Martyr's Square, née Green Square
The armed rebel movement in Libya owes its snowballing military and political successes to the passion and commitment of its members, the NATO air campaign that hobbled Muammar Khaddafy's military power, the countries that legitimized the rebels by recognizing their transitional government, and, as of today, Google Maps.
After they took it over late Sunday night, rebels declared that Green Square would now be called Martyr's Square, restoring the name it had before Gadhafi's regime took power more than four decades ago. Google's map of Tripoli has already adopted the rebels' new name for the square.
Sometimes the world map being redrawn before your very eyes is a metaphor for something intangible-- political alliances, shifting attitudes, societal norms, etc. But this time it's the actual map map that's changing. Fast.
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Obama Doctrine Emerging in New Libya; Cowbagger Diplomacy ‘Refudiated’
The inevitable ouster of Col. Muammar Gaddafi will have been a victory for this administration and the operation will provide a template for how future such troubles must be handled. It will have the added benefit of serving as the final repudiation of Cowboy Diplomacy while formally introducing the long overdue Obama Doctrine. The accomplishment will have come without the support of a loyal opposition in America. Indeed, it will have come despite a bed wetting and back stabbing disloyal opposition.
... the Obama Administration appears to be growing something of an organic new doctrine. A doctrine that comes out of the terra firma of rational policy rather than a neoconservative or Randian petri dish.
While the Obama Doctrine will require more time to ripen, there appear to be principles emerging ...
Article:
http://beeryblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/obama-doctrine-emerging-in-new-libya-cowbagger-diplomacy-refudiated/
[GOOGLE] beeryblog
Ooooh! I love all these poetics! "...neoconservative Randian petri dish" - Wow!
Here's what bothers me about Libya and Somalia that doesn't bother me about Tunisia, Egypt, or Syria - there basically ISN'T anything out there that resembles anything like government structure as we know it. Those are tribal people with the same kinds of shifting allegiances and stubborn traditions that frustrate empires in Afghanistan. They respect the Strong Man - he who has the most money and guns - while he has them. Then they war among themselves until another Strong Man emerges. There ISN'T a legal system or a judiciary; the law is what the Strong Man says it is.
While what you say is true about no civil structure, the tribal issue may be quite different and tribal leaders will be key. We can only hope the unity forged by fighting Daffy will remain.
I've come to know a lot of Libyans over the last 6 months and they are married intertribally, as well as internationally, and clearly know they are starting from scratch. They embrace the opportunity and the challenge. They are clear that they will never again allow one man to take over their lives. Building the bureaucratic structures for civil society may indeed take awhile. The Transitional Council has the concepts and precepts which will lead to the structure.
It seems a slim hope to me, Penny. How badly do we want to be sucked back into a nation-building role? That hasn't turned out so well for us in Iraq or Afghanistan. Or, alternatively, if UN Peacekeepers take over the task, you have an extended period of even more expensive dependency and chaos. I don't know the answer to my own questions but I don't have a lot of faith in the Transitional Council's ability to maintain its credibility with all the individual stakeholders.
And yet Google Maps still hasn't added South Sudan. It's even a UN Member State! Can someone please explain?
They have added it to Google Earth, it usually takes a bit longer, engineering-wise to get things added to Google Maps...Patience my dear
Lots of people seem to be forgetting something: the economic sanctions that got Khaddafy to give up nuclear weapons.
Where's the love for diplomacy?
Joe Cirincione: How We Dodged Libya's Nuclear Bullet
The Libyan diaspora now taking charge is relatively unknown in the West. Tribals, religious fringes, moderates, ex-military etc.
Its too early to predict what shape & form the emerging governance would take, but one thing is clear.
That it is the People Power that triumphed against military might. Those that laid their lives for their cause, the men, women & children - the people of Libya. Credit goes to them & them only no other entity. Powers that meddled did so for their own agenda.
Czechoslovakia will always be Czechoslovakia to me and not the Czech Republic. Also, Pluto, to me, is still a planet. That is totally cool how the Libyan people marched into a new era.
President Obama should be given so much credit for the sucess in Libya. To bad the republicans just can't bring themselves to give him any credit for anything. They are so greeneyed jealous of everything he does. He did it the right way.. I think he should do a lot of things without Congress.. All they would do is argue and vote no on everything. So afraid he might be successful. I hope the Libyian people are able to put together a government that will benfit us all....
If republicans gave Obama any credit, I would be suspicious.
The change came fast because they allow people out in the world to propose changes. This is a good and meaningful change.