It shouldn’t be offensive, and I don’t think it was made in jest. And I agree. We think of ourselves as a sort of junior partner to the Arab world. The admiration and gushing praise and chumminess and “blood is thicker than water” was sort of hidden away in the years leading up to EU accession in 2004. Since then, it’s back with a vengeance, and the old grudges against the evil colonialist Europeans have resurfaced, and are stronger than ever.

El Topo’s comment makes sense. If we look like Arabs, which we do, it’s bound to reflect on our relationship with them. The only way out would have been British dependency status, but it’s too late for that now. We have pissed away our EU membership, granted to us as a privilege rather than a right, and are back to the old Bahar Nofsani tripe.

Although your comment was most certainly made in jest, it is offensive, to say the least.

Actually, there is something I need to ask our so-called leaders. Has the Libyan regime floated to Malta?

Simply put, Malta has been made out to be unprincipled, materialistic, opportunistic and totally lacking in the Christian virtues that should underpin the predominantly Catholic country that it claims to be.

“End of Gaddafi regime is inevitable” does not mean “Gaddafi and his regime must go”

“The violence must stop”. does not mean “We unreservedly condemn the atrocities being perpetrated by Gaddafi and his regime on innocent people.”.

“Malta protects Libyan civilians” does not mean that Malta as a state is actually doing anything to that end.

“Our reply to any request for military facilities will be NO” means a pre-emptive “Do not anyone dare ask for any such facility”

“I wouldn’t say so [that we are not against Gaddafi]” means “Yes, we wouldn’t mind having Gaddafi stay in place, but we are not going to admit it.”

“We favour a ceasefire” means “That is one sure way to ensure that Gaddafi stays in place.”

“We are ready to provide humanitarian aid” does not mean “Government has started procedures to ensure that humanitarian aid will be provided the people of Libya to the best of our resources and in the quickest way possible.”

In a world that is increasingly united in its condemnation of Gaddafi and his regime, Malta still consistently fails to issue its own statement of condemnation. The words of Prime Minister Gonzi at the press conference this morning are further evidence of that.

Well technically speaking no it was not that obvious actually. Things were not going to remain the same but it didn’t mean Gaddhafi was necessarily finished. Had it not been for the intervention of France, Gaddafi would be purging Benghazi right now.

[Daphne – It was obvious, yes, that France or Britain would act. Why was it obvious? Because there was no alternative. If you let Gaddafi stay, you have to deal with him, and France and Britain were not about to let that happen. Situations have to be analysed in context and not in the moment.]

Now let us wait for our politcians to give us the answer of whether it is A or B, or both.

Some choice comments from timesofmalta.com

“Alfred Farrugia
It is clear that Italy has lost its own credibility with the Libyan government! If the Libyan acting foreign minister Abdel Ati al-Obeidi is visiting Malta in addition to Greece and Turkey, it is clear that the Libyan authorities do not trust Italy any more for obvious reasons.

Who is giving Italy, and any other third country for that matter, the authority to make pre-conditions on the peaceful resolution of the Libyan conflict? Are we certain that UN Security Council Resolution 1973 followed the correct rules of procedure in its adoption? 2 permanent members – China and the Russian Federation – did not “concur” or give their “affirmative votes” on the resolution as Article 27.3 of the UN Charter requires!

How can a country recognize a group that after weeks of armed struggle is still not clear who they are? If the group really includes elements of al Qaeda, does it have legitimacy?”

“joseph cachia
Sig. Frattini QUO VADIS ?

How can you declare regime lost legitimacy when your country reconized regime
for forty (40) years.
How can you reconize a group of renegades who illegaly killed -burned public building
in order to steal arms to fight opposition and regime authorities.

How can you and cameron set conditions on Gaddafi departure, when both your
governments reconized him for forty years.”

Stand up and tell Gaddafi and his goons to go to burn in hell, including that puppet in Attard.

Anyone who accommodates the Gaddafi regime is an accomplice to genocide, let there be no doubt about it.