THE FALL OF TRIPOLI

On 24 August 2011, Libyan people took to the streets chanting and celebrating the fall of Tripoli, the capital of Libya and the stronghold of Qaddafi. While watching them in elation, there's was no wave of excitement in me about what the al-Jazeerah news channel revealed to me. Why? I was not happy on what has transpiring in the Libya. In fact, I was not following in focus the Libyan. Unlike Egyptian revolution, I shared the same sentiment with the people of Egypt. In the case of Libya, there’s a sheer pessimism in me. Taken to the consideration what's happening on the ground, I feel dismayed about it. 

There are two camps in the Libyan war or as they term now as revolution after the fall of Tripoli; Pro-government government versus Rebels (opposition) and NATO. The involvement of North Atlantic Treaty Organization  is what I am concerned about. The moment US together with the European Union take measures on Libya, the moment they drafted the UN resolution 1973, I cast doubt on the internal political affairs of Libya. Why?  The senior political analyst of al-Jazeera, Marwan Bishara, pointed out that there's no such thing as HONORABLE INTERVENTION. States are after its interest. According to Fareed Zakaria, foreign policy is a matter of cost and benefit. This is a realist perspective which is now dominating states' foreign policy. 

Who's to blame? To me, Libyan revolution is a result of domino effect. Of course, I am not going to cast blame on the Libyan people. People rise up when there is dissatisfaction more so when there is suppression. There are evidences on suppression of the people in Libya. In Islamic perspective, the right to freedom of expression or the right to criticize the government is inherent in Islam. We all know that Libya fall in this category whereby it suppressed the right of expression. I'm not going to discuss further on Islamic perspective and evidences on the oppression on the Libyan's people wherein it requires wide-range of discussion. Going back to it, I know that some may be angry or may disagree with me but I blame Qaddafi in the very first place. It is true that he is the only Arab leaders who challenge US like that of Chavez of Venezuela and Ahmadinejad of Iran though he is a socialist not an Islamist. However, UN and NATO will not take measures if Qaddafi  didn’t use forces to crackdown his people which cause thousands of  lives according to some sources. He is a total megalomaniac who cannot afford to step down at the expense of the Libyan people. I always debate with my sister on my view on this but this what I cling on. Could he have been stepped down, we will not witness these fiascoes as worst as it is now. If we compare it with Egypt, situation signaled and even started to get worst but Mubarak stepped down in the end.

The way forward. 

If we look at the NTC (National Transitional Council), it is a newly formed opposition. It is still premature. So, NATO’s influence is very much present. It cannot denied that there were many talks between NTC and US and other European states. In the very first place, it’s the NATO who supplies weaponries. However, the role of Turkey here is another factor to consider though it is a member of NATO. It released $200 million of financial aid to NTC. From this, Turkey’s ascendancy to regional power and independence from US influence provide us sheer of optimism on Libyan affairs. 

Let’s see and hope for better.