BEHIND THE GLOATING OVER GADAFFI’S DEATH

The killing of Muammar Gadaffi in Sirte has been marked by a
round of celebration by western governments over their
intervention in Libya.

As with the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the killing of
Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, it will be described as a turning
point and a further victory in the seemingly endless ’war on
terror’.

There is little reason for the triumphalism. Nato’s war on Libya
was not a ’humanitarian intervention’ but a war for regime change
— illegal under international law. It was about the western
powers attempting to regain control of the region in the face of
the Arab uprisings across the Middle East.

Yet despite its overthrow of the regime in Libya imperialism
faces many problems in the region.

In Libya itself it is already clear that there are many divisions
between the different elements in the new government, and not at
all clear that a stable regime will emerge. Even if it does, the
ordinary people of Libya will see their interests subjugated to
the oil companies and other western business, backed up by Nato,
which has no intention of vacating the scene.

The consequences of the war on terror elsewhere are not outbreaks
of peace and democracy but rather a spreading of the war.

Afghanistan, ten years on, has just experienced its bloodiest two
years of war. Iraq remains a society destroyed by war and
occupation. Somalia remains war torn with Kenyan troops recently
crossing the border. Pakistan suffers drone attacks which have
killed thousands. The Israeli oppression of the Palestinians
continues. There are threats of intervention over Syria.

The recent alleged plot against the Saudi ambassador to
Washington was blamed on sections of the Iranian government and
Saudi and Israel are both urging attacks on Iran.

Far from the west conquering all, it is deep in the mire of war.
The gloating over Gadaffi should not become an excuse for further
interventions that will only spread the carnage further.

SEE ALSO: JOHN PILGER - With Libya, secured an American invasion
of Africa is under way. http://bit.ly/qJ6PhP