Tuesday, November 15, 2011

This is R2P, is it?


ICRC photo



Sirte

From UN Security Council Resolution 1973

Protection of civilians
4. Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the Member States concerned to inform the Secretary-General immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council;

Dunno. R2P needs work. Maybe Resolution 1970 - passed unanimously - could have worked just as well, without the expense, dishonour, and destruction of any collective Security Council action for the foreseeable future...

Maybe the war games should be conducted in public.