FCNL Statement: War is Not the Answer in North Africa and the Middle East

Mar 18, 2011

FCNL Statement: War is Not the Answer in North Africa and the Middle East

The Friends Committee on National Legislation supports and is inspired by the aspirations of people across the Arab world who are employing nonviolent means to demand more open, responsive government and an end to authoritarian rule. At the same time, we are gravely concerned by the escalating fighting in Libya and the anticipated military engagement by the international community. We believe the means that are used to seek change in society either create or obstruct the desirable ends.

We are appalled at the violence, and we grieve over the lives lost during the ongoing struggle for freedom, democracy and human rights. We lift up our concern for those who have been injured.

We urge our government to use its diplomatic influence and its resources to support nonviolent, locally-led democratic change in the interest of promoting equality, justice, and a lasting peace throughout North Africa and the Middle East. We oppose the use of violence and military intervention as a means to achieve regime change.

Background
For decades, U.S. military and economic support to authoritarian governments has contributed to corruption and been used to repress, imprison, torture and kill citizens. Human rights abuses by governments that the U.S. wished to keep in its “sphere of influence” have often been overlooked or concerns about those abuses have been subordinated to the objectives of maintaining the flow of oil and of establishing a false sense of stability between Arab countries and Israel.

The largely nonviolent political change in Egypt and Tunisia to date has been encouraging and demonstrates the potential for citizen-led movements grounded in nonviolence to succeed in changing oppressive regimes. FCNL commends the Obama administration for its measured and constructive response to these situations.

The current situation in Libya and the clamor by some politicians and pundits for the U.S. to go to war are much less encouraging. Military intervention by the United States and Europe – including military support of a “no-fly zone” – is more likely to escalate the violence, further destabilize the region, and increase anti-US sentiment in the Muslim world. It leaves unanswered the longer-term question of what happens after a war is won or lost by either side to create a more democratic, just society for the people of Libya.

As the violence escalates and the calls for western intervention mount, it is important to remember that there is no military solution to what is at heart a political and humanitarian problem. War cannot repair or repay decades of bad policy.

We commend Senator Richard Lugar for his March 8 statement saying the U.S. cannot afford another war and articulating his opposition to the proposed no-fly zone in Libya, in which he made the following points:

1. “Imposing a no-fly zone, requiring extensive bombing of Libyan military facilities, would be an act of war, as Secretary Robert Gates has said. The United States should not, in my view, launch [a] military intervention into yet another Muslim country, without thinking long and hard about the consequences and implications”; and
2. “A major military action to support anti-Qadhafi forces is a commitment that would require, in my view, a formal declaration of war by the Congress of the United States, not just a tactical redeployment of some aircraft.”

Senator Lugar’s full statement can be found here. You can read FCNL's response to the Senator Lugar's statement here.

What then can be done?
The United Nations has said in nonbinding language that if a state fails to protect its citizens or attacks them, then the international community has a responsibility to protect those being attacked. Fulfilling this commitment should include robust diplomatic, humanitarian, and other nonviolent methods.

First, all parties to the conflict can be urged to implement a ceasefire. The U.S. should work in concert with the UN Security Council, the African Union, the Arab League, and the European Union to take strong, peaceful diplomatic initiatives to bring all parties to the table for negotiated settlement of the civil conflict.

Second, the U.S., in cooperation with other countries, can focus on providing humanitarian aid to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the fighting in Libya. Humanitarian assistance efforts must be designed and implemented by qualified civilian agencies and not by the military.

Third, the U.S., in cooperation with the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League and the African Union, can continue to implement an arms embargo to Libya that is grounded in international law.

Fourth, our government can explore the possibility of multilateral, non-military sanctions that include financial and/or trade-related measures to prevent the Qadhafi government from abusing Libyan citizens. International sanctions that were imposed on Iraq in the 1990s resulted in catastrophic humanitarian consequences for masses of innocent civilians, especially children, and, therefore, the international community, as well as the U.S. must take care that sanctions focus on irresponsible government officials, not the general population.

Fifth, the international community can follow up the already-enacted UN Security Council resolution that refers the Gadhafi government to the International Criminal Court in order to hold government officials accountable for actions they take against their fellow citizens.

We recognize that such a diplomatic, humanitarian approach will take time and intense international engagement to be successful. We believe, however, it offers the best chance of limiting the loss of life and restoring a path toward peace and stability.

Further Reading

“Principled Action: why the drumbeat to go to war with Libya is a bad idea” by Matthew Yglesias, The Prospect, March 17, 2011

“They’re doing it without us” by Andrew Bacevich, L.A. Times, February 20, 2011

“The case for sitting on our hands” by Peter Beinart, Newsweek.com, February 27, 2011

“Obama’s Mideast Moment of Truth” by Peter Beinart, Newsweek.com, January 30, 2011

“Give Peaceful Resistance a Chance ” by Erica Chenoweth, New York Times, March 9, 2011

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011)