Main focus of Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Gaddafi's downfall bolsters Arab Spring

The fight for control of the Libyan capital Tripoli continues, also by means of propaganda. Last night Gaddafi's son Saif, who had reportedly been captured by the rebels, once more called on supporters of the regime to resist. Nevertheless this is the end of the dictatorship, commentators write, and see new hope for the revolts in Syria and other Arab states.

El País - Spain

A speedy victory over the Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi will give the freedom movements in other countries of the region new strength, the left-liberal daily El País concludes: "It is to be expected that, despite the fact that Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown and his loyal forces are still defending the last bastions in Tripoli, with the anticipated fall of the Libyan dictatorship a similar fate will await Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. And that the revolutionary wave that is sweeping through the region will gain fresh impetus. From the point of view of Arab citizens, the outcome of the Libyan conflict would demonstrate that the rebels are capable of winning no matter how fiercely the tyrants resist." (23/08/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Social movements, » Libya, » Syria

Corriere della Sera - Italy

The approaching fall of Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi will give the Arab Spring a fresh boost, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera comments: "Despite the present uncertainty one must admit that French President Nicolas Sarkozy's intuition (or wager) is finally paying off. ... The fall of the Tripoli regime is a message to the entire Arab and Muslim world, and above all the young generation, which is better informed and more secular than we think: There is no going back now. This message should be robbing Bashar al-Assad in Syria of his already troubled sleep. A message that despite the differences in historical context brings to mind the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the communist world. Back then there was no going back either, even though the long and difficult transition to democracy still hasn't been fully completed in some of these countries." (23/08/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Libya
All available articles from » Massimo Nava

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Germany

Germany's abstention in the decisive UN Security Council vote on a no-fly zone over Libya will damage the country politically, writes the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "Germany of all countries, which has never stopped casting itself as an advocate of European defence, denied its solidarity to the countries that are indispensable for this goal. It did so with sham arguments, motivated principally by domestic politics. That will do lasting harm to Berlin's credibility on matters of security policy. The foreign minister's explanation that Germany didn't want to send ground troops was no more than a lame excuse from the start. Neither did the British or the French, to say nothing of the Americans. The ostentatious rejoicing over the rebels' victory is therefore all the more embarrassing." (23/08/2011)

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

Kaleva - Finland

Libya cannot make the transition to democracy on its own, writes the liberal daily Kaleva, calling on Finland to provide help as promised: "The changeover of power in Libya won't be easy because the country has no democratic traditions whatsoever. Libya was a kingdom based on a tribal system before Gaddafi's putsch in 1969. Even if Gaddafi tried to break up this system his own government was ultimately also dependent on the tribes. ... The council founded by the rebels is made up of different groups and marked by internal tensions and tribal conflicts. ... To prevent further bloodshed support from abroad will be necessary. Libya hardly has the strength to erect a functioning administration on the decayed ruins of the regime of terror. Finland wasn't willing to participate in the military operation but instead declared that it would take active part in a UN-led peace mission and the re-construction. For the sake of its international credibility it must keep its promise." (23/08/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Politics, » Unrest / Riots, » Finland, » Global, » Libya

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