We reached by phone old friend Edward Luttwak, military analyst, economist and politologist; since 2004 he is a consultant to the Washington International Strategic Studies Center. He is also a consultant to the US Ministry of Defense, the National Security Council, and the US Department of State. He is a member of the National Security Study Group of the Department of Defense and works at the Treasury Department, more precisely the Institute of Fiscal and Monetary Policies. He is a member of the Italia-Usa Foundation.
With him we talked about the Libyan crisis.
- Luttwak, in short: what kind of approach must Italy have with Libya?
"Approach? No, Italy must invade Libya, should do it tomorrow, what do you expect? "
- But professor, invade with force?
"And what else? Do you have armored divisions? Use them! Why do you keep them in the barracks? Let us the generals over the age of 55 ... the rest in Libya. "
- Professor but it would be aggression to a foreign state ...
"Which state? Libya is a constellation of tribes, I'm sorry that the efforts of your Minniti (Italian Min Interior) are out of the ordinary. Needless to be pervading: it takes military who handle the territory, heavily armed. "
- How many men for such a mission?
"Everyone you have, for you Italian, Libya is the backbone of your economy, too close to leaving it on the grip of gangs. Libyans, like Somalis, will hardly manage without Western leadership. "
- But the Italians?
"if I were Italian would not pay more than a penny ... spend my money for the national interest of others? But in what other country of the world is it so? Tell me…".
- And welcome? We cannot let people die at sea, is it okay?
"Hospitality? But even if third class country like Turkey save lives and then take them to your shores, or even worse, deliver them to your navy forces. Do they take humanitarian awards at home and what is left for you? Huge cost to handle it all. "
- And with NGOs?
"With NGOs it is not necessary to deal with, they have not been sovereign. Are you currently doing a favor? Absolutely not, you have everything to lose. If they want to help distribute migrants across the Mediterranean. Do you realize they are based on you? What do you do with the Libyan coasts? "
- Let's go back to the mission.
"The mission must be traditional, invasion and garrison. Occupation of all strategic areas, from infrastructure to industrial poles. You have an army capable of supporting this kind of operation, this time with diplomatic cleverness you are not going anywhere. Libya in this state for Italy is an economic vortex, do you expect the Egyptians to invade the Libyan territory? At that point you will be cut off and you will pay your iniquity. "
- However, intervening involves risks in human terms, very high ...
"True, but do the military serve to preserve national interests or else what do you need for the army?"
With this question, which is complex to give answers, we leave it to Luttwak, who reiterates the use of conventional force for the Libyan question. The analyst surely, in his extreme pragmatism, reminds us of the evident Italian immobility of the last three years.
NO COMMENTS
With him we talked about the Libyan crisis.
- Luttwak, in short: what kind of approach must Italy have with Libya?
"Approach? No, Italy must invade Libya, should do it tomorrow, what do you expect? "
- But professor, invade with force?
"And what else? Do you have armored divisions? Use them! Why do you keep them in the barracks? Let us the generals over the age of 55 ... the rest in Libya. "
- Professor but it would be aggression to a foreign state ...
"Which state? Libya is a constellation of tribes, I'm sorry that the efforts of your Minniti (Italian Min Interior) are out of the ordinary. Needless to be pervading: it takes military who handle the territory, heavily armed. "
- How many men for such a mission?
"Everyone you have, for you Italian, Libya is the backbone of your economy, too close to leaving it on the grip of gangs. Libyans, like Somalis, will hardly manage without Western leadership. "
- But the Italians?
"if I were Italian would not pay more than a penny ... spend my money for the national interest of others? But in what other country of the world is it so? Tell me…".
- And welcome? We cannot let people die at sea, is it okay?
"Hospitality? But even if third class country like Turkey save lives and then take them to your shores, or even worse, deliver them to your navy forces. Do they take humanitarian awards at home and what is left for you? Huge cost to handle it all. "
- And with NGOs?
"With NGOs it is not necessary to deal with, they have not been sovereign. Are you currently doing a favor? Absolutely not, you have everything to lose. If they want to help distribute migrants across the Mediterranean. Do you realize they are based on you? What do you do with the Libyan coasts? "
- Let's go back to the mission.
"The mission must be traditional, invasion and garrison. Occupation of all strategic areas, from infrastructure to industrial poles. You have an army capable of supporting this kind of operation, this time with diplomatic cleverness you are not going anywhere. Libya in this state for Italy is an economic vortex, do you expect the Egyptians to invade the Libyan territory? At that point you will be cut off and you will pay your iniquity. "
- However, intervening involves risks in human terms, very high ...
"True, but do the military serve to preserve national interests or else what do you need for the army?"
With this question, which is complex to give answers, we leave it to Luttwak, who reiterates the use of conventional force for the Libyan question. The analyst surely, in his extreme pragmatism, reminds us of the evident Italian immobility of the last three years.
END
NO COMMENTS
No comments:
Post a Comment