The Empire Strikes Back

As the worlds eyes are fixated on Japan and the disaster there, things in Libya are getting progressively worse. Qaddafi is steadily regaining ground on the rebels. It doesn't seem that enough people are dying for the world to intervene. But, if you think about it, it makes sense. For a foreign power to impose a no fly zone doesn't make sense unless you are ready to engage. For example, if you impose the no fly zone, and Qaddafi's forces do not abide by it, is the US, or NATO going to actively engage Qaddafi's forces? Is the US ready to put boots on the ground in Libya to ensure that the killing of civilians stops? Right now, unless there is a force willing to go all the way in Libya and support the rebels, it is clear that Qaddafi is going to take the country back, and then go to work on those who rose up against him.

So the international community will sit idly by as these atrocities continue. Why? Because they do not have the stomach to get involved in the Middle East (or anywhere else for that matter) unless the gain is great. What is there to gain out of helping Libyan's? If you think about it, there is nothing to be gained. We can't impose our will on another country at this point to control their oil. So life is cheap in Libya, and as long as the uprising is contained where there is nothing to be gained, who really cares. We have much bigger fish to fry like a fake democracy in Iraq (where there is alot to be gained), or denying democracy for those who do not share our views.