Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
The POMED Wire Archives


Category: NATO

Senator McCain Discusses Protest Movements Across the Middle East

April 25th, 2011 by Naureen

In an interview with The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his belief that the U.S. should resume its leadership of NATO operations in Libya, recognize the Transitional National Council as the “legitimate voice of the Libyan people,” and arm the rebels lest the situation turns into a stalemate which empowers al-Qaeda or Muammar Gadhafi‘s regime.  He also called on President Barack Obama to formally declare that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lost his legitimacy as a ruler by slaughtering his own people.  However, he cautioned against calls for regime change as failure to secure regime change could hurt the United States’ credibility.   He also stated his opposition to direct U.S. involvement in Syria noting that he does not see a way for the U.S. to help the opposition in any way other than through expressions of solidarity with the protesters.

Discussing Egypt,  Senator McCain stressed the importance of ensuring a successful transition in Egypt given the regional importance of the country.  He expressed his belief that the Supreme Military Council under the leadership of General Mohamed Tantawi has handled the transition “very well so far.”  The Senator also expressed his concern over the situation in Yemen where it is unclear what will come next.  McCain also noted the different situations and complexities in the various protest movements  across the Middle East and also noted the impact it has had in places like China and Russia.


Posted in al-Qaeda, Bahrain, Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, EU, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Jordan, Libya, Military, Morocco, NATO, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy, Yemen, Youth | Comment »

Senators Discuss U.S. Involvement in Syria and Libya

April 25th, 2011 by Naureen

Speaking on Face The Nation, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) called for U.S. support of Syrian protesters: “”We should use the diplomatic weight and press authority of the United States to undermine the Syrian dictatorship…I think we are witnessing the slow end of the Assad dictatorship, and we should stand with the people of Syria.” Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) echoed Kirk’s sentiments stating, “America is safest and America is strongest when we lead with our values. And the values we have that are really compelling to folks around the world are when we stand up and support democracy and people who are seeking a greater role in their own countries.”

The senators also discussed the ongoing situation in Libya and Senator John McCain (R-AZ)’s recent statements that the U.S. should expand its mission to remove Muammar Gadhafi from power and recognize the rebels.  Senator Kirk called for following the example of our European allies and recognizing the rebel government and also expressed his believe that “we have a responsibility to win.”  Senator Coons stated that we should give the multi-national coalition more time before we formally expand our mission and Senator Blumenthal cautioned against recognizing the rebel government and let the Libyan people decide who their government is.

Update: On NBC’s “Today” show, Senator McCain apologetically announced that he does not support military intervention in Syria:  “I don’t see a scenario right now or anytime in the near future where the injection of U.S. or NATO military action would in any way beneficially help the situation, I’m sorry to say.”


Posted in al-Qaeda, Congress, Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Libya, Military, NATO, Protests, Syria, US foreign policy | Comment »

Sec. Clinton and Former Sec. Kissinger Discuss U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle East

April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen

Speaking on Charlie Rose series, “Conversations on Diplomacy,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discussed U.S. diplomatic efforts.  Clinton highlighted the the new challenges facing U.S. foreign policy as the focus shifts away from state-to-state relationships to networks and multilateral relations  and organizations.  She also noted the implications of new technologies and new media.  Kissinger noted the “huge changes” in state structure taking place across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Even amongst all these changes, the United States continues to remain a dominant power in the world that countries across the world turn to for leadership and aid.  Clinton stated however, that “one of our biggest foreign policy challenges right now is to get our own house in order…we have to consolidate our own economic and political position in order to be able to continue to influence events in the future.”

Discussing the “Arab Spring,” Secretary Kissinger stated that the revolutions are still unfolding, as such we must be cautious of being overly optimistic. He noted, however, that we must not be too hasty in judging the outcome of the uprisings based on the proclamations of a few and ensure real transitions occur.  Clinton noted that it is U.S. interest “to see a peaceful, stable transition to a more  representative form of government in which institutions are able to democratize over time.”  She also noted the lack of economic growth and development in the region as a reason for the people’s frustrations.  Clinton and Kissinger also discussed the threat of Iran and the country’s hope to take advantage of the instability in the region.  Kissinger also stated that the situation in Libya is peripheral to the events in the broader Middle East.


Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Gulf, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Jordan, Libya, Military, NATO, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »

Libya: Expats, Western Leaders Release Policy Statement Amid Worsening Ground Conditions

April 19th, 2011 by Ali

The North American Libyan Conference released a statement supporting the Transitional National Council, thanking the United States and Canada for their “support of the Libyan people,” calling for regime change and a democratic, united Libya with Tripoli as its capital.

In a joint op-ed piece last Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron reaffirmed they and their NATO allies’  duty under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, i.e. to protect civilians (and not to remove Qaddafi by force). They added, “But it is impossible to imagine a future for Libya with Qaddafi in power.” Having thus interpreted regime change as adherent to their mandate, the leaders spell out what they view as the logical next step: “Then a genuine transition from dictatorship to an inclusive constitutional process can really begin, led by a new generation of leaders.” The missing middle step is the “[Gadhafi] regime has to pull back from the cities it is besieging, including Ajdabiya, Misurata and Zintan, and return to their barracks.” The United Nations has verified the deaths of 20 children in Misurata.


Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Libya, Multilateralism, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

Senator McCain Expresses Concerns Over Possible Stalemate in Libya

April 18th, 2011 by Naureen

On Monday,  Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his fears that a stalemate has developed in Libya which could “open the door for radical Islamists to come in and hijack this revolution.”  He called for the U.S. to revive air attacks to incapacitate Muammar Gadhafi‘s forces.  He also discussed the need for a strategy to oust Gadhafi from power: “Now we are faced with a situation where we hope Gadhafi will fall, but have no strategy.  Hope is not a strategy.”


Posted in al-Qaeda, Congress, Islamist movements, Libya, Military, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

Clinton, Kerry Offer Middle East Policy Remarks at Brookings Conference

April 13th, 2011 by Ali

Tuesday marked the opening of the U.S.-Islamic World Conference hosted by the Brookings Institution, the Qatari Government  and the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech that emphasized U.S. commitment to cooperating with Middle East countries to achieve shared interests in values.  Clinton said the region-wide uprisings have exposed the myth that “Arabs do not share universal human aspirations for freedom, dignity, and opportunity.” The Secretary gave particular attention to women’s rights, which she viewed as important to democratic consolidation.  She noted that the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation will provide up to $2 billion to encourage private sector investments to the Middle East and North Africa, and encouraged closer economic integration across the region.  She also called upon President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen to resolve the political crisis in his country in a orderly and peaceful manner and condemned the violence of the Syrian government in its crackdown on protests.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) spoke in a panel discussion moderated by Newsweek editor and CNN host Fareed Zakaria. He said that worries over Libya are unjustified given Mummar Gadhafi’s military and economic position. He counseled patience over increased military action, recommending more focus on Egypt’s transition. The Senator also hinted at a renewed push by the Obama administration for the Middle East peace process. He argued that it was counterproductive of the administration to publicly pursue the settlement issue and that a new dialogue should focus on borders.


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Human Rights, Israel, Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, Palestine, Protests, Qatar, Reform, US foreign policy, US politics, Women's Rights | Comment »

CFR Analyst Challenges ‘Mythology of Intervention’ in Libya

April 8th, 2011 by Alec

Micah Zenko, of the Center for Preventative Action at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), challenges the narrative of successful implementation of no-fly zones and their subsequent use as justification for intervention in Libya.  He calls the ‘success’ of NATO airpower in Kosovo in driving out Slobodan Milosevic a myth stating that ultimately, Russian withdrawal of support for Milosevic coupled with NATO targeting of civilian and military infrastructure in Serbia proper – ultimately achieved the desired result.  The no-fly zone in Bosnia in the mid-1990s went mostly unenforced and did not prevent the massacre of 9,000 people at Srebrenica.  Zenko also hightlights the failure of no-fly zones in Iraq post-Gulf War noting that it was regularly violated by outside powers, namely Iran and Turkey, who initiated bombing campaigns against anti-Iran and Kurdish groups respectively.  They also failed to stop Saddam Hussein from mobilizing ground forces.  These examples are currently being used as evidence in favor of intervention in Libya but comments about their success is, “historically inaccurate and were misapplied to Libya’s unfolding civil war.”


