…to say nothing of the danger to the people flying the planes and those on the ground in Libya. Yes, they’re fighting to rid themselves of Gaddafi but that would mean we’d be rid of him too.

Explain how acting against Gaddafi is not in Malta’s security interest.

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE72J2NJ20110320

Our government trying to play it too safe is understandable, I guess, but pretty embarrassing nonetheless. My only hope is that we’re at least helping in some undercover ops – handing out pastizzi to the US Navy or whatever, something, anything.

What a weird perception. But let’s let it lie.

Population growth, you said? Think again.

[Daphne – I believe one of my sons wrote a postgraduate thesis on the subject at the London School of Economics. But he won’t appreciate me telling you about it, so I won’t.]

Sorry to butt in, but Daphne, you are assuming that Joseph Muscat is not planning another one of those massive tourism advertising campaigns of his in which he will say something like:
“Fed up waiting in an aeroplane on the taxiway while military jets take precedence for take off to attack Libya? Come to Malta.”

Or: “Your flight has been delayed because the airport at your Mediterranean destination was repatching the runway after a bombardment by Gaddafi jets? Come to Malta.”
So we do stand to gain over Sicily, Crete and Southern Italy.

We shouldn’t be left to speculate.

Are you ready to be responsible for the lives of the people in our airport area? That is why you speak from a blog and not from Castile.

[Daphne – The prime minister needs reminding that he is not responsible for the lives of people who live around the airport, but for the lives of us all. And that is exactly why he should pull out all the stops in getting shot of Gaddafi. AND STOP TAKING CALLS FROM GADDAFI’S BUNKER. Damn shame, actually, that I don’t speak from Castile. They could do with some help, though even I don’t know how I could have handled the public affairs crisis of pitching non-involvement to the Maltese public once the neutrality excuse has had to be ditched. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t have recommended half-truths and obscurantism, and I would certainly have advised against taking calls from Gaddafi’s men after the UN Security Council resolution, or flying visits from them in the run-up.]

Because these are serious times and comments on this blog happen to get the greatest exposure locally, other than the fact that this blog is currently focused on the Libya crisis and its views happen to be diametrically opposite to mine, thereby affording a motivational challenge.

I hope that answers your question, Josephine, and if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate.

The whole of Mediterranean Europe (except Malta) is involved in the military action against Gaddafi. No one travels to the eye of a storm for a relaxing holiday, so your argument is nonsensical.

Each country is responsible for its actions. You have not understood the difference between a Civil and a Military Airport.

[Daphne – I am perfectly aware of the difference, Bob. I come from a ‘martial’ family, to put it mildly. It is precise because Malta has only one airport that this airport serves both purposes. That’s why the Libyan fighter jets are being kept there, and that’s why all the military planes involved in the evacuation efforts landed there. It is also why the Armed Forces of Malta use it, and do not operate their own airport elsewhere. Until relatively recently, the Armed Forces were responsible for air traffic control at our ‘civilian’ airport.]