Whose Life Is It Anyway?

The lives of the rebels do not belong to Gaddafi. Gaddafi came to power on the back of a coup and thus even though he has been in power for over 40 years can hardly be said to have any legitimacy other than the spurious kind given him by other nations. His fellow Libyans, the only ones who can give him real legitimacy, have themselves never had the chance to appoint him their leader in any meaningful elections. In these circumstances it is hardly extraordinary that knowing they will never have the chance to vote on who should be their President a significant number of Libyans have decided that regime change will only happen following a successful rebellion. As we believe the least obnoxious form of government is that of a democratically elected one we should be ready to support by all means possible those rebels who ask for our help. It is odd to say the least of it that the Americans are seemingly pouring cold water on the no fly zone proposal. Is it because the Americans or NATO do not have the capability of enforcing one or is it because the idea was not proposed by the great Bummer but by that upstart Cameron? NATO could certainly operate a no fly zone and in my view should do so straightaway.