Western hypocrisy on Libya

Letter March 22, 2011
Western companies will get lucrative contracts to rebuild Libya’s infrastructure.

JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: It is understood that being a dictator, Muammar Qaddafi may not enjoy much love among his own people and on the Arab street, but the way the UN Security Council took matters into its own hands and the way western forces unleashed air strikes on Libya, certainly raises several disturbing questions.

The people in the rest of the Arab world must be watching this spectacular display of double standards with amazement. Should they ignore the Security Council’s inaction during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war or during Israel’s attack on the Gaza strip in 2008? Should they ignore the fact that western powers never came forward to implement the same Security Council’s resolutions on Palestine and the Occupied Territories. Clearly, the West doesn’t act unless it is in its own interest, and talk of bringing democracy and removing dictators will not fool the rest of the world.

Why are millions being spent on these air strikes? Who will pay for them? The answer is that western companies will get lucrative contracts to rebuild Libya’s infrastructure which is, as I write this, being destroyed with impunity. It’s a pity that the Arab League and Arab rulers have once again been fooled. As for Qaddafi, he should come to his senses and immediately abide by the UN resolutions by stopping attacks on his own people. After all, he will not want to be remembered in history as a dictator who facilitated the recolonisation of his country in the name of democracy.

Masood Khan

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2011.