Posted in Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

Lt. Gen Dubik Says Solving Libya Crisis Now Requires Ground Troops

April 7th, 2011 by Alec

James M. Dubik, writing at Foreign Policy, argues that the no-fly zone has not achieved its stated aims of protecting Libyan civilians and that the rebel forces have thus far proven themselves incapable of taking on Muammar Gadhafi’s more advanced military capabilities.  In light of these realities, Dubik says that the coalition needs combat air controllers, advisors, and trainers on the ground to assist rebel forces if they are to succeed in removing Gadhafi from power.  However, the coalition forces seem unwilling to make these necessary steps.  Of the options available to the coalition, sending in troops and arming the rebels “has the highest probability of success” in ending the Gadhafi regime.  Dubik also cautions against being ill-prepared for the “post-combat phase” of the intervention in case Gadhafi’s regime does fall.  He warns that a state of anarchy could erupt in the country and coalition forces could witness “revenge killings” Balkan style.  Given Barack Obama’s justification for intervention that the U.S. and the world could not stand idly by as witness to a massacre, the U.S. might be cornered into committing ground troops to stabilize the country over the long-term if there is a total breakdown of order in a post-Gadhafi Libya.


Posted in Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

Secretary Clinton Speaks at International Conference on Libya

March 29th, 2011 by Kyle

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at the International Conference on Libya in London. She stated that the United States has been proud to stand with its European, NATO, and Arab allies to respond to the “appeals of the Libyan people and to the Arab League’s call for urgent action.” Sec. Clinton asserted that “NATO has taken command of enforcing the arms embargo and the no-fly zone” and will continue their efforts until Gadhafi “fully complies with the terms of 1973, ceases his attacks on civilians, pulls his troops back from places they have forcibly entered, and allows key services and humanitarian assistance to reach all Libyans.”

The current efforts, according to Clinton, are to increase diplomatic and political pressure in an attempt to further isolate the Gadhafi regime and  facilitate Muammar Gadhafi’s swift exit.  She stated: “We believe that Libya’s transition should come through a broadly inclusive process that reflects the will and protects the rights of the Libyan people” and that this process would include the Transitional National Council, who she met with earlier in the day, as well as “a broad cross-section of Libya’s civil society.”


Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, International Law, Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, sanctions, United Nations, US foreign policy | Comment »

President Obama’s Speech on Libya

March 29th, 2011 by Kyle

On Monday, President Barack Obama gave a speech outlining current and future U.S. policy in Libya and in the region.  He began by stating that the U.S. is always reluctant to use force to solve “the world’s many challenges”, however, he stated, “when our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act.” Beginning with an arms embargo, sanctions, asset freezes, and work at the U.N. Security Council, Obama argued that the U.S. used all diplomatic means in an effort to curb the violence, but Muammar Gadhafi continued to persist and declared to show “no mercy” to the people of Libya.

Rather than letting a massacre occur in Benghazi, he stated that the U.S. and international partners mobilized forces to institute a no-fly zone, attack strategic military sights, and ultimately protect Libyan civilians. President Obama highlighted that in the 1990′s “when people were being brutalized in Bosnia” it took over a year to intervene to protect civilians and in Libya it took only 31 days.  NATO will take the lead on the continued military work within Libya, on Wednesday of this week, which Obama asserts demonstrates the fulfillment of his goal to transition the U.S. military out of a leading role quickly.  He continued: “The transition to a legitimate government that is responsive to the Libyan people will be a difficult task, but stated that it would be up to the U.S. and the international community to assist this transition.  In regards to the rest of the region he stated: “There are places, like Egypt, where this change will inspire us and raise our hopes, but he also warned that sectarian violence must be averted in the hopes of addressing the political and economic concerns of the Arab World.  In closing he stated: “Born, as we are, out of a revolution by those who longed to be free, we welcome the fact that history is on the move in the Middle East and North Africa, and that young people are leading the way.”

