What is the ‘international community.’ Does it represent nations working things out in concert, or is it closer to pure fiction? Columnist Olivier Picard of France’s Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace laments that the events of the past few days reflect the sad truth of the politics of our fast-globalizing world.
For the Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, Olivier Picard writes in part:
We knew that the ‘international community’ didn’t exist; that it was merely a journalistic concept; a lexographic creation of the media; a fuzzy representation of diplomatic imaginary. In fact, we suspected it of being a mere hydra devoid of morality or soul – a hodgepodge of interests, torn apart by national egoisms.
The case of Libya proves beyond doubt that this reality is the one we need to retain as the phrase’s overall definition.
After having spectacularly and never-endingly compromised with Tripoli, Paris restored its honor by snatching from its partners the right to militarily intervene in Libya’s skies, with the support of the Arab League and America.
So here begins an uncertain war – uncertain because of the abstentions of China and Russia. In the name of human rights? In this inglorious diplomatic episode, human rights carry little weight for these ‘ambassadors of freedom.’ They lack the influence to draft a policy, that’s for sure. Just the capacity to bring a tear to the eye of the democracies, which will have to keep the other eye dry.
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