Very well presented. Wish the media were as clear. I am not so sure as Juan about the Arab states were 'urging' and 'dragging' the western world into this. Not the impression I got. But then I don't read Arabic so am restricted to news in English and French.
You are right -- there was more than just intercepting figher jets in Iraq in the 1990s. But they were fairly isolated incidents, over a period of 10 years. This weekend's operation was 'shock and awe'-style. I regret this switch from the softer touch diplomacy with Egypt back to the aggresive stereotype. Hope they follow your advice and that it works out.
I think a lot of folks around the world thought that the "no-fly zone" in Libya was going to be like the one in Iraq (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_no-fly_zones). Compared to that zone, our intervention looks like all-out war.
Very well presented. Wish the media were as clear. I am not so sure as Juan about the Arab states were 'urging' and 'dragging' the western world into this. Not the impression I got. But then I don't read Arabic so am restricted to news in English and French.
You are right -- there was more than just intercepting figher jets in Iraq in the 1990s. But they were fairly isolated incidents, over a period of 10 years. This weekend's operation was 'shock and awe'-style. I regret this switch from the softer touch diplomacy with Egypt back to the aggresive stereotype. Hope they follow your advice and that it works out.
I think a lot of folks around the world thought that the "no-fly zone" in Libya was going to be like the one in Iraq (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_no-fly_zones). Compared to that zone, our intervention looks like all-out war.