 

 


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Libya, Multilateralism, NATO, Protests, Reform, sanctions, Sectarianism, United Nations, US foreign policy | Comment »

Speculation Over Obama’s Address to the Nation on Libya

March 28th, 2011 by Alec

Peter Feaver, writing at Foreign Policy, outlines four key questions by which to judge President Barack Obama‘s address on Libya on Monday night.  Feaver emphasizes  that first, Obama will have to address the strategic objectives and desired outcomes of U.S. military involvement in Libya.  Second, he will have to demonstrate that the administration has planned for a multitude of scenarios rather than the current rhetoric based solely on “best case scenarios.”  Third, he says, Obama should speak more candidly about the international coalition’s “rocky road” to intervention and acknowledge some of the missteps taken.  Finally, Feaver states that Obama will have show his “gut” and demonstrate a better willingness to galvanize public and congressional support for the military’s mission in Libya, something he has not done with Afghanistan and Iraq.

David Rothkopf, also writing at Foreign Policy, argues that the President will have to build on Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates‘s Sunday morning network appearances to galvanize low public approval ratings.  He must emphasize the role of the operation in the broader context of U.S. interests across the Middle East, especially in light of the current uprisings: “For the president to deliver a narrow address on Libya would be a missed opportunity [...] it would be a fatal error given the stakes and the number of other players who see in this crisis great opportunities despite the dangers and some who see danger as an opportunity in itself.”


Posted in Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

Briefing on NATO’s Assumption of Operations in Libya

March 28th, 2011 by Naureen

On Sunday, a senior administration official briefed members of the press on the North Atlantic Council’s meeting on Libya during which the 28 NATO allies agreed to a transfer of the civilian protection operations to NATO in addition to no-fly zone and arms embargo operations.  According to the official, Turkey, as well as other countries, expressed a strong preference to have the entire operation conducted by NATO.  Responding to questions, he also stated that the U.S. and NATO will continue to seek as many Arab and regional partners to participate as they can and are continuing the process of engaging with Arab countries to bring them into this operation.


Posted in Human Rights, Libya, Military, NATO | Comment »

Libya Update: NATO To Take Over Operations

March 27th, 2011 by Alec

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen released a short statement on Sunday saying that NATO had agreed to assume control of military operations in Libya in accordance to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973: “NATO will implement all aspects of the UN Resolution.  Nothing more, nothing less.”  Following a meeting in Brussels, Rasmussen also stated that NATO’s assumption of command would take immediate effect.  The operation will be lead by Canadian General Charles Bouchard.


Posted in Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO | Comment »

Gates and Clinton Defend Libya Intervention

March 27th, 2011 by Alec

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), speaking on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on Sunday, argued that the U.S. has no vital national security interest in Libya and that the cost of the military response would further deepen the national deficit.  Luger insinuated that the U.S. has no clear objectives or plan for the no-fly zone and that, “It makes no sense in the front room, where in Congress we are debating seemingly every day the deficits, the debt ceiling situation coming up, the huge economic problems we have — but in the back room we are spending money on a military situation in Libya.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, defended the administration’s position on Libya on Sunday.  Clinton claimed that the no-fly zone has possibly saved tens of thousands of Libyan civilians.  Gates acknowledged that Libya was “not a vital national interest to the United States,” but that European and Arab engagement on the issue, coupled with the “humanitarian question”, justified the military operation.  Gates further stated that operations have gone smoothly with no confirmed reports of civilian casualties despite claims from Muammar Gadhafi.


Posted in Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

The Guardian’s Map of the Arab Spring

March 22nd, 2011 by Kyle

Click on image for hyperlink.


Posted in Algeria, Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Events, Human Rights, Iran, Iraq, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Israel, Jordan, Journalism, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Military, Morocco, Multilateralism, Muslim Brotherhood, NATO, Palestine, Political Islam, Political Parties, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, United Nations, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »

Senators Debate U.S. Military Intervention in Libya

March 21st, 2011 by Naureen

In an interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, on Monday, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) criticized the Obama administration’s decision to participate in international intervention in Libya without first consulting Congress.  Webb argued that leaders “have not put this issue in front of the American people in any meaningful way” and that we lack “a clear diplomatic policy or a clear statement of foreign policy that is accompanying this military operation.”   Speaking on Face the Nation on Sunday, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) also warned that the “U.S. is starting a treacherous descent down a slippery slope of international diplomacy by getting involved in Libya” especially given governments’ suppression of protesters in Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria.  Meanwhile, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ) criticized the Obama Administration for not moving quickly enough on the situation in Libya and lent their support for U.S. military action, calling on the administration to “expand the mission to remove dictator Moammar Gaddafi from power.”  Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), alternately, defended the administration’s strategy to limit the U.S. military’s role in the intervention to protecting civilians as it “will send a strong signal to the Arab world that this is not about American interests, it’s about democracy in Libya.”  Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) also defended the intervention, on humanitarian grounds, on Sunday, during an interview on Meet the Press.

