Both the powerfully seductive myth of American Exceptionalism and the loudly proclaimed goal of "humanitarian intervention" in Libya's civil war appear to be driving the narrative in US media and from the US Government.
But the history of US involvement and war in Vietnam and in the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions and occupations, historically illustrate quite clearly the level of "concern" the US Government has for civilian populations, and US domestic policies the past few years at least illustrate the same level of "concern" re the American people. Why anyone would think developments in Libya will be different from those of any other US foreign "intervention" is somewhat of a mystery.
On Tuesday morning Paul Jay of The Real News spoke with Columbia University Professor Hamid Dabashi about the Libyan situation and US intentions there.
JAY: So, Hamid, you have been studying the Libyan situation for years, and you've written about the Iranian situation. You teach at Columbia. So, first of all, what's your take on what's happening as we speak?
DABASHI: Well, there are two takes. One is to take everything on face value that United States and its European allies are in this to protect the civilians and establish a no-fly zone.
But we, given the history of United States and its European allies, have every reason to doubt that this indeed is the agenda.
What has happened is--and for this difficulty, Muammar al-Gaddafi himself is the principal culprit--a peaceful, by-and-large peaceful revolutionary uprising in North Africa that has come to conclusion, perfect conclusion, peaceful conclusion in Tunisia and in Egypt, has been bloodied.
And what we are witnessing today in the aftermath of this military operation by US and its European allies is further bloodying of a peaceful revolutionary uprising.
In other words, what Muammar al-Gaddafi has done, the last and lasting contribution of Muammar al-Gaddafi to these revolutionary uprising, is to give United States and European allies a military foothold in the revolutionary uprising in North Africa.
I see the events in Libya, the military operation on the eighth anniversary of US-led invasion of Iraq, in tandem with Secretary of State Clinton telling in effect the Egyptians that you had a peaceful revolution because of your military, and your military is our military, and then going to Tunisia to tell the Tunisians that she's there to help them.
In other words, what the US and its European allies are doing are trying to use and abuse the criminal atrocities of Gaddafi to get a foothold, diplomatic and military foothold, in the peaceful revolutionary uprising that we are witnessing in North Africa.
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The United States and European allies had already intervened in the battle between Muammar al-Gaddafi and Libyan people on the side of Gaddafi, by arming Gaddafi to his teeth, both United Kingdom and United States.
Also, professors from Harvard University to Princeton to Johns Hopkins, etc., were on the payroll of Muammar al-Gaddafi to whitewash his criminal atrocities and present him as something pleasant and acceptable. These are the contexts. So, suddenly, from the same political culture, from the same military culture, you cannot expect a situation that they are going in with shining armor to defend the civilians.
Real News Network - March 22, 2011
Democracy and Hypocrisy in Libya
Hamid Dabashi: Foreign intervention using crimes of Gaddafi
to strengthen their hold on Northern Africa
...full transcript here...