Demarchy

The first date was enchanting. Over dinner, she was playing footsie with us and smiling coyly from across the table.

And then we bombed her house for two months.

Now, after violently murdering her ex-boyfriend, we’re trying to decide where we want our relationship to go. 

I am, of course, talking about Libya.

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There are two prevailing theories on Libya that are floating through the house of commons rights now. One, the Conservative thought process, follows that a regime change to get rid of Gaddafi is the best course of action for Libya. The New Democrats contend that we should continue the current mission but not actively try to overthrow Gaddafi.

The Conservative plan sounds nice, and I’m sure they’re doing it for all the right reasons, but there is a historical imperative that says it pretty clearly; imperial intervention doesn’t work.

This government can disarm the Libyan army without becoming an imperial power. Tactical air strikes can reduce the capacity of Gaddafi’s forces to massacre it’s own people. That’s a good thing.

It’s when you start getting into local politics that things go awry. If the Conservative government thinks the Canadian military knows how to form a government better than the Libyans, then it’s deluded. 

One needs go no farther than the Wikipedia page on the subject to get a good idea of how well regime changes work to foster positive development;

• Iran (1953) - CIA-led coup installs the Shah, a brutal tyrant. Coup fosters anti-American sentiment, causes hostage crisis and eventually the Iranian Revolution
• Tibet (1950s) - CIA-led insurgency. Totally failed.
• Cuba (1961) - Bay of Pigs. Say n’more.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960) - American government helps install one of the most corrupt and violent regimes in Africa
• Iraq (1960s) - Saddam Hussein. Say n’more.
• Chile (1973) - US helps overthrow democratically elected Marxist, Pinochet takes over. Slaughters civilians.
• Afghanistan (1970/80s) - Taliban. Say n’more.
• Iran 1980
• Nicaragua (1980s) - US sells drugs to Iran for weapons to give to brutal mercenaries fighting civil war against democratically elected government. 

And there are so many more. Haiti, Palestine, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. Virtually one of the only successful intervention in the history of American imerpialism was in the case of South Africa, where a soft approach (aid, mostly) allowed for the defeat of apartheid. 

If one of the most experience imperialist states can’t effectuate positive change through toppling regimes, why does Canada and its NATO allies think it can do the same? Nevermind that America would likely be organizing the Libya mission.

The people of Libya need to decide their own future. All we can do is try to protect them, ensure they have basic humanitarian supplies and stand in solidarity with their struggle.