After helping revolutionaries overthrow Qaddafi, the West failed to
follow through with any plan for stabilization. With no existing civil
society, coherent opposition, or leaders in waiting, Libya
plunged into sectarian conflict. Instability worsened further with
Egypt and the UAE backing secularists in the East, and Sudan, Turkey,
and Qatar supporting the Islamists. As if this wasn’t complicated
enough, al-Qa’ida and separatists are also in the mix.
It did not need to turn out this way. The United States and Europe (France in particular, which took an early leading role) should have brought the factions to the table to reach some power sharing agreement and put their collective weight behind a new government. It is not as though the West doesn’t have tools – financially, it could have leveraged threats of frozen oil and overseas assets; politically, the importance of diplomatic and international recognition is often overlooked; and finally, the introduction of a stabilization force would have signaled the West’s commitment and it’s resolve.
Instead, the West withdrew and paid less and less attention. The response of the U.S. since the terrible attack on our consulate in Benghazi only made this situation worse – the closure of our Embassy and our remaining consulates has left us blind. Without a strong American presence in country and no real partner domestically, we have little influence or ability to bring all of the murderers to justice.
Washington must recognize Libya has already become a failed state and our “lead from behind” policy has backfired. Continuing to do nothing only furthers instability in the region and gives extremists the freedom to plan and plot. Invasion isn’t the answer, but engagement is.
The White House must use its position to marshal the resources of our allies to aid Libya and guide it towards a more stable future. We must use the tools we have available and implement a program across all fronts – stimulate the economy, develop civil society and democratic politics, and train the legitimate military and security services. This will not be easy, it will take leadership, but an investment now will save the United States and the West substantial costs in blood and treasure in the future.
It did not need to turn out this way. The United States and Europe (France in particular, which took an early leading role) should have brought the factions to the table to reach some power sharing agreement and put their collective weight behind a new government. It is not as though the West doesn’t have tools – financially, it could have leveraged threats of frozen oil and overseas assets; politically, the importance of diplomatic and international recognition is often overlooked; and finally, the introduction of a stabilization force would have signaled the West’s commitment and it’s resolve.
Instead, the West withdrew and paid less and less attention. The response of the U.S. since the terrible attack on our consulate in Benghazi only made this situation worse – the closure of our Embassy and our remaining consulates has left us blind. Without a strong American presence in country and no real partner domestically, we have little influence or ability to bring all of the murderers to justice.
Washington must recognize Libya has already become a failed state and our “lead from behind” policy has backfired. Continuing to do nothing only furthers instability in the region and gives extremists the freedom to plan and plot. Invasion isn’t the answer, but engagement is.
The White House must use its position to marshal the resources of our allies to aid Libya and guide it towards a more stable future. We must use the tools we have available and implement a program across all fronts – stimulate the economy, develop civil society and democratic politics, and train the legitimate military and security services. This will not be easy, it will take leadership, but an investment now will save the United States and the West substantial costs in blood and treasure in the future.
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