NEW YORK (Reuters) — Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said the United States should enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to allow a fair fight between insurgents and troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The international community has been debating whether to impose a no-fly zone as Gaddafi’s warplanes carry out air strikes unhindered by insurgent anti-aircraft guns mounted on the back of pick-up trucks.
Clinton’s comments echoed those of some prominent U.S. senators calling for a no-fly zone to police Libyan air space and went beyond the caution of the Obama administration.
“I wouldn’t do it if they hadn’t asked, but if the (insurgent) leaders are on television pleading for it, “I think that we should do it,” Clinton told the Women in the World conference in New York late on Thursday.
“Gaddafi has internationalized the conflict himself by hiring people from other countries who do not give a rip about the Libyans,” Clinton said. “So that’s why (the insurgents) said, ‘Just give us the chance to have a fair fight,’ and I, for whatever it’s worth, think that’s what we should do.”
Clinton said previous no-fly zones had worked, noting such efforts over Iraq and Bosnia during his presidency, which spanned from 1993 to 2001.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the former president’s wife, has said it was up to the United Nations to decide whether there should be a no-fly zone.
She told a congressional hearing on Thursday the no-fly zones over Serbia and Iraq had not stopped the killing of civilians and did not push leaders out of power. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
6 thoughts on “Bill Clinton calls for Libya no-fly zone”
This is the same guy who let the same people of Ethiopians and Eritreans spill blood while fully supportive the two dictators (Melese&Esias) one after another. This is the same guy who did nothing in Ruanda genocide. He did nothing when millions in Congo died of civil war.
Now, he calls no fly zone in Libya; it is laughable, the least. No end for this crocodile tears…
I agree with Secretary H. Clinton’s position. The United States or NATO should not go solo discounting the United Nations and more specifically, the African Union, however corrupt tha latter may be. Diplomatic and peaceful solutions should take precedence over all forms military intervention. Renown VIP’s like Bishop Tutu, Mr. Kofi Anan and Mr. Mbeki should probably mediate a peaceful exit for the dictator.
@Tegga: The so called “Diplomatic and peaceful solutions” with elders is not gonna work. What matters is power. The so called renowned people have been there for decades. Do you think Gadafi gives a shit about them? African Union is a collection of thug dictators. People of Africa are not represented in AU. Many of UN members again are collection of dictatorial thugs.Of course, the west also has its own interest. This leaves us with the only strategy — ask: what is in it for Libyan people? Forget about elders, UN, AU or whatever moral authority you refer to. Just look at what the actors are looking for. If that is consistent with what the Libyans want, then go for it.
Every European Countries are running against time who is going to be first to be in Libya already France accepted the rebels as a new Govt
before Gaddafi step down i guess this is some thing all African countries should consider about even they are asking the Arab league
to give them ok for a military action WoW we all know Gaddafi is not
good but the Libya’s Sovereignty needs to be respected no matter what
otherwise tomorrow this white people will find a reason to invade any
country who has natural resources and Africans need to start how to solve its own problem..
let us see may be Muammer Gadafi will open negotiations for oppositions and the world is waiting until he take Bengazi and kill more people what such a world and justice??
I do not think this will happen. I believe Lybia is not Egypt. Egypt was aid recepient. Lybia is oil rich and has the capacity to corrupt. I think His wife as well as Robert Gates might have been bribed. The have opposed the down fall of Gadaffi by trying to cast doubt on the nature of the movement and the difficulty of no fly zone.
I do not know how much dollar money they received. Gates and Ms Clinton will continue to be obstacles may be including the Garmans beyond Russia