Libya, up in arms

WE SAY the United States has already seen what happens when it provides arms to rebel forces and how it frequently and epically backfires.

With the situation in Libya as volatile as ever, France has begun pushing for the coalition of allies to start arming the cornered Libyan rebels.

Although the United States now finds itself caught between Iraq and a hard place, historical precedent, diplomacy and common sense mandate that America not provide munitions to politically unestablished rebels.

History shows our past failures within the arms arena.

Supplying the freedom fighters of Afghanistan with an arsenal to ward off the Soviet invasion seemed like a prudent political strategy at the time.

However, in the conflict with the Taliban more than a decade later, America endured the tragic discovery that the very weapons given to thwart the communists and protect American interests were now being used to kill her sons and daughters.

Beyond the historical precedent, common sense dictates that sending weapons to unstable rebels is not a good idea. Regardless of intent, as soon as armaments come into the insurgents’ hands, there is no way to ensure they will be used for their intended purpose. Munitions could easily find their way to the black market or into the hands of terrorists.

The conundrum of the situation is undeniable. With comparisons to “Operation Iraqi Freedom” already surfacing, the last thing the Obama administration can afford is another long, drawn-out conflict.

Furthermore, the lack of a clearly defined objective has left many feeling that a regime change is the only way to garner success. Leaving the Libyan rebels without support will surely end in this type of conjectured failure.

Although the rebels may need international support in their attempts to thwart Qaddafi, there are other ways to provide that support that do not involve furnishing revolutionaries with weaponry. Moreover, in a coalition of powerful nations, the United States does not need to always be the one giving guns to insurgents.