US Action in Libya: Moral, Diplomatic, or Both?

In the past few days, the United States, along with a coalition of other allied nations in the UN, has finally made the decision to launch airstrikes on Libyan President Moammar Qaddafi's forces. Although the the Joint Chiefs were relatively tight-lipped about the ultimate purpose of the airstrikes, it is clear that primary goals are the elimination of Qaddafi's aircraft and vehicles, and the establishment of a no-fly zone.

Really, though, the ultimate goal of the US and other coalition nations is to create a Libya that is more stable, predictable, and will be friendlier to the international community as a whole. Of course, a possible added benefit would be oil prices lowering due to an end to hostilities in Libya. Really, the fact that the UN has come in at this stage in the conflict is very much a "strategic communication" concern. If the UN were to intervene too early, it would be universally deemed a tool of imperialism; too late, and it would run the risk of being completely ineffective, while still losing face with both Qaddafi and the opposition forces.

Members of the opposition forces do seem to be grateful, if the Washington Post's account is accurate, but they do express some disappointment that the international community feels that they are incapable of winning on their own. It is most likely for this reason that UN coalition forces are not targeting Qaddafi himself. Assuming that Qaddafi is ousted by the opposition and a new government is created in Libya, the best the US and other nations can hope for is that the gratitude for UN assistance plays a role in whatever regime takes command. The US and other nations need to tread very carefully with whatever they do, and make sure to maintain a strong dialog with the opposition leadership, and whatever government emerges from the conflict, to ensure that there is as little sense of "foreign occupation" as possible. China and Russia, which abstained from the UN vote, have already lodged criticism of the military action as similar to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: violations of sovereignty. But the only people whose opinion really matters in this regard are the Libyans.