All of us will have been horrified at the increasingly insane ramblings of a dictator about to be deposed, haranguing his People and the international community and most surely sending out a coded message to the few foolish people who remain loyal to him, to commence the killings.
It is the action of every dictator as we glance back along the path of history even to just the last 70 years.
To use one of the most awesome phrases, 'the writing is on the wall; you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; this very night...'
Whilst the UN Security Council has acted in passing the resolution, politics and diplomacy is a long drawn out affair, and whether we like it or not, we have to take note of the unwillingess of Russia and China to become involved in what they see as purely internal affairs within a nation state, that no matter how bloody they become, is not a matter that should concern the international community. Simply put, it is because they resent any outside interference in their own affairs.
So we have not been able to secure for the Libyan People the protection of an immediate no fly zone over Libyan airspace. But we do have very deliberate and strategic operations now being implemented. This country alone has dispatched HMS Cumberland, a very powerful Frigate that is often moored up not far from my lounge windows here in Liverpool. A fraction of the size of its predecessors, it has the firepower of and capacity to wage war that 50 years ago would have needed a small fleet to achieve.
We have no reports on US Operations or Naval movements but we can rest assured that the traffic between the Pentagon and GCHQ Cheltenham UK will be considerable, and this means that we are moving inexorably towards the overthrow of a despicable dictatorship and the institution of democracy by the people themselves.
As I watched the news this morning, many will have felt pride as our Prime Minister spoke on the deepening crisis whilst himself in the Middle East. Pride because Mr Cameron hit the nail on the head in praise of all of the young people he met in Tahrir Square, and we know full well that the young people of Libya have likewise stood up and refused to withdraw in spite of the massacre and possible genocide that is now taking place.
The Prime Minister spoke eloquently and passionately:
“Meeting the young people and the representatives of the groups in Tahrir Square was genuinely inspiring. These are people who have risked a huge amount for what they believe in.
“They were extremely articulate and passionate about the changes they want to see in their country.
“I absolutely believe it is possible to have greater openness, accountability and democracy without the risk of extremism.
“They were inspirational people to spend some time with.”
Let us therefore embrace the principles enunciated by Mr Cameron and stand resolutely by the Libyan People both in their Country and all Libyans who are living abroad. Libyans in Britain and the other democracies see daily what we take for granted. Now they are on the threshold of obtaining democratic rights and principles too; freedoms that their families back at home can barely comprehend.
But a huge price is being paid for winning this freedom.
Let our own people here also stand with the crew of HMS Cumberland and with our Troops in Afghanistan. Being in the front line is horrendous. Its dangers do not stop when the TV news moves to the next programme and we pop into the kitchen to make another mug of tea! The rescue of our own people caught up in this requires great skill and ability; our diplomatic and specialised military units will be able to achieve it, but not without great risk.
And let us also be truly thankful for all of the journalists and camera crews who are taking their lives in their hands too in order that we might receive proper reports of what is going on, and then able to respond nationally and internationally.
I cannot emphasise enough the bravery of the journalists, reporters and camera crews.
It is good too to see cross party support to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and in particular to the Foreign Secretary and his ministers.
There must be no party bickering at a time such as this, for peoples' lives are at risk.
Ian Bradley Marshall
LIVERPOOL
23 February 2011
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