Joseph Muscat has spoken about Libya at last: WE SHOULDN'T TAKE SIDES
If Prime Minister Gonzi does not agree with this, then he should desist immediately from saying that the government and the Opposition are presenting a united front on the matter of Libya, and he should stop Joseph Muscat from claiming that, too.
“We are here to renew our promise that Malta will never be a military base again. We will not be a war base but a centre of peace. We will be there to offer help, without taking sides but assisting those who are fighting to help them gain peace.”
– Joseph Muscat, 30 March, when speaking at a ceremony to mark the eve of Liberation Day.
Without taking sides, eh? So that’s what his silence is all about – not ‘prudence’.
‘Assisting those who are fighting’ – he means all of them, in general, including the ones who are currently engaged in shelling a hospital in Misrata, because he’s not taking sides.
The Labour Party’s ability to disgust me goes from strength to strength.
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Dear Ms. Caruana Galizia,
The statement “without taking sides but assisting those who are fighting” is very unclear to me. For if one is ‘assisting those who are fighting’, does not that mean that one is also taking sides?
Furthermore, how can it be at all possible to support all parties in a conflict? I think the statement should have read “without any assistance to those who are fighting.”
If this latter statement is what was meant, then may God help us all. For I believe that inaction is a leading culprit of the world’s man-made problems and injustices: be it genocide, terrorism, environmental degradation. To borrow from Thomas Jefferson, “…Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
But it makes sense (in the LP’s mind) to assist those who are fighting on either side.
This type of reasoning had been the LP’s dogma for decades. Fan the fire, let the two (assisted) sides fight it out while the LP sits smugly unable to decide which side they really are with. Not a word of condemnation for Gaddafi (the person) just in case, they have to face the murderer on the outside chance of him succeeding in dividing Libya in two with him still heading the Western half.
Simply appalling. Now, instead of my former rational antipathy, for the first time my emotive response to Joseph Muscat equals disgust. If the PL are unified in this position, then there is no morality left in the party, where it would seem that conscience is neutered.
Undoubtedly, the Libyan situation is messy and complex, except on the moral issues of (1) who must depart from the Libyan political scene, and (2) the moral right of the Libyan people to self-determination. The fact that Libya needs foreign military and humanitarian assistance to achieve this requires taking sides against the 42-year-old dictatorship.
The PL may be without redemption. The PN still suggest the capacity for moral courage, and in the role of government they have been forced to take decisions and actions. But, sitting on the fence is not a moral (or Constitutional) option, although some may exploit (or distort) the constitutional excuse in their political arguments.
If there should be PL-PN collusion in a real or perceived common political position on Libya, then the potential moral disintegration of the PN may follow the same path as the PL. The Libyan situation is no longer only a situation for local parochial and national Maltese politics. The international community has been commanded to take a stand.
This does not command “prudence” over a “delicate” situation. It requires firm and rational support for moral justice–and clear public declarations in support of the victims of the moral outrage perpetrated by Gaddafi, whom we and others have supported by our commissions and sins of omission.
The “darnel” and the “wheat” have been growing together for a long time in our relations with Libya, but there is a limit to tolerance, even by God, who may rightly condemn us for our indifference. I hope the PM speaks with words and actions in support of the liberties we enjoy and the freedom others require. There is only one side to take; and sides must be taken with the international coalition in “defense” of the Libyan people. Implicitly, or explicitly, Gadaffi must be made to go as soon as possible.
There never was any morality to begin with.
When making a song and dance (literally) of Jum il-Helsien, their guest of honour was Muammar Gaddafi who announced that Malta would depend on money from Libya.
Make that no sense of irony, either.
Jaques:
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
As You Like It Act 2, scene 7, 139–143
More or less Gonzi and Muscat share the same ideas about what Malta should be doing now. But if Muscat was PM now instead of Gonzi then the story of the two jets would have been different and I think malta wouldn’t stop tankers heading for Tripoli to leave its port.
What our dear politicians fail to comprehend is that so called neutrality comes at a cost.
In Switzerland every able bodied male is a part time soldier, with assault rifles at home ready to defend against attack.
To use one of Mintoff’s infamous quotes our neutrality is not worth the “karma ra l-incova” that it is written on. What is going to happen once the EU becomes becomes more integrated with a truly common foreign policy?
