EDITORIAL : THE KHALEEJ TIMES, UAE

Time for stand-down in Libya

The embattled Libyan leader has apparently come to know his limitations. His change of tone and vocabulary, as he called upon the NATO to negotiate a ceasefire, cannot be shrugged aside as a ploy.

Surprisingly enough, he was defiant to the core and rejected any preconditions for talks and even excluded the possibility of his exit any time soon. Subsequently, his assertion that rebels battling his forces are mercenaries and terrorists, and their strings are being pulled from Algeria, Egypt and Afghanistan is more than enough to land any rational person in a fix. Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s odd mix of concession and defiance is neither going to secure his regime nor bring around peace in the strife-ridden country. The facts that Gaddafi deliberately prefers to ignore are: that his country is in a state of war, his writ of governance has collapsed and he is faced with a huge opposition at home, who are willing to wage a guerrilla warfare to ensure his early exit from power.

Notwithstanding the merits or demerits of Gaddafi’s urge for a dialogue, it is a moment of deep introspection for the NATO and the United States. The undeniable fact that the Libyan dictator and his war machinery have survived weeks of aerial bombardment and are quite capable of unleashing a long witch-hunt against rebels reflects the tangible elements of his regime. The West, which at least wants to see Gaddafi go in exile and has even proposed a number of safe havens, cannot keep mum over his audacity for talks, and would have to respond to it either in a diplomatic or a military jargon. This silence of the deaf from the West when it comes to exploring an amicable way out is quite toiling. Keeping in view that their objective to defend the civilians in Libya is not working as per the mandate of Resolution 1973, and hectic use of firepower, the NATO has to come out with a new and categorical stance of its own.

This exercise of warfare split between destruction and demonisation is unworkable. What started off in Libya as an uprising for fundamental rights is now a civil war, coupled with foreign aggression, to say the least. It is incumbent to explore a common ground between the warring factions and the sooner that is done, the better. Gaddafi’s offer can make a good beginning if that boils down to rebels disarmament and his exit from power, simultaneously. Let there be a quid pro quo.

Is Saleh’s volte-face wise?

 

President Ali Abdullah Al Saleh’s threat to pull out of the Gulf Cooperation Council deal to resolve the political deadlock in Yemen is quite unfortunate.

While talking to ‘Russia Today’ Television, Saleh has laid some serious charges against Qatar for fomenting unrest in Yemen. Moreover, he also accused the Gulf state to have been funding unrest in Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world. These are serious charges, indeed, especially when they appear unfounded and not backed by any credible facts. It may be that Saleh’s disgruntlement with the GCC proposal lies in stepping down a month after the formation of the unity government. The besieged president’s actions and words only highlight his growing desperation at this point since he now faces an inevitable departure from the highest office in the country. Whether he decides on a peaceful and honourable exit as offered by the GCC or one that is paved with further desertions and more bloodshed, the writing on the wall is clear.

The people of Yemen are no longer going to be appeased with Saleh’s promises of stepping down on his terms. In fact, the Yemeni opposition groups’ agreeing to the proposal was a major achievement since the mood on the street was anything but conciliatory with demands for Saleh’s immediate exit growing louder by the day.

Instead of displaying maturity Saleh has now turned on even those who have been painstakingly involved in brokering a safe exit for him and helping Yemen regain stability.

Saleh’s recent actions could only be interpreted as another sign of clinging on to power and trying to find excuses to not sign the transition deal at the eleventh hour. It will be extremely unfortunate if this happens since Yemen has for the past many months been racked by violence and bloodshed. The country’s political and security challenges not to forget its dismal economic conditions cannot afford this. It is the principal reason the GCC decided to offer mediation between Sanaa and the opposition groups. Despite the regime’s high-handed tactics and the recent killings of civilians, the opposition has displayed enough political acumen and responsibility in agreeing to the power transfer deal. There is only a limit to what even friends can offer in terms of mediation and helping solve a domestic crisis. It is now up to Saleh and his ruling party to either take the most non-violent way out or face the consequences.