Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Will Canada be on the Wrong Side of the Crisis in Libya?

As most already know, Libya has turned into a powder keg, and while I agree that something has to be done to remove the dictator who refuses to leave, we have to be careful that it doesn't become another invasion.

Maybe with so many resources tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. will not lead the charge.

The latest plans appear to be for a "no fly zone", though it's proving to be rather complicated, with China and Russia rejecting the notion. The British Prime Minister wanted to arm the rebels, the absolute wrong thing to do.

But where does Canada fit into all of this? We have joined the international community in freezing the assets of Moammar Gadhafi, but John Baird is suggesting that it could be business as usual.
Strict financial sanctions against Libya won't stop Canadian companies from operating in the country, government House leader John Baird says. "This doesn't eliminate commercial activities. What it does do is restrain financial transactions with the Libyan government and with the Libyan Central Bank," Baird said Monday morning.
A little premature when we have no idea who will be governing the country.

I was watching some of the live feed today and they were showing the detention centres operated by Gadhafi, and I felt warm all over knowing that a Canadian company had the contract to build more. Is that the kind of business Baird is referring to?

Or is it just the oil?

First and foremost, the citizens must be rescued, but then they must be allowed to decide for themselves who will lead their country. We don't need another Karzai.

And it will be up to them, whether or not Canada will be allowed to conduct business, but don't hold your breath for those made in Canada prisons. Sorry SNC Lavelin.

3 comments:

  1. Scary, isn't it? And very very sad. A truly dreadful dictator, who was ready to hand over the reins to his son, Napoleon-style, giving the people no choice in the matter.
    There is no easy answer.

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  2. You're right. There isn't. I've been watching some of the live feed and there are people throwing loaves of bread and bottles of water to the Libyan refugees. It's inspiring and frightening. I really hope this can be settled without further bloodshed, though the rebels are
    mobilizing.

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  3. America is bankrupt - they need a friendly puppet poodle dog "leader" in Libya to allow them unfettered access to oil, as in Canada.

    As reports already indicate, if the price of oil keeps spiking it may push the US fragile economy over the brink. Move over QuaddafiDuck, here comes Haliburton.

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