I heard that California wants to be neutral…..
Funny you should mention Switzerland. If you tried their strategy in Malta you wouldn’t find enough able-bodied men to form an understrength platoon. You could, however, get the pie-scoffers to lie on top of each other and use them as sandbags.
Baxxter, watched around 200 Swiss 18 year olds, all ‘soldiered out’, being taught how to handle and fire assault weapons. Looked pretty good. Not much fat on them. Contrast with our ‘soldiers’? Got my laugh today.
The only reason Switzerland’s neutrality ‘worked’ in WWII is because Hitler needed its neutrality.
Their neutrality was in a way similar to our neutrality in favour of Gaddafi, but perhaps an order of magnitude or two worse.
The oracle has spoken.
A coward turns away, but a brave man’s choice is danger.
“Disgust” is a mild word.
Without taking sides means being friends with these:
sofiaecho.com/…/1049423_gaddafi-regime-not-bulgarian-medics-infected- children-with-aids-former-libyan-justice-minister
http://www.rainews24.rai.it/it/news.php?newsid=151461
My comment on timesofmalta.com:
Anthony Farrugia
“We will be there to offer help, without taking side but assisting those who are fighting to help them gain peace,” he said.”
So we side both with Gaddafi and the rebels to be on the safe (and winning) side and then we go begging a la Maltaise cap in in hand to the winner for some crumbs. Typical!
Well some people suffer from amnesia but 32 years ago the only foreign guest on the gagazza monument was none other than Mintoff’s buddy-buddy Muammar as other leaders, ahem, could not make it. That’s why they edited Gaddafi out of the 1979 film clip and out trundled dinosaurs past their best-by date like Mary Spiteri with her Gensna and Mintoff. New Labour, anybody, hah
They must have had a very brief ceremony then, because he walked down the Portomaso steps with the wife and another couple, presumably to a restaurant, while we were at Sale e Pepe at about 9.30pm. I heard someone say that they went into “Do Brasil” which was were we tried to book but, thank goodness for small mercies, they had no space for a large table. Would have put me right off my food seeing the irritating smirk.
At least we know that he is not one of those 17% who are poor, according to deputy leader Toni Abela. So first we talk about the poor during ceremony speeches and immediately afterwards we are off to eat in the best restaurants. They do lead by example.
The Gaddafi regime has been ordered to appear before Africa’s highest court,The African Court on Human and Peoples’ rights, which is accusing the regime of killing peaceful demonstrators.
Another reason why we should we not ‘take sides’? Will KMB and Joseph claim that this is yet another imperialist conspiracy to topple the peaceful and people-loving Libyan regime?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/30/gaddafi-regime-africa-court
What about Bahrain? Oh crap…it’s in Asia.
Why the complete lack of reporting by the media in Malta of arrival in London of Libyan Foreign Minister. Maybe they think he’s on a shopping trip to Harrods and Harvey Nicks.
The Gaddafi inner core is starting to implode and our future prime minister comes out with this tripe. The backwards and forwards up the Libyan coast should not be given too much importance by Maltese politicos. They should fathom that a great amount of assets are being put in place. The Gaddafi elite have felt the rumblings and are jumping ship before it is too late whilst our lot haven’t a clue about the way events are unfolding.
Better the devil you know, so let’s hang onto Gaddafi – comment on timesofmalta.com
“Isobel Mcgonigle
Who is behind these uprisings in North Africa,spreading throughout the Middle East? Abdel Hakim al Hasid the Leader of the rebels in Libya,has stated he has links with Al Qaeda,and those rebels fighting are Jihadists who fought against the allied forces in Iraq.
Is this the start of the Muslim uprising,their quest for World domination?
All in the garden is not rosy,the so called dictators who ruled these countries? Better the Devil you know”
Both sides disgust me, and I don’t mean in Libya. We need an alternative. I want to be able to express my displeasure and disgust at my representatives at the next election.
