The threat of military air strikes against Libya by Britain, France,
the US and allies — now supported by a March 17 UN Security Council
resolution — may or may not force the despotic Libyan regime of
Muammar Gaddafi to stop using its armed forces against the rebel-held
city of Benghazi in the short term.

However, it does pose grave dangers for the sovereignty of Libya and
for the wave of democratic revolts that have swept the Arab world this
year.

The Socialist Alliance is a strong and active supporter of this wave
of democratic uprisings. We welcomed the uprising in Libya that began
on February 17 and have helped organised actions in solidarity with
this uprising — as we have with the uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia,
Algeria, Yemen and Bahrain.

The Socialist Alliance has also consistently opposed and warned
against the dangers of foreign intervention — especially from the
governments of the rich and powerful nations in the West. These
governments have long supported and propped up many dictatorial
regimes in the Arab world.

We understand and sympathise with the desperation of the Libyan
opposition — which was threatened by Gaddafi with a “merciless” attack
on Benghazi, the second biggest city in Libya.

But we believe that if Western powers and their allies (including the
Saudi monarchy now occupying Bahrain) begin a military intervention in
Libya, this will threaten Libyan solidarity. It will weaken the
democratic uprising politically and help rollback the wave of
democratic uprisings across the Arab world.

Imperial military intervention in Libya may even help the despotic
Gaddafi regime win some support within Libya and other less developed
countries for being seen to stand up to the western interference.

Gaddafi has already tried to resume his previously discarded posture
as a fighter against imperial aggression.

The governments of Britain, France, the US and other allies (including
the Australian government) are not interested in the lives or liberty
of the Libyan people. These powerful forces only seek to preserve
their global privilege at the richest exploiters of the world.

If these powerful governments were serious in helping the Libyan
people’s uprisings, they would have found ways a lot earlier to enable
the freedom fighters to obtain the anti-aircraft and other weapon that
would have helped them fight off the warplanes, helicopters and tanks
of the pro-Gaddafi forces.

Instead, they waited until the rebels suffered a string of
demoralising military defeats before presenting themselves as
“saviours”.

The UNSC resolution calls on Member States “to take all necessary
measures … to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under
threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya, including Benghazi,
while excluding an occupation force.”

However, history has taught us that these governments of the world’’s
richest exploiters can not be trusted to protect the people. They have
always acted to further their own selfish interest as exploiter
nations. For example, even though the UN has passed numerous
resolutions on the right of Palestinians to self-determination, the
UNSC has never once authorised force to be used against Israel for
denying this right.

The Socialist Alliance opposes imperialist intervention into Libya. We
call on the Australian government not to participate in this latest
military adventure.

The Socialist Alliance believes the Libyan revolutionaries need
solidarity. We support a campaign of international isolation of the
Gaddafi regime, through the breaking of diplomatic ties with the
Gaddafi regime and recognition of the rebel Interim Transitional
National Council, and financial sanctions on leaders of the Gaddafi
regime and its assets.

We also support immediate international aid (including military
supplies without conditions) to the Libyan uprising.

Socialist Alliance, March 18, 2011