The world watches Libya and worries, and for weeks the churches have been praying for her people. The United Nations has decided at last to support the Libyan people against the dictator Muammar Gaddafi, ending a period of indecision during which Gaddafi's army of mercenaries were able to use modern weapons against the lightly armed insurgents. We can only hope that the actions of France and her allies will be effective, while remembering that there is no such thing as a "surgical strike."
The issue of a "just war" is rather simple when a nation is attacked and has to defend itself. Since the American intervention in Iraq, the question of preventive strikes has been widely discussed. The fact that Gaddafi has to use mercenaries to try to repress the uprising of his own people could be another case to consider: does the international community have the right to intervene in such a situation?
Yes, and for several reasons: the rebels have requested it; the Arab League and therefore the neighboring countries have asked for it, and our own awareness of the suffering of the Libyan people, and what awaits the insurgents if Gaddafi wins his war against his own people, requires it.
I call upon all Christians, and all people of good will, to work for the support of the government being born in Benghazi. Let us all pray for our own pilots who have been called upon to act, for a swift end to all combat, and the beginning of a government of Libya by Libyans that respects human rights.
The original statement in French follows. Bishop Whalon is a citizen of France and the United States.
Déclaration de Mgr Pierre Whalon sur la situation en Libye
Évêque Épiscopale en Europe
23 avenue George V
75008 Paris
Le monde regarde la Libye aujourd'hui avec inquiétude, et depuis des semaines les églises prient pour son peuple. L'Organisation des Nations unies a enfin décidé de soutenir le peuple libyen contre le dictateur Moammar Qaddafi, mettant terme à une période d'indécision durant laquelle l'armée des mercenaires de Qaddafi a pu employer des armes modernes contre les sans-culottes des révoltés. Nous ne pouvons qu'espérer que l'action des forces de la France et de ses alliées sera efficace, tout en rappelant qu'il n'y a pas d'attaque « chirurgicale » .
La question morale d'une « guerre juste » est plutôt simple lorsqu'un pays est attaqué et son peuple doit de défendre. Depuis l'intervention américaine en Irak, la politique de frappe préventive est très discutée. Le fait que Qaddafi a dû faire appel à une armée mercenaire pour essayer de réprimer le soulèvement de son peuple pourrait être un autre cas de figure : la communauté internationale a-t-elle le droit d'intervenir dans une telle situation ?
Oui, et pour plusieurs raisons : le peuple révolté nous en supplie, la Ligue arabe et donc les pays voisins demandent cette intervention, et notre conscience de la souffrance du peuple libyen, et de ce qui attend les insurgés si Qaddafi gagne sa guerre contre son propre peuple, nous l'exige.
J'appelle tout chrétien, et toute personne de bonne volonté, d'œuvrer pour le soutien du gouvernement naissant de Benghazi. Prions tous pour nos propres pilotes à qui on a fait appel, pour une fin rapide des combats, et pour l'instauration d'un gouvernement de la Libye par les libyens qui respecte les droits de l'homme.
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It is an undeniable fact that the United States, Britain and France are hated in the region for very good reasons and hence more antagonism towards the Western powers by most of the common folk in the region. In a civil war, naturally Libyans themselves are divided.
Using his power and money Gaddafi has got considerable support among his people. Are the victims in Arab lands allowed to judge the intentions of the world dominating powers?
For instance in Egypt itself, public opinion polls have shown about 90 per cent of the population thinks the US is the worst threat they face.
USA must be seriously planning its strategy to reposition its lost powers across North Africa and other countries in the Middle East.
The US has yet to figure out how to control the new rising elements. But controlling is important by hooks or crooks. It involves shifting western alliances from authoritarian regimes to some sort of democracy simply because it is impossible for the west to support its favourite dictators.
Let us wait and see what is going to prevail Greater Justice or more Oppression. Is the new imperial history going to repeat or the US will recover its lost dignity and repect?
If unprovoked attack is American there are many who are not Christian. There is no respect for human
Human life is a spirit it should be able to choose righteousness and not have another take it for any other reason than self defense. No not retallitation.
Self defense?
The brethren of The Messiah needs deny themselves!
Father Help! and HE does.......
They should know about Genocide after committing one or two just in Algeria. in the mid 1800 when France and its mercenaries (French Foreign Legion) and assorted Europeans killed 1/3 of the Algerians and from 1954-1962 when they were booted out after using the Senegalese to terrorize the civilian population. But not before the French, British and Israeli governments organized an attack on Egypt in 1956.
And what about the North Africans that liberated half of France in WWII were they not mercenaries? They surely were not citizens (in fact many learned their families in Algeria had been butchered by the French occupier and the French Navy and Air Force (talk about using modern weapons against civilians!)
It would be a herculean task to list out all the interventions military and otherwise of France in Africa to enable it to continue the raping of Africa's wealth as in Congo, Niger, Niger, Mauretania, Djibouti, Senegal, Ivory Coast and who can forget Haiti that was made to pay in gold for the slaves' liberation.
When do they get pologies for the atrocities committed by France?
Leave us alone and your so-called “Mission Civilizatrice” while you continue to worship Napoleon I, another dictator and killer of “his own people” and others.
Toujour le Sabre et le Goupillon. The more things change the more they are the same.
democracy must come from within unless that nation makes war on others. like germany and japan.
if you think iraq is a democracy or afhan will be you have drank the industrial military kool aid.
most americans love their military and the jobs that industrial military complex provides.
so did the germans. full employment thing.