Who is Now going to take responsibility for the refugees in the EU? | |
In 2011 the US and several EU-member states were eager to push for regime change in Libya conducting their joint military operation “Unified Protector” and pretending to act under their “responsibility to protect”. Behind this euphemistic Orwellian misnomer lies the idea of using unlawful force and aggression against another sovereign state in order to support opposition forces (i.e. establishing so-called “national transitional councils/movements” in several sovereign nations, which is in fact unlawful support for subversive activities in another State, as outlawed by the ICJ in the Nicaragua v. USA case).
As has been explained in the context of Obamas war in Syria, the instrument called "Responsibility to protect" is neither directly enshrined in nor customarily recognized under the UN Convention and international law in general. Instead, it is a tool of the powerful against the week. It is warfare according to Charles Darwin’s principle of “survival of the fittest”.
The UN was quick to pass RES 1973 on March 17, 2011, declaring a no-fly-zone over Libya. Only two days later, NATO coalition forces composed of 17 nations, led by France, Italy, UK and Canada, began with the heavy bombardment of Libya. The US joined in, deploying more than 8.000 military personnel (warship and aircraft) in the area (compared to currently approximately 6.000 troops against Iraq AND Syria in Operation “Inhrerent Resolve”!). After a few months, as Libyan leader Gaddafi was eliminated from power and oil resources were secured by foreign companies, a once prosperous and stable Libya, that was led by a respected African leader, was left back in derail and civil-war. An operation claiming to “protect” civilians claimed the lives of thousands of civilians and left even more of them wounded. What remains, is a war-torn country, a so-called “failed state”. The EU and the US alike, have since then lost their once so ardent interest in an “Arabian Spring”, in the well-being of the people of Libya as well as in the democratic transition. Libya is since left to the violent rivalries of mulitple militias.
This Libyan Civil war, led by NATO and the US, is one of the primary causes for the current massive refugee influx in Europe, which is so heavily deplored. More than 20 % of the Libyan population fled their homes after the military intervention mainly towards the neighboring countries. Hundreds of thousands (~ 300.000) of these refugees stranded in Lampedusa, Italy.
The EU, which was back then eager to “protect” Libyans from their own ruler, now treats these very same people as criminals, terrorists and unwanted illegal migrants and tries its best to block them from reaching European soil. Within the last months, up to 2.000 refugees have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the people attempt to leave Libya, because it is "now in a lawless state with two competing governments at war with each other and both incapable of policing people-smuggling gangs". On a daily basis, hundreds of “boat people” drown or sink off in overcrowded vessels drown before reaching Italian, Greek, French and Spanish shores. Now, none of the intervening countries is willing to care for the humanitarian needs of the people. Meanwhile, the EU and its member states keep passing the buck between each other, in order not to have to take responsibility for the humanitarian crisis. European boarder missions even consider fighting the traffickers in their homelands, by using military action in countries like Libya to prevent people from embarking.
It is unfortunate for countries like Italy and Greece that the northern EU countries (especially warmongering UK and France) leave rescue operations mainly to those heavily affected states, by leaving these two countries alone to face the influx. However, Italy and Greek both had actively participated in the unlawful military intervention against Libya before.
Once again, the EU refuses to bear the consequences of its fatal aggression against Libya and of its unlawful intervention in Syria.
After all, Europe has a long tradition of colonializing and exploiting (Northern) African countries. Italy should be reminded of the following historic fact: In the beginning of the 20th century, more than 150.000 Italian nationals settled in Libya – back then forcefully colonized by Italy. Some 80 years later, Libyan refugees reach for the Italian cost – this time however, because they have been driven out of their own homeland due to a NATO-led invasion, under the guise of humanitarian protection - once again.
As has been explained in the context of Obamas war in Syria, the instrument called "Responsibility to protect" is neither directly enshrined in nor customarily recognized under the UN Convention and international law in general. Instead, it is a tool of the powerful against the week. It is warfare according to Charles Darwin’s principle of “survival of the fittest”.
The UN was quick to pass RES 1973 on March 17, 2011, declaring a no-fly-zone over Libya. Only two days later, NATO coalition forces composed of 17 nations, led by France, Italy, UK and Canada, began with the heavy bombardment of Libya. The US joined in, deploying more than 8.000 military personnel (warship and aircraft) in the area (compared to currently approximately 6.000 troops against Iraq AND Syria in Operation “Inhrerent Resolve”!). After a few months, as Libyan leader Gaddafi was eliminated from power and oil resources were secured by foreign companies, a once prosperous and stable Libya, that was led by a respected African leader, was left back in derail and civil-war. An operation claiming to “protect” civilians claimed the lives of thousands of civilians and left even more of them wounded. What remains, is a war-torn country, a so-called “failed state”. The EU and the US alike, have since then lost their once so ardent interest in an “Arabian Spring”, in the well-being of the people of Libya as well as in the democratic transition. Libya is since left to the violent rivalries of mulitple militias.
This Libyan Civil war, led by NATO and the US, is one of the primary causes for the current massive refugee influx in Europe, which is so heavily deplored. More than 20 % of the Libyan population fled their homes after the military intervention mainly towards the neighboring countries. Hundreds of thousands (~ 300.000) of these refugees stranded in Lampedusa, Italy.
The EU, which was back then eager to “protect” Libyans from their own ruler, now treats these very same people as criminals, terrorists and unwanted illegal migrants and tries its best to block them from reaching European soil. Within the last months, up to 2.000 refugees have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the people attempt to leave Libya, because it is "now in a lawless state with two competing governments at war with each other and both incapable of policing people-smuggling gangs". On a daily basis, hundreds of “boat people” drown or sink off in overcrowded vessels drown before reaching Italian, Greek, French and Spanish shores. Now, none of the intervening countries is willing to care for the humanitarian needs of the people. Meanwhile, the EU and its member states keep passing the buck between each other, in order not to have to take responsibility for the humanitarian crisis. European boarder missions even consider fighting the traffickers in their homelands, by using military action in countries like Libya to prevent people from embarking.
It is unfortunate for countries like Italy and Greece that the northern EU countries (especially warmongering UK and France) leave rescue operations mainly to those heavily affected states, by leaving these two countries alone to face the influx. However, Italy and Greek both had actively participated in the unlawful military intervention against Libya before.
Once again, the EU refuses to bear the consequences of its fatal aggression against Libya and of its unlawful intervention in Syria.
After all, Europe has a long tradition of colonializing and exploiting (Northern) African countries. Italy should be reminded of the following historic fact: In the beginning of the 20th century, more than 150.000 Italian nationals settled in Libya – back then forcefully colonized by Italy. Some 80 years later, Libyan refugees reach for the Italian cost – this time however, because they have been driven out of their own homeland due to a NATO-led invasion, under the guise of humanitarian protection - once again.
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