Summary: Western jitters over IS in Libya. Can we wait for the Libyans?
This content is locked
Login or Register To Unlock The Content!
Menu
Menu
1 thought on “Libya: military action again?”
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Libya needs time to complete its own internal discussion on its arrangements for government.
The wide range of foreign governments participating in discussions on Libya’s future are clearly finding it difficult to accept that Libyans do not want foreigners to broker a solution for them. This is evidenced by the lack of enthusiasm for the implementation of the first set of UN proposals.
Now Martin Kobler’s apparent preparedness to consider Khalifa Haftar as a possible leader of the Libyan armed forces has already prejudiced his ability to lead meaningful discussions within Libya.
The deal currently being negotiated within Libya by the Libyans themselves seems the most likely to deliver a government with some local credibility. These discussions may be at a pace that is unacceptable to Western governments. The consequence may be attacks, in the interim, launched from Libya by IS. However, the strategic priority ought to be the political stabilisation of Libya rather than tackling IS in Libya. The former will provide the long term solution to dealing with IS in Libya. Hopefully, the political courage that such an approach requires will not be too much to ask.