Though having all the governments on earth democratic may not lead to absolute world peace but certainly, there is no doubt that the Earth would be a much safer place for every one where most countries are democratic. Apart from world peace, most importantly for citizens of nations their freedom and development is directly proportional to the level of democracy in their nations.
No doubt nations’ leaders that have mistreated and looted the treasury of their nations would employ all within their arsenal to ensure that the statuesque remains if possible for ever. Murmar Ghadaffi is a die – hard man and has a barrel of tricks up his sleeve and will use all of them to ensure that he retains in power for himself and his family. He is currently employing the well known trick of sustained resistance to forces trying to ensure a lasting democracy in LYBIA. The world expects that the forces both within and without Libya seeking to end the iron rule of Col. Ghadafi should do it decisively and fast to minimize civilian causalities but Col. Ghadaffi also understand that that failure of the forces to do exactly that would elicit some kind of sentiment in his ‘favour’ both from his fellow African Heads of state some of whom are one sort of dictator or the other and from heads of state from the non- participating country some of whom are dictators them self.
Be that as it may be here are the consequences of abandoning the course of removing or forcing Col. Ghadaffi to leave the Libyan seat of power:
Ø Should NATO and allies leave with ‘promise’ from Col. Ghadaffi that he would conduct a fresh election of which he would participate , he still have enormous machinery to rig himself into office and make no mistake about the personality of Col. Ghadaffi, he would definitely conduct a systematic crackdown on all that stood against him and perhaps several thousands of Libyan heads would roll and even if NATO was able to make him not to stand in the election but to conduct it before he steps aside he would still put his cronies and still proceed indirectly with his crack down!
Ø This is even worse ; should NATO allow him to get his way as regard his so called referendum to determine of he stays or leave, NATO should be warned that Col. Ghadaffi is capable of manipulating the process to ensure his perpetuation in office and when this happens the crack down on opposition would be better imagined than witnessed; several tens of thousands WOULD LOOSE THEIR LIVES.
Concluding, NATO should , regardless of sentiments either from African heads or even from important people from NATO itself or elsewhere move to stage two of this intervention by moving in enough ground soldiers and equipments including some elements of special forces in addition to strategic aerial bombardments with two main objectives either:
Ø To capture and remove Col. Ghadaffi and possibly subject him to trial in Libya by the new democratically elected government. This when achieved would ensure lasting democracy in Libya.
Ø Ensure sustained and intense attack on all Col. Ghadaffi strongholds to the point that Ghadaffi would admit that he must step down and allow democracy to take root in Libya and that Libya was not created for him as a personal property! Though unfortunately any of these actions may still cause loss of several hundreds or perhaps several thousands of civilian lives but the consoling fact is that democracy would have been established in Libya.
Looking at the alternative, several thousands of Libyan civilian lives would still be lost if for any reason NATO and allies left Col. Ghadaffi to continue calling the shorts in Libya and what is more DEMOCRACY and freedom would be so far away from the Libyan people for a long time!
NATO must have a critical look at these reasoning and be guided accordingly.
IGWEGBE LAWRENCE
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