Libyans receive free health care, and, according to a visit by AID workers, "the health status is good compared to other Middle Eastern countries. Childhood immunization is nearly universal, and water and sanitation are improving. Medical and hospital care and medicines are free. Health care is provided by a mixture of public and private services. Most care is available in hospitals and at outpatient or specialized-care facilities or clinics." World Health organization (WHO) reported in 2000 "71% of Libyans already had good access to clean water" and in 2006, "97% had access to good sanitation."
Nevertheless, the world leaders judge Gaddafi by his extensive operations on the international stage, which at times were clairvoyant, but perplexed observers. He stirred the pot, rattled nerves, made lots of noise, feigned lots of action, created lots of drama and, in the end, had almost no accomplishments.
Moral and economic assistance to the IRA, to the Palestinians, to Chad rebels and in general to the oppressed neither received recognition nor achieved success. Efforts to unite the Arab world, to overthrow the more fundamentalist and oligarchic regimes, and attempts to unify the African nations met with skepticism. His assumed benefactors interpreted the efforts as a power play to benefit the Libyan leader. As one example, Gaddafi assumed a leading role in enabling present Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to overthrow General Tito Okello after Okello displaced Milton Obote. He supported the Mouseveni led insurrection (NRA) and dropped military supplies to the NRA encampments. Presently, the two leaders are fierce enemies with Wikileaks cables revealing, "President Museveni reported to the US that he feared Col. Gaddafi would eliminate him because he had opposed the Libyan leader's push for the creation of a United States of Africa."
The dilemma of the conspiratorial, mercurial, egotistical, patronizing and dictatorial Gaddafi inked headlines, and propelled the U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton, to react clearly and strongly at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, February 28: "Gaddafi and those around him must be held accountable for these acts, which violate international legal obligations and common decency. ".We have seen Colonel Gaddafi's security forces open fire on peaceful protesters. They have used heavy weapons on unarmed civilians. Mercenaries and thugs have been turned loose to attack demonstrators."
Firstly, these were not demonstrators. Although they have a just cause, these opponents of the regime seized parts of Libya and provoked a Civil War. However, why is the focus only on Gaddafi?
The Congo war "involved eight African nations, and about 25 armed groups. By 2008 the war and its aftermath had killed 5.4 million people, mostly from disease and starvation Millions more were displaced from their homes or sought asylum in neighboring countries." The African conflict was multitudes more deadly, more significant and punishing than the present Libyan conflict and generated a host of war crimes. Not many words from the White House.
In the Ivory Coast, assumed President Gbgabo has initiated a conflict by denying the presidential office to Alassane Quattara, the internationally recognized winner of a November election. According to the United Nations, "At least 365 people have been killed in Ivory Coast since the disputed Nov. 28 election." "Widespread violence against civilians is the most likely scenario in the coming months," the International Crisis Group reported on March 3. Silence from the U.S. State Department.
Bahrain had its peaceful demonstrators killed by government forces. Not many words from the White House.
On February 25, 2011 , in a day of rage, "Iraqi protesters burned or tried to storm government buildings from the southern port of Basra to the northern cities of Mosul and Huwaijah, where at least five were killed." This encounter is only one of daily demonstrations In Iraq, where the demonstrators are punished. Not any words from the White House.
In the West Bank and Gaza, Israeli troops have periodically arrested and killed Palestinians. Human Rights groups have testified to the repressive Israeli actions and used the term "war crimes' several times. No words from the White House.
There are many more criminal actions, too numerous to mention, to which the U.S. government has not responded.
The most serious is that the United States had a president who, with no satisfactory reason, warred against the Iraq people and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, many more wounded, and the dislocation of 2,000,000 Iraqis. President George H.W. Bush destroyed a nation. The same Bush invaded Afghanistan. His war has continued for ten years with no apparent outcome, except more killing. Plenty of war crimes.
Equally dangerous in this crisis is an attempt by the United States and/or other nations to use their power to determine the outcome of the civil war. Interceding to halt the conflict is first priority and definitely warranted. Interceding to manipulate the conflict will set a precedent, which can then be applied to any crisis. The United States could use this precedence to determine the future of other nations.
Muammar Gaddafi brought a desert nation into the twenty first century. By using his nation's resources for his personal aggrandizement however, Gaddafi left a mixed legacy in his own nation. On the world stage, he saw himself soaring above others, but never actually left his extravagant tent. Examination of counterproductive and destructive foreign policies indicates U.S. leaders also see themselves as wandering far, but their minds rarely leave the white columned mansion.
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