The Libyan people deserve help in their fight against Gaddafi's butchers, but direct U.S. or European military intervention would have several drawbacks. Western troops, not speaking Arabic, would make deadly mistakes. Even if successful, this intervention would diminish
the sense of local and Arab ownership of the revolt.
I suggest that the UN Security Council invite Egypt to intervene, if Libyans approve. A small part of Egypt's army would dwarf Gaddafi's forces. Without even having to fight, it could join and support the Libyan rebel forces that have already liberated eastern and southern Libya. This would change the situation completely.
Gaddafi and his officers surely hope to reestablish their power over all of Libya by defeating the rebels one region at a time. If Gaddafi's troops crush opposition in the area of Tripoli, they might
then able to retake the east and south piece by piece from the small rebel forces. When they try, it will be very bloody. Against an Egyptian division or two, however, they would not dare try.
Once Gaddafi's forces realize they have no route to victory, I think most of them will desert, and Gaddafi will fall easily.
A neighbor's help would not have the drawbacks for Libya that Western intervention would have. I hope the Libyan rebels will be offered this option. If the Security Council is paralyzed, the rebels could declare themselves a government and ask Egypt for recognition and assistance.
Postscript:
As of March 7, it seems that Gaddafi has started attacking rebel towns.
Copyright 2011 Richard Stallman
Released under the Creative Commons Noderivs license.
Tihomir Kukolja: The Danger of Dispensationalism in the Middle East
The Egyptians are going to need their army at home when the people discover that getting rid of Mubarak isn't going to change their economic or social situation.
(Watch for food prices to start rising rapidly in March-April........)
The US has proven, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives, that you can't create democracy at gunpoint.
Military invasions serve only to reinforce the power of the powerful. They have no place in the formation of a democracy.
Good idea. Might I suggest one modification. You stand in front of the small contingent of Egyptians and march into the bullets. Is it such a good idea now that your life is in jeopardy?
Offering the lives of others is easy. Risking your own is not. If the Lybians are to shake off their oppressor and create a lasting stable government of their own. Something that approaches or approximates democracy as we understand it. Then they have to do it on their own. And they will.
Are you wanting egyptians implement your "creative chaos"? No, thank you. Look at your own regime first and begin sweep in front of your own door.
Why not suggest that it should be the Syrian army (the mismatch in available forces is at least as great) that is asked in to quell the bloodshed?
Or, if you are looking for a country in the region that has people have figured out how to create and maintain a federal democracy out of a country that is ethnically/culturally diverse, and has practice at how to deal with groups within that federal democracy that take the position that they should dominate, no matter what the rest of the population thinks, with a minimal disturbance to the rights of the rest of the population, including those who share much with those groups, except the decision to try and establish that dominance by force, why not look to Iran?
Only the Libyans as represented by the majority can solve their problems.
Let us al lbutt out!!