Perhaps it’s because I’m too well mannered but in all my interviews this morning on Libya I didn’t criticise any Government Ministers about some of their vague comments on Libya.
As most people will know, Labour supports the decision the UN has taken in resolution 1973 to protect civilian populations from Colonel Gaddafi’s terror.
We will be supportive but will also ask the serious questions that the country would expect the Opposition to be posing.
On my way out of one of my interviews I bumped into Sky News correspondent Sophy Ridge and I was more direct about some of Defence Secretary Liam Fox’s comments. She then tweeted that a Shadow Cabinet Minister had said that ‘Fox needed to be put back in his box’ – no prizes for guessing I was that Shadow Cabinet Minister.
Asked on Radio 5Live whether Colonel Gaddafi might be considered a military target, Liam Fox said “It would potentially be a possibility”.
I support the Government’s decision on Libya but I think Liam Fox’s comments are irresponsible in many ways. His view that the aim of our military effort is to bring about regime change is outside what is a very broad UN resolution. It is wrong but also counterproductive at a time when we are trying to maintain a broad coalition including Arab opinion to talk in such a way.
I agree with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who said, “If we start adding additional objectives then I think we create a problem”.
Gaddafi is a tyrant, but it is up to the people of Libya to decide what happens next in their country and not for any single foreign government. Our government needs to have one clear policy on this.
How is it possible to protect the civilians or arm the rebels without bringing about regime change. The reason why there is a problem is because Gaddafi isn’t prepared to have an open election on whether he should lead the country or not instead he’s killing the people who protest to keep himself in power.
So yes, its up for the Libyan people to decide how their country is run but i don’t think they will be able to do that until Gaddafi is gone so surely we are taking a side in a civil war.
Gaddafi’s supporters should be able to run in any election but no election, no decision can be made by the Libyan people as to how their country is to be run until Gaddafi goes
Exactly right Jim. We are there to help the Libyans and to stop a slaughter, never to be proactive in changing their government.
It’s a lonely blog – I seem to be the only one here. Hello?
Anyway, I only logged on to say that it makes a lot of sense to hint that the good Colonel might be a target – then he’ll be using his armed forces to defend himself rather than to attack his own people or our aircraft. But Jim (if you will excuse the familiarity), don’t let considerations about the safety of the innocent people of Libya or the effectiveness of our intervention or the safety of our armed forces get in the way of an opportunity to make a cheap political point.
Matt
Hmmm. Might not be a bad thing if Gaddafi thinks he could be a target though. Always keep an opponent in doubt about your intentions.