The UN begins to roll

It is starting to look as if the UN Security Council will actually do something about Libya soon.  Its draft resolution includes asset freeze, arms embargo, travel ban.  There may also be movement towards a no-fly zone, despite reported opposition in the State Department.  Michael Knights has treated that proposition well (http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3315–sorry, just can’t get their links to work right).  In tears at the UNSC, the Libyan Perm Rep (Ambassador to the UN in New York) denounced his long friendship with Gaddafi and pleaded for action.  The Libyan mission in Geneva has also defected to the protesters, as have other Libyan diplomatic missions.

Meanwhile, the situation in Libya is confused. Gaddafi apparently appeared in Green square:

His forces continued to murder protesters, but rebels made progress outside Tripoli, especially in the east.  While his position today seems precarious at best, it cannot be excluded that Gaddafi will reestablish himself in the capital, but if he does it will only prolong Libya’s suffering. His son, Saif al Islam, is apparently offering to negotiate, claiming he is holding back the army.

While UN action today will not likely have any immediate effect, it is important that the forces loyal to Gaddafi begin to understand that there is no future with the regime.  The possibility of prosecution for the crimes being committed now has to be made real.

Gaddafi and his sons seem determined, as Saif put it today, “to live and die in Libya.”  It will be better for Libya and the rest of the world if both can be done quickly.