The debate continues over how the international community should respond to events in Libya, where Col. Moammar Gadhafi has been killing rebel forces and Libyan civilians. There are, of course, many risks to imposing a no-fly zone, which would a significant military commitment in the region and, already, some high-level military officials have warned against that. But more and more people in Washington and in the Middle East are seeing a distressing scenario in Libya that calls for intervention. Is a no-fly zone the best way to intervene? Yesterday Democratic Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, who is a member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committee, weighed in on the issue at an Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
“We all know that military commitments, however small, are easily begun and in this region, particularly, very difficult to end. History shows that. This is a region full of surprises. And I for one am of the opinion it’s not a good idea to give weapons and military support to people who you don’t know.”
Carne Ross, former British Diplomat and founder of the non-profit diplomatic advisory group called Independent Diplomat has thought of ten, including taking control and redirecting the profits from Libyan oil sales to rebel forces and putting up a naval blockade.
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