Comment on timesofmalta.com beneath the report on humanitarian aid sent from Malta to Misurata:
“J Bonello
Are the authorities checking what is being really sent to make sure that it is really humanitarian aid and not weapons, ammunition etc? The BBC and other news agencies have reported that there are CIA operatives in Libya and there must certainly be other CIA operatives in Malta. So are the Maltese authorities checking to make sure that we will not be involved in clandestine operations? Apart from this, an Italian fishing boat in Libyan waters had sent a distress signal and has vanished nea Benghazi and there is still no trace of it in spite of military and commercial ships looking for it. Is the Maltese Government aware of the dangers and if so why is it allowing boats from Malta to clandestinely to Libya?
http://it.notizie.yahoo.com/4/20110331/tts-oittp-italia-peschereccio-ca02f96.html
Libia, scomparso peschereccio italiano al largo di Bengasi”
[ He added: “There is a civil war going on in Libya and it is not the opportune moment to talk about economic ties. Obviously Malta is perceived to be a state within the EU which is not supporting Gaddafi, and which in its own ways is assisting in the implementation of the no-fly zone, and therefore the protection of civilians in Libya.” ]
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110331/local/malta-freezes-millions-in-libyan-assets
———
F**k Tonio, there is no civil war in Libya. There is a justified uprising against one of the worst dictators the world has ever seen.
Make sure that next election you do not come knocking on my door. I’m neutral.
Why do we call it freedom day, exactly? Just because the British closed up shop? It’s not like we were bound in shackles and made to live like pigs.
It’s not like we fought tooth and nail for it either. Their lease was up and they didn’t want to renew it at the new high price Mintoff wanted them to pay. Perhaps that’s why we don’t want to take sides when it comes to Libya. We’ve never actually fought for our ‘liberation’ or even suffered.
I find today’s celebrations so unbearably hypocritical it makes me sick.
We don’t value freedom. If we did, we wouldn’t be so blasé about our stance on Libya. Here we are celebrating the day the English left as “Freedom Day” while we let other people who are desperate for freedom suffer and die. How dare we.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/71994
The Chia Report responds to those who are against intervention in Libya on the grounds that this would most likely create a chaotic power vacuum in Libya:
‘I have been asking myself why many oppressors across the world, including miscreants like Gaddafi and Paul Biya of Cameroon, invariably get sympathies from the very ones they oppress. This concern is more often than not encapsulated in the following question: who will fill the vacuum (after Biya/Gaddafi…)? My all time favorite is “what next”?
‘It is pitiful to look at the almighty Gaddafi ranting that “my people all love me”. There are certainly many Libyans who would die for Colonel Gaddafi. But can Gaddafi and the Biyas of the world understand that it is not about love? Better still, can they grasp that love is not a one way street? Can they grasp that walking away from power and having others give a shot at leading is the greatest love there is to share with their kids and other fellow citizens?…
‘It is a false premise to think and act as if every democratic nation on earth was born on the same day. But there is the expectation that younger democratic nations, even as they forge their own democratic cultures, will not slide even further back in excuse and mockery of time-tested universal values of freedom, liberty, and respect of human rights. The biggest democracy of our time (USA) was stretched thin as the Supreme Court stepped in to decide whether it was Al Gore or George Bush. Budding democracies will go through chaotic patches. It is essential that a people go through these times together. Lasting bonds are formed from common struggles. Better yet, from these common struggles, a people emerge with a common vision and purpose. African countries seem to have only one purpose – producing consumers.
‘We are better than that. After the coalition bombs the hell out of Gaddafi’s Libya, (and hopefully take him out) a leader will emerge. It is bound to happen.’
Britain should be celebrating ‘Jum il-Helsien’. Britain got rid of a pain in the a*se having let Britain off the hook for contractual payments but instead he took the road to China, N. Korea, Yugoslavia and of course, Libya, with tin can in hand begging for alms and secret arms deals.
But all that fades in comparison to how Mintoff safeguarded democracy, freedom of speech and expression, and the impartiality of our courts. His example was such that his unelected successor even surpassed Mintoff’s ideals.
….but assisting those who are fighting (J Muscat)
This phrase is an accurate definition of PL’s foreign policy. It was certainly applied in the past too: When Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was the PM of Malta and the obscene war between Iraq and Iran (Saddam vs. Khomeini) was raging, Malta assisted both belligerent parts. How?
It provided Iraq with parts for chemical warheads which were used against Iranian soldiers and civilians while at the same time had signed an agreement with Iran so that Iranian victims of Iraqi chemical warfare attacks could be treated in Malta’s hospital.
An truly effective way of assisting those who are fighting. Purely diabolical.