Hillary: A no-fly zone must have international backing. Absolutely right, Hillary.

[JDPriestly]

Any no-fly zone over Libya must have international backing and not be a U.S.-led effort, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday.

"We want to see the international community support it," she told Sky News when asked about a no-fly zone over Libya.

"I think it's very important that this not be a U.S.-led effort because this comes from the people of Libya themselves. This doesn't come from the outside, this doesn't come from some Western power or some Gulf country saying 'This is what you should do'," she said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/09/clinton-no-fly-not-us-decision_n_833258.html

If the world, and Europe in particular, wants a no-fly zone over Libya, they need to step up to the plate.

The US is sick of playing the Lone Ranger when it comes to fighting wars for other countries.

[JanDutchy]

1. Hilary didn't stated which majority or what the content is of international backing.

the world is sick of the military industrial complex: throw the net on the other side after people can choose what kind of government they want.

[Buzz Clik]

2. I'm curious how this will sit with those DUers who want Obama mobilizing the military right now.

Not that I value their opinion, but I have no doubt that (as usual) they will crawling over each other to insult Obama and Hillary with the strongest language they can muster.

Of course, there's the DU contingent who will view this as more saber rattling, and they will condemn Clinton for being a tool of the military corporatists.

Most people, gratefully, will view Hillary's comments as rational.

[pampango]

3. Agreed. If the world wants a no-fly zone over Libya, they need to step up to the plate.

The "world" should be the United Nations, specifically the Security Council.

In 2005 the UN adopted the "Responsibility to Protect" which is "the idea that sovereignty is not a privilege, but a responsibility. RtoP focuses on preventing and halting four crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. The responsibility to protect can be thought of as having three parts.

A State has a responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing (mass atrocities).

If the State is unable to protect its population on its own, the international community has a responsibility to assist the state by building its capacity. This can mean building early-warning capabilities, mediating conflicts between political parties, strengthening the security sector, mobilizing standby forces, and many other actions.

If a State is manifestly failing to protect its citizens from mass atrocities and peaceful measures are not working, the international community has the responsibility to intervene at first diplomatically, then more coercively, and as a last resort, with military force.

Civil society organizations, States, regional organizations, and international institutions all have a role to play in the operationalization of RtoP. The authority to employ the last resort and intervene militarily rests solely with United Nations Security Council ..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_to_protect

It is the responsibility of the UN (through the Security Council) to act if they determine that the actions of the Libyan government constitute "genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing (mass atrocities)."

Russia (or China) may veto Security Council action against Gaddafi. So be it, but make them do so on the record. If things go badly in Libya the responsibility will be clear. While the price will be high in terms of Libyan blood, the next time the world body has to choose between national sovereignty and human lives, their decision may be different because of the Libyan experience. If R2P is to ever be more than pretty words on paper, it will be up to the Security Council. Maybe not now, but someday.

[polmaven]

4. She is absolutely correct.

n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Needs to be the Arab League in the cockpits and pulling triggers not western forces