We Need to Keep Boots Off the Ground in Libya at ALL Costs: Libyan Rebels Can Handle Things Themselves

Libya seems to be lunging toward a civil war, and the West is making noises about establishing a no-fly zone over Libya to keep Qaddafi from launching air strikes against protestors who want him GONE.

I think the U.S. needs to sit this one out. 

France and Britain and Australia are making a lot of noises; let them take the lead this time.  The best thing the U.S. can do is not get involved militarily in Libya.  We have quite enough on the plate already, with Iraq and Afghanistan, and all the saber rattling going on in Korea.

The rebels have indicated that they do not want a foreign military presence on Libyan soil; I think that’s a piece of advice that the West should heed. 

But will the rebels help downed NATO pilots?   Or will NATO also have to have search and rescue (SAR) units on standby to rescue them from Gaddafi’s supporters?  Where would the SAR birds be stationed?  No Arab nation publicly wants Western troops on their soil.

Before a no-fly zone is established, they really need to take this into account.  Libya has massive stockpiles of anti-aircraft weapons, many of which are still under Qaddafi’s control, so there may be some aircraft losses, and pilots who will need to be rescued.   He could send his Air Force after ships in the Gulf of Sidra.

This is a mess we don’t want to get entangled in.  The Libyan people need to fight for themselves, rather than having us send in the Marines.

And I’m not sure about referring to Qaddafi to the International Criminal Court (ICC) either.  Libya has never signed the ICC treaty.   If Qaddafi’s regime falls to the rebels, does anyone think he will be taken alive?  Or that his countrymen would allow him to face an international tribunal without a possibility of a death penalty, as he would face under Libyan law? 

Let the Libyans judge him themselves.  They don’t need the West sticking their noses into that too.