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Andrew Close

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What are the short, medium and long term implications of taking action in Lybia?

The 'no fly zone' over Libya and subsequent strategic bombings have raised many questions relating to the short, medium and long term implications of taking action. I think we all agree that a peaceful outcome is what is needed, but how can this be achieved when we have effectively taken sides with those uprising against Gadaffi. I understand that action had to be taken, but how can we now bring the crisis to a peaceful end?

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Topics: Egypt Egyptian Revolution Libya gadaffi north africa peace war
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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    Mar 21 2011: i believe the biggest threat this time is that the "west" tries to do too much, and tries to control what happens in lybia tomorrow. the arab world has enough of the west already. so i think it is crucial to leave lybia alone. stopping gaddafi is good, people of lybia already stated that they want this mad dictator go. people of lybia are free to ask for help, and it is OK for the west to help. but any more attempted influence is evil, and must be avoided. i'm not very optimistic, though.
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      Andrew Close

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      Mar 21 2011: What do you mean by 'more attempted influence'? I definately agree that action had to be taken, but unfortunately we are now in the precarious situation whereby Gadaffi supporters are far less likely to embrace change, which may, in turn, lead to a long drawn-out civil war. I hope for the people that this is not the case.
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        Krisztián Pintér 200+

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        Mar 21 2011: for example i don't want to see french companies swarming in, like US companies did in irak. it is quite suspicious if miraculously the intervening countries' companies win supposedly free market contracts. also no countries has any say what political system will be established in lybia, provided that majority agrees to it.

        about gaddafi supporters: i'd like to have an internal view on it, because personally i can't imagine that he has too many supporters. why is that part of the country is silent? they are afraid? exactly what? how deep the dictatorship is penetrated the society? anyway, if it is fear, weakening that beast can only have positive effect.

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