Arab League chief admits second thoughts about Libya air strikes

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

The outgoing head of the Arab League and a frontrunner to become president of a democratic Egypt has voiced reservations about Nato's bombing campaign in Libya, calling for a ceasefire and talks on a political settlement while Muammar Gaddafi remains in power.

Amr Moussa, the veteran Egyptian diplomat who played a central role in securing Arab support for the Nato air campaign against Gaddafi, told the Guardian he now had second thoughts about a bombing mission that may not be working. "When I see children being killed, I must have misgivings. That's why I warned about the risk of civilian casualties," he said.

Arab support, in the form of an endorsement from the Arab League, was essential to the Anglo-French-led bombing campaign launched in March following a UN security council resolution mandating the use of force to protect Libyan civilians.

But senior European officials say that the Arab world is again turning against the west because of the Libya campaign. "The Arab League is telling us that we're losing the support of the Arab world," said one senior source involved in negotiations over Libya.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/21/arab-league-chief-libya-air-strikes

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[mainer]

2. Utterly predictable

As soon as Western bombs fell, the backlash was only a matter of time.

[Demeter]

3. Seller's Remorse

Shouldn't have played with Imperial fire, guy. You get burnt every single time.

[David__77]

4. More nonsense from the Arab ruling classes.

Collude with Western aggression whenever it really counts, and pretend with "misgivings" once the crimes are committed. Shameful.

[gratuitous]

5. 'Sokay, Amr

I mean, no one could have predicted that indiscriminate bombings of population centers would result in children being killed. How could you have possibly known? But now that the djinn has been summoned, be extremely careful lest it turn against you. It has an unfortunate tendency to do that.