“As the absolute model of a free society, the United States is expected to be democracy’s steadfast guardian”

Earlier Today the U.N. Security Council voted 10-0 with five abstentions to impose a no-fly zone on Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya. For the past month, his tyrannical regime has been in conflict with at first pro-democracy demonstrators and more recently rebel forces trying to overthrow his 42 year dictatorial rule. He has in his own words promised “no mercy” for the opposition, and not content with merely shooting protesters, has used all the military might at his disposal including artillery and air power to destroy the rag-tag militias fighting him.

But while the war rages on in Libya and pro-Gaddafi forces gain the upper hand, opposition forces pleas for western intervention have largely been met with little action. Much of the criticism has been directed at the United States for its indecisiveness towards the Libyan situation, choosing in its own words to “review all options” in contrast to its staunch support of removing longtime ally Hosni Mubarak in Egypt just one month ago. The leadership role vacated by the US has in this instance been filled by European allies such as Britain and France that lobbied heavily for the UN resolution, and who will undoubtedly take a major military role should it be necessary in ousting Gaddafi from Libya. Read the rest of this entry »