Cameron and Hague

Congratulations to both Cameron and Hague for having persevered when others were sneering at their efforts to introduce a no fly zone in Libya. How they managed to persuade the UN Security Council members either to abstain or vote in favour of the no fly zone is something we shall presumably learn about over the next few days. Some thanks also has to be given to the French for once, even if Sarkozy's reasons for supporting the no fly zone proposition in a johnny come lately fashion are somewhat dubious. The sneerers include not only the Labour hierarchy but also the Bummer administration and misguided commentators like Max Hastings in the FT today - shame on them, although the Americans did do the right thing in the end. Shamed into it? Just before I had started writing this blog I learnt that Gaddafi had announced a cease fire. It is difficult to believe that he will comply with this self imposed constraint and the allies will have to be cautious about Gaddafi trying to pursue his fight in a more surreptitious manner. After all all is fair in war and someone like Gaddafi is not to be trusted. But the concern now must be what happens next. Surely conversations need to be opened with the 'rebels' to find out what exactly their ambitions are and whether we can help promote a democratic agenda in any way, assuming that that is one of their aims. It was vital to set up a no fly zone to demonstrate we will not support dictators (what about Mugabe?), that we will support democrats in the Islamic world (as opposed to imposing democracy on them) and that we intend to support proper democracies in that world in the same way we support Israel. This should give us not only the respect in the Muslim world which we have lacked hitherto but should also make Israel see us in a different light as well - hopefully for the benefit of all in the Middle East.