EXCERPTS HOW THE WORLD SAW THE BIG ISSUES
The Age
Saturday March 26, 2011
LIBYA Air strikes bombarded defence and communication facilities as Gaddafi continued his attack on rebel forces in the east. If Gaddafi survives, it sends a message to every dictator in the region that force pays that the way to stay on the throne is to shoot your people if they protest and the international community really won't do anything about it. And that sends a powerful message both to the dictators and to the people.George Washington Universitypolitical scientist Marc Lynch, NPRLibya's internal problems are most certainly an international issue. A stalemate, with the rebels in control of a third of the country in the east while Colonel Gaddafi controls cities between Sirte and Tripoli, would be a catastrophe. It would leave the central and southern desert regions a free-for-all for rival tribal groups, smugglers, and Al Qaeda terrorist bases. It would be a failing state on the doorstep of Europe. The coalition knows this. But it fears being drawn into an Iraq-style mess or an Afghan endless war.Sam Kiley, Sky NewsAs US warplanes struck Libya, many Americans may have had the sense that they'd seen this movie before. A generation ago, US warplanes streaked over Tripoli and other Libyan cities, bombing radar installations, missile batteries and other targets. The aim then was to punish Gaddafi for his role as friend and patron to terror groups.Douglas Birch, Associated Press
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