Update: Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) released a statement on Monday expressing his concern over U.S. military involvement in Libya and called on the Administration to explain the objective of the military campaign and other questions including: the risks to service members’ lives, anticipated length of U.S. involvement, the impact of the involvement on other national security priorities, and the cost of this activity to American taxpayers.


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Freedom, Human Rights, Libya, Military, NATO | Comment »

U.S. Government Officials Discuss Options in Libya

March 10th, 2011 by Naureen

On Wednesday, during a conference call, Samantha Power, the National Security Council’s senior director for multilateral affairs, stated that the Obama Administration is working to stop the flow of mercenaries fighting for Gadhafi entering the country from countries like Chad and Niger.  She stated the administration was also keeping note on the migrant workers exiting the country and was reaching out to opposition groups in Libya in the hopes of setting up reliable communications to better understand the situation on the ground.  State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley also stated that U.S. Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz met with Libyan opposition leaders in Rome and Cairo this week.  In a call with Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday, President Barack Obama discussed options to end violence in Libya and agreed the common objectives are the departure of Gadhafi from power as soon as possible and “a transition that meets the Libyan peoples’ aspirations for freedom, dignity and a representative government.”  Senior U.S. defense officials have warned senators that the no-fly zone would be a full-combat operation, requiring extensive commitments of manpower and resources.  Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman criticized the State Department’s claim that arming the Libyan opposition would be “illegal” under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1970.  The Organization of the Islamic Conference also stated on Thursday that they would support a no-fly zone.


Posted in Human Rights, Libya, Multilateralism, NATO, Protests, US foreign policy | Comment »

Obama: U.S. Continues to Analyze All Options in Libya

March 8th, 2011 by Kyle

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama speaking with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard continued to condemn the violence taking place in Libya and cautioned “I want to send a very clear message to those who are around Colonel Qaddafi:  It is their choice to make how they operate moving forward, and they will be held accountable for whatever violence continues to take place there.” President Obama went on to state that the U.S. is continuing to increase its humanitarian assistance including an additional allocation of $15 million. He went on to state the administration is continually analyzing all potential options to thwart the violence in Libya including potential military options with NATO allies.  He closed: “But the bottom line is I think Australia and the United States stand shoulder to shoulder in sending a clear message that we stand for democracy, we stand for an observance of human rights, and that we send a very clear message to the Libyan people that we will stand with them in the face of unwarranted violence and the continuing suppression of democratic ideals that we’ve seen there.”


Posted in Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Libya, Multilateralism, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »

NATO Coordinates Plan for Libya

March 8th, 2011 by Kyle

On Monday, the North American Council held its first meeting in Brussels to discuss NATO’s strategic options in Libya before the arrival of NATO member defense ministers on Thursday.  U.S. Ambassador to the Council, Ivo Daalder, stated, “the most immediate options that are now most available and that we’re really looking at is how can NATO support the humanitarian effort that is ongoing by the international community.” He stated that NATO had begun its discussion of greater surveillance and other potential options for humanitarian assistance, but had not begun discussing a no-fly zone. NATO has agreed to establish round the clock surveillance through NATO AWACS (surveillance aircraft) to more closely monitor the situation in Libya. Daalder said that discussions of a no-fly zone had not begun yet, but would prior to the arrival of defense ministers on Thursday. He warned that although the no-fly zone was an option that “even if it were to be established, isn’t really going to impact what is happening there today”, this he concluded was due to the shift in the nature of the fighting from air attacks to more ground and helicopter based fighting, which the no-fly zone couldn’t control.


Posted in Libya, Military, NATO, US foreign policy | Comment »