NATO nations were braced for a quagmire in Libya: briefing notes
The briefing notes, obtained through access to information, confirm deep divisions within NATO and the international community over how to end the fighting and bring peace and stability to the Libyan people.
Fantino was encouraged to raise the idea of burden-sharing during his meeting with fellow allies in the UAE in June, encouraging those not participating in the mission to contribute more aid and non-military support.
Officials noted that while 19 nations had contributed forces to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone and arms embargo, “only” six to eight NATO allies were actually dropping bombs.
At the same time,longchamp outlet Canada and its closest allies were being seen by some as going too far in interpreting UN Security Council resolution 1973.
“While many countries have stated that regime change is not the explicit goal of the intervention, Britain, France, (the) U.S. and Canada have called for (Gadhafi) to step down,” reads a document from March.
Despite misgivings from other countries and calls for a negotiated peace, the government was unequivocal in its demands that Gadhafi and his associates be removed from power and held accountable. They also envisioned early on a democratic Libya.
However, while Canada recognized the rebels’ National Transitional Council as a legitimate representative of those fighting Gadhafi’s forces, officials were confused early on as to what the group really represented.
Several documents bearing the subject line “Who are the Libyan opposition?” read: “Canada is in contact with the Libyan opposition movement through the Transitional National Council (TNC), but like many of our allies we have limited understanding of what they represent for the political future of Libya.”
The briefing notes cite the council’s website as the basis for what information available.
While the government has continued to recognize the transitional council as the Libya’s interim rulers in the post-Gadhafi era, Canadian officials acknowledged as recently as this month that divisions within the council exist and are slowing the transition to democracy.
Processing your request, Please wait....
