Will Libya turn into the new Iraq conflict?

This is the question that people are increasingly asking as British and US ground troops are put on standby for an invasion of Libya to help rebels take down Colonel Gaddafi and his loyal followers.

The USA President has insisted that America will stand up for free will and basic human rights however Americans in Libya at the moment were his primary concern in an address he made to the world on the 27^thMarch.

“First, we are doing everything we can to protect American citizens. That is my highest priority. In Libya, we've urged our people to leave the country and the State Department is assisting those in need of support”

He continued, “The United States also strongly supports the universal rights of the Libyan people. That includes the rights of peaceful assembly, free speech, and the ability of the Libyan people to determine their own destiny.  These are human rights. They are not negotiable. They must be respected in every country, and they cannot be denied through violence or suppression”

Obama, who has been in office now for 2 years, says that the rest of the world must “speak with one voice” in order to help the civilians in Libya.

“The American people extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all who’ve been killed and injured. The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable. So are threats and orders to shoot peaceful protesters and further punish the people of Libya. These actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency. This violence must stop”

“In a volatile situation like this one, it is imperative that the nations and peoples of the world speak with one voice, and that has been our focus”

Many civilians across the globe could think that this could be another Iraq, where it was alleged that the only reason ground troops was sent in was to get oil, however the President does not see it this way.

"As one Libyan said, 'We just want to be able to live like human beings.'  We just want to be able to live like human beings. It is the most basic of aspirations that is driving this change, and throughout this time of transition, the United States will continue to stand up for freedom, stand up for justice, and stand up for the dignity of all people”

Clearly the President, regarded as one of the most powerful men on the planet, feels that if it is necessary, then he will send in ground troops to help the rebels topple Colonel Gaddafi and help the Libyan people help set up a democratic system where they can live in peace and have the freedom that they desire, and David Cameron, Prime Minster of Great Britain, feels the same way and feels Colonel Gaddafi should be facing a war crimes trial, and not be given Exile, something both Italy and Germany are pushing for.

Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said that both Italy and Germany are in talks with Turkey, the African Union and the Arab League about the possibility of granting Gaddafi exile, as they believe that this will convince him to leave power more peacefully rather than drag it out as was done with Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003.

Cameron, however, thinks that Gaddafi should be facing war crimes, as he is not only stopping people have their freedom of speech, but also he is committing the murder of innocent civilians in what the Libyan ambassador has called “real genocide”

It has become so terrifying that 2 Libyan airplane pilots and 2 Libyan navy ships have fled to Malta after they refused to follow orders to bomb civilians and pro democracy protestors. Protesters want Gaddafi out as he has ordered the military to kill peaceful protesters, which has led to over 1,000 innocent Libyans being murdered.

In Libya, there have already been air strikes by Britain, who have flown over 120 missions deep in the Libyan dessert, taking out Gaddafi's ammunition bunkers.

In a Commons statement on March 28^th, Cameron said he would "disagree with anyone who says that destroying a Gaddafi arms dump is not in the terms of the United Nations resolution"

"We can see very clearly what Gaddafi's regime is doing in Misratah, is doing in Zintan and other places - he's using munitions to kill people, to murder his own citizens. So therefore depriving him of weapons I think is absolutely not only in the letter of the resolution but in its spirit too," he told MP's.

There is also now a no fly zone, which is intended to stop Gaddafi killing innocent people from the skies of Libya.

The PM said: "The no-fly zone is now fully operational and effective. When it has been challenged, Gaddafi's planes have been shot down. He can no longer terrorise the Libyan people from the air."

This will come as a boost to protestors in Libya, who are witnessing countries help them dispose of a man who said just 8 days into the protests that he will not relinquish power and has vowed to die a “Martyr”.

Gaddafi, who has now been in power for 42 years, blames “Rats” who are agents from foreign intelligence services for the current unrest the country is feeling.  He then continued that anyone carrying weapons against Libya or co-operating with outside forces fomenting discord against “the country of my grandfathers” then they would be executed.

This has led the world to look on with not only sympathy but also with caution as the USA and the United Kingdom meet with the rest of the United Nations to discuss what is going to be done to help the civilians of Libya!