McGentrix wrote:I am a bit confused Nimh, do you support the start of diplomatic relations with Libya or not? Do you still think the US, or the west in general, should not have interactions with governents that have proven ties with terrorist organizations?
To be honest - not to minimize the harm done by support to terrorist organisation, thats obviously also Very Bad - but I'm more interested in the human rights track record of the regime domestically. It affects far more people (wrecks more death).
Confused? Yes, that may be right. I'm uncertain about this - one of the reasons I started this thread.
At first blush, I certainly sympathise with the Lybian opposition group quoted in the article above though. I'm no fan of war, as will be known, but actually expressing support for a dictatorship and holding it up as a "model" is too much of the opposite to my taste.
If I'd had it my way, we'd freeze every brutal dictatorship out of all support, funding etc. Consistently apply all means of pressure short of war. In general, what I'd really like is for this shizophrenic lurching from cuddling dictators to sabre-rattling against them (and back again) to be replaced by a consistent line of isolating the regime and supporting the democratic opposition (if available). Wherever dictatorships rule (and whichever political colour they are).
My uncertainty comes from realising that for any kind of carrot and stick approach to work, you have to be able to flex a little way this or that, engage in
some wheeling and dealing with the baddies. But when I hear about Lybian oppositionals feeling betrayed, I can see where they come from.
