U.S. Military Launches Strikes On Libya

After about a month of government brutality in Libya, the rest of the world is finally getting involved.  Last Friday, the United States military launched an attack in an effort to destroy Libya’s air defenses.  The United States has now joined an international air campaign against the dictatorship of Moammar Gadhafi.

The first key strikes are expected to occur along the Libyan coastline where the missile defense systems are located.  The idea is to enforce a U.N. mandated no-fly zone around the rebel-held cities.  Gadhafi’s regime has been imposing a merciless offensive against Benghazi.  Last Friday, French warplanes began flying over Libya to protect the embattled city from Gadhafi’s air force.  

Currently, five nations are participating in the coalition against Gadhafi- the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Canada.  The French plan on dispatching an aircraft carrier to Libya on Sunday.  

In the Libyan capital of Tripoli, Gadhafi is irate.  On Saturday, he sent enraged letters to world leaders, warning them they would regret any military action against his regime.  The Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa made a statement saying Libya has abided by the U.N. Security Council resolution and that the cease-fire is still in place.  Yet, Libyan officials declined to answer questions about reports of intensifying violence around Benghazi.  

I think America is making the right decision to intervene in Libya.  Fortunately, we have the support of four other countries this time around.  The world cannot sit on the sideline while thousands of innocent people are slaughtered at the hands of a ruthless dictator.  My hope is that American officials are actually concerned about the humanitarian aspects of this international issue.  Libya is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, so you can’t help but wonder if the US would bother if Gadhafi’s regime was not sitting on a pool of natural resources. 

It should be mentioned that President Obama has limited American exposure in this conflict to a minimum.  The French have spearheaded the air strike against Libyan military assets.  The British have imposed a naval blockade.  The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are supposedly a part of this plan as well.  Saudi Arabia and Egypt might join in the next few days.  It is good to see that this effort is more collaborative than the invasion of Iraq.