Libyan Flip flops

When we traveled to the World Cup in Capetown, we caught football fever. Any chance to throw on shirts, hats, scarves, flags, anything with a country’s flag on it was vigorously embraced. My two prized possessions from that trip are my South African flag vuvuzela and my Portugal scarf. Hayden’s purchase was in the Havianas store. They cleverly created flip flops (or hip flops as I call them) with the flags of all of the teams in the Cup on them. After much debate (US? Brazil?), Hayden went with South Africa flip flops, because the spirit of that country was so great. They did not have them in Capetown, but I watch the news violence in Libya and strangely picture Libyan flip flops. Unlike the pride and fever pitch of the World Cup, I believe this is my sarcastic response to whimsical and disaffected media outlets and politicians flinging their opinions back and forth as the political moment dictates. Flip flop flip flop. Such careless oscillation makes me want to capture my own feelings about what's going on.

Here’s my two cents on Libya…Back when the media, the Republicans and the granny at the corner store in Kansas were expertly talking about the need to implement a no-fly zone in Libya, I was against it. It is in part because of my pacifist view of the world. This view doesn’t come from a moralistic self-righteous place, but rather from having seen the effects of war. It’s shaped as much by Admiral Mullen’s pragmatic warnings as by George Fox’s open heart. We’ve gotten quite comfortable since the days of the first Iraq war of supporting war from the safety our living rooms. But the fear, anxiety and death of war are too awful to ever support military efforts as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been in war zones, although thankfully have not ever had to actively duck bullets. In Congo, Burundi and Uganda I was terrified at times and downright relieved when I could get the hell out of there. I have spent a lot of time with people who have experienced war; families, women and children who have experienced war. I have heard their terrible stories and have had my heart broken, because they have no escape, except perhaps to the dire conditions of refugee and IDP camps on the fringes. There is no such thing as a good war.

[Parenthetically and in case one day I should achieve some sort of fame and this little insignificant blog is found, let me say that while I feel strongly about this, I also possess the intellectual capital not to condemn those who enlist in the military. I know they do so for many many reasons. Indeed, it is those brave women and men who may agree more readily with me, because of what they have experienced.]

My lack of support for this military intervention also comes in part from the frustration of knowing that the interest in Libyan liberty is undoubtedly tied more to our strategic interests than to the protection of civilians. Several have commented that if we go into Libya, what about Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, etc. etc.? Forget about the Middle East, what about Cote D’Ivoire? Does the world know that despite losing Presidential elections and having that confirmed by the UN and other independent election monitors President Gbagbo refuses to cede power? What about poor poor Congo? While I worry about the people of Bengazi, does their proximity to oil mean their 50,000 lives are more important than the 5 million killed in Congo in the past decade of lawless vicious war in the East? Are we in Libya for human rights and freedom? No way Jose.

In any case we’re in it now. The President, whose team should be lambasted for absolutely sucking at tooting their horn, has pulled off an amazing triumph for international peace and security. He has gotten in line behind a UN Security Council resolution, the way the US ought to. He has brought the Arab League and Turkey on board. He has also delinked the US’s endgame in Libya from the actual endgame in Libya, which is interesting. We will not put troops on the ground or leave Libya only when Gaddafi leaves. Our military lead is set to retire now that the no-fly zone is in effect.

In actuality the US’s role will continue in so many ways. While conservatives hem and haw about ceding power to NATO, NATO is still de facto US controlled since we’re in command of it. My job searching has skimmed past dozens of relief and stabilization jobs in North Africa and the Middle East. We will be involved in this for some time.

Decisions about Libya continue to flip flop. The media and the right have conveniently forgotten that they supported this effort before they saw the political opportunity to criticize it. The President, albeit eloquently, deludes himself that this will be a finite, contained military action. And I wonder if we could ever convince the world to be as interested in Goma as it is in Misrata.