Quote Originally Posted by koman View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Panda View Post
No doubt western leaders promote, or shy away from war predominantly for their own political interests domestically. An example being Bush after 9/11 attacking Iraq for no justifiable reason. Now, Cameron and Sarkozy to the fore but Obama bowing out as his domestic audience has now had their fill of blowing up other little countries at the taxpayers expense.
Leave aside France, UK and US for a minute.......what reason would Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Italy, Spain and at least a dozen other democratic states have to support the action......

Some of these countries are rated as the most democratic and non-corrupt states in the world. At least two (Norway and Canada) have no interest whatsoever in Libyan oil. They do not as a rule favor military action against anybody, unless it is imperative. They are frequently at odds with the foreign policies of the US, UK etc.....but here they are; all on side and involved in direct and indirect actions against Libya.....or more specifically against it's long standing "government"
All those countries you mentioned are allies of USA, UK and France and all voted to support the UN resolution 1973 primarily on the sole basis of humanitarian grounds. China and Russia (who could have vetoed the resolution, as USA so often does in the Israel/Palestine issue), decided to abstain. Not because of any opposition to the humanitarian grounds, but because it was not deemed to be in their national interest. Just as USA so often has vetoed UN resolutions regarding Israeli human rights abuses against the Palestinians.

So you see, in the end it all comes down to national economic and political interests rather than just what is right or wrong. But I am sure you know that already from your earlier posts.