Project for Philosophical Evaluations of the Economy |
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Is there a justification for Germany’s abstention?
Dialog with the Alter Ego on the UN no-fly-zone resolution, first drafted on March 18,
published on March 22, 2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question by Alter Ego of Noah denkt™ (AE): Noah denkt™ has heavily criticized Germany’s abstention on the UN
resolution 1973 which justifies the implementation of a no-fly-zone in Libya. Don’t you think that you have gone
overboard there?
Answer by Noah denkt™ (Nd): Why?
AE: Because it is not at all clear whether a no-fly-zone will in deed lead to the desired result which is the downfall
of the Gaddafi regime. Just think of the fact that Gaddafi’s mercenaries seem to be way better organized than the
opposition forces are. Why then do you believe that it is a given that this no-fly-zone will naturally lead to an
opposition victory?
Nd: We don’t know that. But, even in the event of an unwelcome end to this UN-backed intervention in Libya it
seems to us as if it had been Germany’s first obligation to back up its closest allies on this.
AE: You want to back up our allies even if their initiative might lead them to make a big mistake?
Nd: Yes, even if they make a mistake while, and this is very important, trying to (pretty much) unambiguously
defend human rights, we should be at their side.
AE: That’s sounds extremely docile to us?
Nd: It isn’t docile at all. It instead takes into account our own national self-interest. We simply do not want our
allies to wobble, the same way we have done just now, if we should ever be forced to ask them for their support.
AE: Come on, our allies surely understand, that we can come to different conclusions without us compromising
our friendship to them!
Nd: Every time, allied soldiers put their lives on the line you cannot ask for too much patience and tolerance.
Don’t forget that Germany has already been pretty hesitant when it came to backing up NATO partners in
Kandahar and Helmand province (Afghanistan). This is the third time (including Iraq) in row where our
government isn’t exactly cooperative when it comes to satisfying our allies’ military request. You cannot continue
doing this for ever.
AE: Okay, you probably have a point there. Let me ask you something different then? Do you think it is correct to
implement a no-fly-zone in Libya even if this doesn’t lead to Gaddafi’s downfall?
Nd: Unequivocally, yes!!
AE: Why?
Nd: Because this is about creating a level playing field between the warring factions. In other words, it is about
giving the opposition a fair chance to win this confrontation against an unpredictable dictator.
AE: Allied fighter pilots might die though in the course of this. Is it worth risking that just to create a level playing
field?
Nd: That is a difficult question. And answering in the affirmative can only be justified by the fact that the allied
firepower is so superior that it is somewhat unlikely that our guys will have to suffer too many casualties there.
AE: But isn’t one mutilated soldier enough to question the whole enterprise?
Nd: Perhaps. But we just have to hope for the best here.
AE: Hope is not a strategy. What you are saying here is quite irresponsible.
Nd: Look, we are supporting those who are trying to do the right thing. We are convinced that in the long run this
will benefit all of us. Because eventually all parties involved in this will understand, that it wasn’t an evil empire or
a self-obsessed power broker that was interfering here, but much rather a benevolent umpire who tried to bring
measure and reason to an otherwise pretty unreasonable place.
AE: Your words in God’s ears.
Nd: So be it.
Dialog with the Alter Ego on the UN no-fly-zone resolution, first drafted on March 18,
published on March 22, 2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question by Alter Ego of Noah denkt™ (AE): Noah denkt™ has heavily criticized Germany’s abstention on the UN
resolution 1973 which justifies the implementation of a no-fly-zone in Libya. Don’t you think that you have gone
overboard there?
Answer by Noah denkt™ (Nd): Why?
AE: Because it is not at all clear whether a no-fly-zone will in deed lead to the desired result which is the downfall
of the Gaddafi regime. Just think of the fact that Gaddafi’s mercenaries seem to be way better organized than the
opposition forces are. Why then do you believe that it is a given that this no-fly-zone will naturally lead to an
opposition victory?
Nd: We don’t know that. But, even in the event of an unwelcome end to this UN-backed intervention in Libya it
seems to us as if it had been Germany’s first obligation to back up its closest allies on this.
AE: You want to back up our allies even if their initiative might lead them to make a big mistake?
Nd: Yes, even if they make a mistake while, and this is very important, trying to (pretty much) unambiguously
defend human rights, we should be at their side.
AE: That’s sounds extremely docile to us?
Nd: It isn’t docile at all. It instead takes into account our own national self-interest. We simply do not want our
allies to wobble, the same way we have done just now, if we should ever be forced to ask them for their support.
AE: Come on, our allies surely understand, that we can come to different conclusions without us compromising
our friendship to them!
Nd: Every time, allied soldiers put their lives on the line you cannot ask for too much patience and tolerance.
Don’t forget that Germany has already been pretty hesitant when it came to backing up NATO partners in
Kandahar and Helmand province (Afghanistan). This is the third time (including Iraq) in row where our
government isn’t exactly cooperative when it comes to satisfying our allies’ military request. You cannot continue
doing this for ever.
AE: Okay, you probably have a point there. Let me ask you something different then? Do you think it is correct to
implement a no-fly-zone in Libya even if this doesn’t lead to Gaddafi’s downfall?
Nd: Unequivocally, yes!!
AE: Why?
Nd: Because this is about creating a level playing field between the warring factions. In other words, it is about
giving the opposition a fair chance to win this confrontation against an unpredictable dictator.
AE: Allied fighter pilots might die though in the course of this. Is it worth risking that just to create a level playing
field?
Nd: That is a difficult question. And answering in the affirmative can only be justified by the fact that the allied
firepower is so superior that it is somewhat unlikely that our guys will have to suffer too many casualties there.
AE: But isn’t one mutilated soldier enough to question the whole enterprise?
Nd: Perhaps. But we just have to hope for the best here.
AE: Hope is not a strategy. What you are saying here is quite irresponsible.
Nd: Look, we are supporting those who are trying to do the right thing. We are convinced that in the long run this
will benefit all of us. Because eventually all parties involved in this will understand, that it wasn’t an evil empire or
a self-obsessed power broker that was interfering here, but much rather a benevolent umpire who tried to bring
measure and reason to an otherwise pretty unreasonable place.
AE: Your words in God’s ears.
Nd: So be it.
| © Landei Selbstverlag, owned by Wilhelm ("Wil") Leonards, Gerolstein, Germany. All rights reserved. Reminder: Noah denkt™ is a project of Wilhelm ("Wil") Leonards and his Landei Selbstverlag (WL & his LSV). Consequently, all rights to the texts that have been published under the Noah denkt™brand name are reserved by WL & his LSV. The commentary and the reasoning that was provided on this page is for informational and/or educational purposes only and it is not intended to provide tax, legal or investment advice. It should therefore not be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security or any issuer by WL & his LSV or its Noah denkt™ Project. In fact, WL & his LSV encourage the user to understand that he alone is responsible for determining whether any investment, security or strategy is appropriate or suitable for him. And to leave no doubt as to what this means we urge our user to also note our extended Legal Notice. |
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| Keywords: No-Fly-Zone in Libya, Germany's abstention in the UN Security Council, Success of UN Resolution 1973, in support of No-Fly-Zone in Libya, coalition goals in Libya, downfall of Gaddafi, Justification for No-Fly-Zone in Libya, Germany's solidarity with NATO partners, Germany's ambiguous Libya policy |