Comment on ‘Libya Call’

Re: NATO Watch Press Release: Call for Independent ‘Lessons Learnt’ Inquiry into NATO Libyan Campaign

Thank you for the questioning assessment of the NATO Libyan Campaign.

Whilst many people deplored the dictatorship of Gadaffi it would have been more appropriate that he should have been brought before the International Court of Justice to be tried for his crimes rather than the execution that took place. The long period of destruction, wounding and killing could have been avoided or much lessened if NATO had supported such a move at an earlier date. The changing nature of the policy of NATO nations, from support of Gadaffi, in provision of tear gas etc., to Drone attacks on him, made for confusion as the liberation movement spread. The systematic destruction of Libyan military equipment cannot be separated from the motive of replacing the weaponry at some future date at great cost to the Libyan people.

The interpretation of the Right to Protect led to the wounding or death of many civilians including children.

The nations in NATO need to make an ethical assessment of Drones as a mode of warfare or of protecting. Such an assessment might well lead to a ban on the use of such weaponry.

The desire to secure supplies of oil for NATO nations clearly affected the policy of NATO towards support of a Dictator whose treatment of his own people should have been effectively challenged at a much earlier date. This should also be assessed by NATO in planning future policies.

For these and other reasons I welcome the call for an independent Inquiry into the NATO Libyan campaign.

John Johansen-Berg