Main focus of Thursday, April 21, 2011

Controversial call for ground forces

The Libyan rebels have called on Nato to send in ground forces. France, Britain and Italy however want only to send in military advisers. A ground offensive without a UN mandate would be an historic error, commentators fear. Others see it as the only way to end the war in Libya.

Jyllands-Posten - Denmark

The humanitarian situation in several Libyan cities makes it vital to start thinking about deploying ground troops there, writes the liberal-conservative daily Jyllands-Posten: "It is becoming increasingly obvious that the fight against Gaddafi can't be won from the air. If Gaddafi's military actions and attacks are to be effectively stopped, ground forces must be deployed. Perhaps the decision of Britain and France to send a limited number of officers as advisers is an indication that this will happen. Up to now France has been against such action. Libya is increasingly becoming a test of whether Nato can carry out a mission which is not led by the US." (21/04/2011)

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Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

Deploying ground troops in Libya would have a considerable political fallout, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung: "Should individual members of the Security Council extend the mandate to encompass such action they will encounter fierce opposition. ... This military operation could probably be decided on the ground, but it would be an historical mistake if European troops were to go to war on Arab soil with largely unknown partners and an unclear outcome. It's more honest, as bitter as this may be, to continue providing the help they can - humanitarian, diplomatic, with huge political pressure - but within the framework of the current consensus. The political damage in Libya and the Middle East will be great. But not as great as a Nato war fought on Arab soil or a military mission undertaken by the West without the corresponding mandate." (21/04/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Libya
All available articles from » Cathrin Kahlweit

La Repubblica - Italy

Europe's indecision regarding Libya is down to a lack of consensus, writes the left-liberal daily La Repubblica: "We can't be spectators of a drama in which we are directly involved by reason of our geographical proximity and the fact that it's about oil. ... The true reasons for the operation are political and economic, not humanitarian. ... Never before has it been so clear how much Europe's helplessness stems from the lack of a common policy. Only a united Europe would have made the just decision to back the uprising of the youth in the Arab world with an intervention not motivated by the desire to rule. This would have put Europe in a position to use its considerable political and economic clout to put the uprisings on the path to democracy." (21/04/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » Europe, » Libya
All available articles from » Giorgio Ruffolo

De Groene Amsterdammer - Netherlands

The embattled city of Misrata highlights the awkwardness of Nato's position in Libya, writes the weekly paper De Groene Amsterdammer: "Misrata brings back painful memories of a surrounded Sarajevo that for four years was a symbol of international failure and cynical war policy. ... The Bosnian authorities were reluctant to open up an escape route for the starving population because this would have meant losing a moral trump card for forcing the international community to help them. ... The suffering in Misrata could help the rebels force Nato to intervene. ... What was presented as rapid humanitarian aid threatens to degenerate into a dirty war with an uncertain outcome. For we still know only nine of the 31 rebel leaders by name, and there is still no clear Nato strategy." (21/04/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Libya
All available articles from » Joeri Boom

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