But does the EU actually function in the same way as Article 5 of NATO i.e. if one member is attacked, all members are attacked? Is this a function of the European Defence Agency? Can the EU actually function as a military bloc? And, if so, is Malta de facto part of a military bloc?

[Daphne – Yes, of course. An attack on Germany is an attack on the EU. Obviously.]

I don’t agree with you at all unless you’re more specific in your complaints on Malta’s foreign policy. Admittedly I have a very superficial reading of Maltese affairs, but here I foolishly go.

We seem to have a very pragmatic approach, mainly due to our being the featherweight in local geo-politics.

This might change a bit with the expansion in air and sea routes across the Med and the introduction of financial institutions from Turkey to Portugal is hopefully a prelude to good things to come. We can become the stable third party in a fast changing region, something I assume government has been striving for since Independence.

Hopefully the greybeards at the Foreign Affairs ministry have developed a clear list of the goals Malta wants to achieve, and hopefully too they aren’t only the interests and material gains of the local nobility.

Seems like France ignores us, or we don’t consider it a priority. How can we become useful to France’s dealings with former colonies in the Maghreb for example?

I look forward to the mess in Libya being resolved soon. Gaddafi is known to pay for mayhem just for fun and giggles. The Med needs stability, hopefully he will not be able to project terrorist acts outside Tripoli until he’s deposed Mussolini-style.

Then you haven’t seen the images coming out of Tobruk, where the protesters had taken over a military base and were driving out in tanks and cracking open cases of ammunition. Dictators of Gaddafi’s sort either control everything, or they control nothing. He is no longer in control.

Yes, definitely there are others. I personally know two Maltese who are stuck in the desert with other foreigners. God help them.

The country has a veritable army, a navy and an airforce. These have clearly crossed over. Otherwise there would be no reason to arm the common folk.

A vast country like Libya cannot be run by mercenaries and the family militias.

The regime is in the departure lounge. The big question now is how much havoc it can wreak while waiting to leave or to be booted out.

They are the only thing that allows him to act with impunity – if those were taken away from him he would immediately become powerless and unable to cause problems to anyone outside of his immediate vicinity.

Unfortunately, seeing how long it is taken even to impose sanctions (which are largely symbolic) I dread to think how long it would take to agree on military action, if ever that can be agreed.

There is some hope that the opposition gets hold of anti-aircraft weaponry. They already have some. Missilies would probably be useless because they need extensive training to use, but neither would they be necessary. Most of Gaddafi’s air power consists of armored helicopters and (relatively) low performance jets that can be brought down by an anti-aircraft gun. Very few of his aircraft are of the same calibre as the two mirages that came over here (incidentally leaving him with only one of those).

We take our democratic and civil rights for granted, and because we are thus priviliged, we are under a moral obligation to encourage and help others attain their own freedom.

I agree, but what about those who have been trying to get out of the desert this past week and haven’t managed yet?

Those who have been promised a lift from a plane which never arrives? They DON’T WANT to be there but can’t do anything about it.

Poor souls, my heart goes out to them and their families.

[Daphne – I might be mistaken, but I think it was reported yesterday that they were flown back by Medavia, which is a Libyan company. There might be others.]

Gaddafi’s position is still fairly strong, and his opponents are no match for his well-armed and well-trained security forces. Libya is not Tunisia or Egypt.

There the security was in the hands of the military who were unwilling to shoot at their own people.

In Libya the army is weak and is not playing a part in the uprising. Gaddafi’s loyalists and supporters have no qualms in shooting unarmed protestors.

Ultimately therefore only a military assault on Tripoli and other strongholds such as Sirte can remove him. This is very unlikely. Even assuming that the uprising leaders in Benghazi can put together some sort of military force they face a daunting 1,000km journey along a desert road to reach Tripoli.

Gaddafi’s helicopters and air force would wipe them out before they reach it.

I am not being negative but what is more likely is that Gaddafi can mount an offensive to re-capture lost territory. Planes carrying mercenaries are still landing in Tripoli airport even today and his sons still command their own private security forces and the air force.

As much as I would love to see Gaddafi go, I don’t think it is as likely as most people seem to think.