This blog has been opposed to the NATO intervention, but there can now be cautious optimism that the mission, essentially driven by France and Britain, has paid off. There is no longer stalemate. The Gaddafi family has clearly lost even if it is not entirely clear who has won. This is because nobody knows for sure who the rebels are. Nevertheless in the liberated areas, there does seem to be a sense of freedom unknown to most in their lifetimes.
Everything now depends on a united effort to support the fledgling authorities to restore services and get administration, education, health-care and the economy up and running. Life must be set back to normal while discussions take place about the implementation of democratic reform. The bitter lessons of Iraq, still a dangerous place with uncertain utilities, must be learned.
Financial aid must be given to the provisional authorities and given now. The situation cannot wait while politics are played out in the U.N., the African Union and the Arab League. Whilst the ramifications of unfreezing assets are argued over, new cash must be put in to bridge the gap. It cannot be stressed too strongly that medicines have to get to the hospitals, food to the shops, petrol for transport and electricity for daily needs. Unless this happens very soon indeed, the taste of freedom will turn sour on the pang of hunger, the stink of sewage and the indignity of poor hygene.
In Gaddafi’s Libya there was no such thing as dissent or political freedom, but everything worked and the essentials of life were well provided for. If freedom brings chaos and hunger, it will not take long for the people to hanker for old times. Britain and France, having started this thing must now, as a consequence of much better outcome than their critics feared, dig into their pockets, quite deep and right now. Failure to do that will guarantee ultimate failure of everything.
A good ending comes to absolutely nothing unless it is followed by a better beginning.