Arrest Warrant Won't Make Qaddafi Budge
By issuing an arrest warrant for his war crimes, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court is guaranteeing that Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi won’t go quietly.
The arrest by Serbian police of Ratko Mladic, Butcher of Srebrenica, should not be confused with the rhetoric over Qaddafi. Mladic was out of power, sick, frail and on the run, and was responsible for the slaughter of thousands of hepless Muslims.
By taking aim at Gadhafi, Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo seems intent on ensuring that no tyrant leaves his post quietly.
Might as well hold on and fight to the end, rather than wind up at the kangaroo court at the Hague, that countries like China, India, the U.S., Israel and others don’t recognize, and see as a potential pawn to settle scores.
Moreno-Ocampo radiates sanctimony and arrogance – an unpleasant combination. His reason for wanting Qaddafi put on trial is, he says, because “he shot at demonstrators using live ammunition, using heavy weaponry against funeral processions.”
Goodness gracious! Imagine that?
Qaddafi has been oppressing Libyans for over 30 years. He’s also been sending out assassins and encouraging terrorists. He’s sabotaged airliners, blown up discos, tried to acquire nuclear weapons, and done what he can to subvert neighbors.
During all that mischief, the ICC didn’t see fit to issue warrant for his arrest. Instead, leaders of democratic countries competed to shake his hand. He was appointed to the UN Human Rights Commission, made the president of the African Union, won accolades from countries that sought to share his oil wealth.
It was only when the Libyan people rebelled against his repressiveness, that the “free” world took note and said “for shame.” Until then, President Barack Obama was silent and, if not approving of Qaddafi, tolerated his tyranny.
Obama’s predecessors also tolerated Qaddafi -- with the notable exception of Ronald Reagan who tried to kill him in an air strike in retaliation for the bombing of a German disco that killed U.S. soldiers.
Although he supports British, French and Canadian air attacks on Qaddafi, Obama insists he’s not trying to kill him or force a regime change.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
As for the shooting of demonstrators, why is Moreno-Ocampo not issuing warrants for the arrest of Syria’s Bashir Assad, whose troops at this very moment are probably shooting someone? How about killings in Yemen, Bahrain, Sudan, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and across the Arab world and Africa?
All these incipient rebellions stress democracy – yet none of these countries has ever lived under democratic rule, much less practiced it.
Hypocrisy and double-standards echo around the world.
The ICC serves little purpose. It has no way of enforcing its warrants, and its effect is to harden the resistance of tyrants who don’t want to end up like Mladic.
International bodies are prone to be taken over by those whose agenda is far from altruistic, witness how every time there’s a crisis in the Middle East, Israel is blamed at the UN. Even Israel’s allies show support by abstaining in votes—some friendship!
Israel is often wrong, but is the only country in the area that wants peace, but is not allowed to have it with security.
As for Qaddafi, it’s unlikely he’ll ever leave Libya, and will die there, rather than surrender. Meanwhile, Luis Moreno-Ocampo will wait until Syria’s homicidal leader is on the run before railing against him.
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