Obama Defends the Intervention in Libya

It is a humanitarian obligation, he adds. And it is true; looking at how things were there, it would seem ugly to ignore them. By forcing the intervention of the United States and its allies, however, Gadhafi has revealed their contradictions. Obama, aware of them, also said that the United States cannot use military force everywhere there is repression.

But that’s a hypocritical statement because, while true on its own, it is not when we add the missing portion of the whole truth, which is that the U.S. supports repressive governments. America cannot remain unmoved by the massacre that Gadhafi is developing in Libya, but it is not troubled by that of Mohammed VI in the Sahara. The Saharawi have the same rights as the Libyans, but in this case Obama smothers the repressor with attentions. Not just Obama, but other human rights defenders — such as Sarkozy and Zapatero — also do so.

And these things happen not only in Morocco and Libya. Other dictators are also allies of the rulers of democratic countries and keep a tight rein on their people with the weapons that they have purchased from those countries.

The time when hypocrisy was a first-class tool is over. Current technology requires new ways of doing things; now news spread rapidly and there is no way of disguising the truth.

The U.S. cannot assume the role of world policeman, because it is expensive and would require being an extremely virtuous country, able to put aside national selfishness. If it could not do so, it would be frowned upon by the rest of the world.

Therefore, the role of world policeman belongs to the U.N. Democratic nations should set an example and respect and comply with all resolutions. Dealing with dictatorial countries, from the democratic side, should be subject to some conditions.