Muammar al-Qaddafi vist at vores rolle i at beskytte det libyske folk, og hjælpende dem til at bryde fri fra en tyran, var den rigtige ting at gøre." - USAs Præsident, Barack Obama, i en tale i oktober, 2011.
"Jeg er stolt af at stå her på jorden i et frit Tripoli og på vegne af det amerikanske folk kongratulerer jeg Libyen. Det er Libyens øjeblik, det er Libyens sejr, fremtiden tilhører jer." - Tidligere udenrigsminister for USA og præsidentkandidat for det Demokratiske parti, Hillary Clinton, i en tale i oktober, 2011.
Den 1. august [2016], bombede amerikanske krigsfly Islamisk Stat (IS/ISIS/ISIL) mål i den libyske by, Sirte, næsten nøjagtigt fem år efter at vestlige imperialister deklarede NATOs 2011 krig i Libyen for en total success.
Disse luftangreb er ikke de første som USA har udført i Libyen i år, i en bredere kampagne som officielt sigter på at besejre en fjende som USA havde en større hånd i at skabe til at starte med (Jeg er dog sikker på at det militære-industrielle kompleks ikke vil klage derover).
Kommentar: Denne artikel er delvis oversat til dansk af sott.net fra: Wait, didn't NATO already "liberate" Libya back in 2011?
Peter Cook, the Pentagon's Press Secretary, said in a statement released on the 1st of August in relation to the strikes that:
"Today, at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), the United States military conducted precision air strikes [which is Orwellian/Pentagon-speak for dropping bombs (not uncommonly on civilians)] against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, to support GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL in its primary stronghold in Libya... The U.S. stands with the international community in supporting the GNA as it strives to restore stability and security to Libya."
Wait a minute though, have I missed something? I thought Libya was "liberated" in 2011 and the country is now a beacon of 'freedom and democracy' for the Middle East and North Africa? Are the Libyan people not enjoying being "free from a tyrant;" similar to the liberty the Syrian people will experience if Assad the 'tyrant' is overthrown and the country is handed over to al-Qaeda?
Since the future belonged to the Libyan people in 2011, is the country not a vibrant and prosperous democracy today? Is Libya not one of the major hubs of the Mediterranean, with trade booming and flocks of tourists travelling from across the world to sample the delights of the country - from the fascinating culture of the indigenous people to the stunning (I must admit) Roman ruins?
I thought the standard of living for the average Libyan was much higher than it was before the tyrant was deposed? Is Libya not helping to build the African continent up to try and alleviate the millions of people who live in poverty?
I thought the "most successful" campaign in NATO's history meant that terrorism could not gain a foothold in the country, considering the Western alliance spends the majority of its time (after antagonising Russia that is) talking about fighting terrorism? I thought NATO's love-bombs only hit the baddies, and never killed or maimed any civilians?
Are the Libyan people not enjoying the fruits of another Western foreign policy success story? Are the Libyan people not enjoying the stability that always follows a Western war of aggression? I thought the Libyan "kinetic military action" was yet another triumphant imperial endeavour, just like Afghanistan, Iraq and the numerous other countries that were lucky to be the targets of Western 'humanitarian' forces?
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