Iraq 2003 is not the template of Libya 2011. Apart from both being headed by two remarkably nasty dictators, there is almost no similarity between the ‘liberation’ of Iraq and the current liberation of Libya.<\/p>\n
The defining difference is that liberation was imposed by\u00a0US led coalition army on Iraq.<\/p>\n
True there is a distinct rumble of boots on the ground, and there is a decisive intervention by NATO, but the\u00a0uprising was started by a spontaneous uprising in Benghazi, continued by a rag-tag army of undisciplined civilians and now headed by the NTC, a Libyan group that were not appointed by foreigners.<\/p>\n
True also that the historic UN resolution (with five abstentions, but in themselves historic abstentions) to assist the opposition group in Libya \u2018to protect civilians\u2019\u00a0has been somewhat disingenuously stretched by NATO.<\/p>\n
This one significant event is either completely ignored in the flurry of articles worrying that Libya will descend into \u2018post liberation\u2019 Iraq sectarian chaos, or the actions of NATO are assumed to be equivalent to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 \u2013see today\u2019s articles (23\/08\/2011) \u201cAverting chaos of another Iraq is next task for allies\u201d The Times, and\u00a0\u201cLibya analysis: An Iraq repeat can be avoided\u201d\u00a0 The Mirror or http:\/\/www.juancole.com\/2011\/08\/top-ten-myths-about-the-libya-war.html<\/p>\n
However, without this foreign assistance, there can be no doubt that the opposition would have been ruthlessly crushed. \u00a0The gassing of thousands of Iraqi Kurds and marsh Arabs under Saddam Hussein’s regime was the spectre before Benghazi and Misurata.<\/p>\n
Despite pleas from Iraqi opposition, the International community were not united enough to support it. Thus when the Coalition army did finally enter Iraq there was no effective opposition left.<\/p>\n
Therefore, since there was no government in waiting, the Americans lead the transition through a coalition council of appointed 25 \u2013 30 Iraqis.\u00a0\u00a0 And the reconstruction was spear-headed by largely American companies.<\/p>\n
Conversely in Libya, there is an opposition government, which has been effectively running liberated areas since last February.<\/p>\n
Another significant dissimilarity: the Iraqis can be Sunnis, Shia, Christian and Bahai.\u00a0 Libyans are all Sunni.<\/p>\n
It would be most surprising if free Libya did not have a rocky road. \u00a0The maverick Ghadafi smashed most of Libya\u2019s infrastructure: many cities and roads have been destroyed and people traumatised in this uprising.<\/p>\n
Whatever happens next though, \u00a0the\u00a0Libyan reconstruction is not\u00a0the next task for the \u2018allies\u2019. \u00a0\u00a0It is the next task \u2013 for the Libyans using any expertise that they choose to employ, foreign or otherwise. \u00a0Their choices may not be those that other countries would make, \u00a0but those choices will be their own. \u00a0Not wrong, but different.<\/p>\n
Whilst it remains to be seen that if the TNC can step up to effectively manage the transition to a new Libya, it has had a few months to learn some of the ropes. \u00a0Benghazi and other areas in rebel control are being administered; the police and army are being trained and are graduating, hospitals and schools are open.<\/p>\n
Libya also has some trump cards in the pack, which should give hope to its people that there will be a free Libya to enjoy \u2013 and make many a country envious:<\/p>\n
Iraq 2003 is not the template of Libya 2011. Apart from both being headed by two remarkably nasty dictators, there is almost no similarity between the ‘liberation’ of Iraq and the current liberation of Libya. The defining difference is that … Continue reading