The Egg and Political Reformation

When the time is approaching for a chick to break out of its shell it needs to be left alone.  If someone standing by were to decide that they wanted to help the chick, by helping to break it out of its shell, that bird would certainly die.  It is necessary for the chick to remain in the shell until it has sufficiently developed and is able to break out on its own.

There are countries throughout the Arab world experiencing political turmoil.  It is hard to passively watch as these countries are in the throes of breaking free, but we are doing them no favor when we interfere with the natural process of political reformation.  When outside forces assist, the developmental process is hindered and a weakened, dependent, political agency is the result.  That is not good for the nation’s sovereignty.

We should let a countries internal conflicts be resolved by the people of that country.  The social contract will be worked out in time.

1000 Dead Civilians?

Last week I heard that our primary reason for the use of military force in Libya was to protect civilian life.

Saturday, I read about 1000 civilians that had died in the Ivory Coast due to internal conflict.

Should we have been involved there as well?

If we are trying to protect civilian life there are many places in the world experiencing turmoil.

We cannot be everywhere.  How will we decide who gets our support?

Our interjection of force into a nation’s internal conflict is not the way to go.

Libyan No-Fly Zone

The United Nations has decided to impose a no-fly zone in Libya.  American forces have launched attacks in Libya, destroying much of the ability of Libya to control the skies of their own country.  The reason given is to protect civilian life.

Libya was in the process of quashing an armed rebellion.  This was not simply massive, peaceful protests such as has occurred  throughout the Arab world, it was an armed rebellion with the rebels taking control of significant portions of the country.

So, in effect, we are supporting a rebellion.

I appreciate that we are there at the direction of the United Nations, with broad support from Arab countries.

That does not make it right.

Libya should have been left alone.  Our involvement is costly and unnecessary.  I do not believe that it was a good use of our resources.