The Fallacy of U.S. Diplomacy in Libya
Slim Fairview’s Four Rules of Communication:
1. Precision
2. Concision
3. Enumerate
4. Specify
The Fallacy of U.S. Diplomacy in Libya. Review the following questions and answers to arrive at a conclusion if not an understanding of how we undermine our own efforts in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
A. We can't arm the rebels because the rebels may be a greater danger.
More so than Gaddafi? Yes? No? If yes, we wouldn’t be there. If no, then arm the rebels.
B. We can’t arm the rebels because the arms may fall into the hands of our enemies.
If the rebels are our enemies, our other enemies will arm the rebels. If our enemies did not arm the rebels, then the rebels are not our enemies.
C. We can’t arm the rebels because the rebels may be our enemy.
If we don’t arm the rebels, others will. If others arm the rebels, the rebels will be their friends not ours.
[Write one thousand times: The friend of my enemy is my enemy. The enemy of the enemy is my friend.]
D. Al Qaeda members may be in Libya.
Al Qaeda members may be anywhere. That does not justify not doing anything anywhere.
E. Let’s talk about the mission. Let’s not.
What we have is regime change under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Getting rid of Gaddafi is not regime change.
Talking about Gaddafi’s sons is not regime change.
F. What will we be getting into if we don’t have regime change?
We won’t be getting into anything. We will have what we’ve had all along
G. What will happen if Gaddafi leaves?
Nothing if we define Gaddafi leaving as regime change.
H. What will happen if the rebels win and take over Libya?
We will fail at yet another diplomatic mission. Why?
To understand why, answer this question:
What happens if the rebels win and the Tribal Leaders decide to form a government where a ruling council runs Libya: a ruling council where the Tribal Leaders choose members of the Ruling Council?
We are not equipped to establish diplomatic relations with a country where the people fought a revolution to gain freedom and established a government not consistent with our perspective of governments.
Regards,
Slim
PS.
I am not Paul Harvey. However, I am open to becoming a paid commentator, columnist, or blogger. If you’ve found anything I said to be helpful, please don’t hesitate to send me one of those tricked-out laptops and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note.
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
For further reading on Social Media Matters
Quill Pens and Powdered Wigs in Today’s Classrooms
Social Media is the Medium: Greater than the sum of its parts.
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
