Throughout the week, we have become aware of further political unrest in the African continent. It seems like the dust has just begun to settle in Egypt when new protests are appearing in Libya. Unfortunately, the Libyan reaction has been considerably different than the Egyptian response.
The reaction from the Libyan leader has been defiant and threatening. Moammar Gadhafi, the Libya leader, has been in charge of Libya for the past 41 years. He has been linked to terrorist activities along with violations of civil rights of his people amongst other charges of corruption throughout his reign.
The Libyan people, inspired by the events of Egypt and Tunisia, have decided they want a new leader. They are no longer going to stand by and accept the cruel and corrupt actions of the government. Somewhat predictable, Gadhafi has publically admonished the protestors, indirectly encouraged violence against them and has hired mercenaries to help restore his order. Fighter planes have fired upon civilian protesters while paid military personnel have threatened violence and death to anyone choosing the side against Gadhafi.
Gadhafi has claimed he had not given any orders to fire shots, but when he does he will burn the country to the ground. He will fill the streets with the blood of the protesters. He claims to be a fighter, a revolutionary and a willingness to be a martyr before he will give up his control.
The loyal military and mercenaries continue to harass protesters and the United Nations have issued warning to the government about the unwarranted killings of civilians. At the same time, gas prices have soared to new levels as the speculation of a drawn out civil war and restricted access to Middle Eastern oil reserves heightens.
What is your reaction to the revolutions taking place in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia? What is the job of the United Nations? How should the United Nations respond? Should the United States do anything to assist the region? Or should we wait for the direction of the United Nations?
Sofia- My reaction to the revolutions is that the leaders need to listen to the poeple. Though they are hard headed they need to realize that the people will win against them at some point. The job of the united nations is to keep the poeple safe, keep the counrty at peace, and to keep the world peacefully living. The united nations should go to Libya and ask Gadhafi to step down from his spot as leader. The united states should not do anything they should leave verything up to the united nations.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- My reaction is the same as Sofia's the leaders need to listen because the people will win over the leaders. The people aren't going to change their minds about trying to get this leader to resign. Its will get nothing but worse. I think that we should not get involved in the situation and let it be settled by itself, if the situation gets any worse we should talk to the leader and try to help or solve the issue. I think we should leave it up to the united nations.
ReplyDeleteMorgan- I think we should not get involved unless it gets worse.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- My reaction is that the leaders need to listen (like Morgan and Sofia) because people will win againist them. The united nation should take control and tell the leader to resign. I don't think we should do anything about because they need to work it out themselves. We should leave it up to the united nations.
ReplyDeleteRyanZ.- I think that if Gadafi doesn't give up power in a couple of weeks and starts killing all of the protesters like he says he will the U. N. should deffinetly step in and through him out of power. I also think that if the U. N. decides to step in the United States should deffinetly be ready to help. Then after the current government is over thrown the U. N. and U. S. need to come in and help the Libians set up a stable government to avoid a guerilla movement that could possibly be more hostile to the US than Gadafi and his administration.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in that picture Gadafi looks like Mike Rorke.
ReplyDeletePhillip- The leaders should take some crazy pills or something. THe UN's job is to prevent stuff like this from happening. The UN should forcebly take the leaders out of power. We should stay out of this completely unless it goes into WWIII mode, or the UN tells us to get involved.
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I think that it is that the leaders are crazy. Its the UNs job to make shure that these type of things dont happen. I think the UN should just go and tell Gadhafi that he should step down or the people would over throw him over and there would be great distruction of the city. The United States shouldnt do anything to assist the region and we wait shouldnt for the direction of the United Nations. Because if we were to involve ourselfs in this mess we would just cause another world war.
ReplyDeletejosu- i think the leaders should at least try to listen to the protesters. They have been the leaders for many years why cant they just resign. The United Nations should try to create peace in these regions. I don't think Americans should get into this unless the violence becomes greater or the United Nations tells us to.
ReplyDeleteHannah- I think the leaders should be more civil when trying to control protesters, they should know sooner or later the UN is going to step in and ask him to step down from power, and if he doesn't, they will force-ably remove him from power. I don't think the United States should step in unless things get really bad and the UN needs help.
ReplyDeleteAngie- Three words: Ghadafi. Is. Crazy. Sending mercenaries to kill the protestors?! He's mental or something! Tunisia and Egypt's leaders gave up, but Libya's leader, Ghadafi won't stop! I still can't believe he sent bombs and stuff to go kill them! It is definitley the time where U.N. should step in. Like a lot of other people said, Ghadafi should step down! He's doing all this to peaceful protestors? He is seriously crazy. Especially with his fashion sense!!!
ReplyDeletegabby- my reaction would be that the people arent liking how there government is running things so that they are protesting against it.i think it is good for the people to stand up for what they believe in and at least try to change. i think a way to resolve the problems would be for the protester to pick someone to represent them and they meet with the one crazy leader guy. i also think that the military should NOT be involved even though that wont happen. i think that the leader should listen to the people/protesters. the job of the united nations is kinda like to make sure that the people are safe everywhere. i think that they should tell the leader that he HAS to tell his ''loyal'' military guys to stop shooting people then get involved, or more involved. i think that the america should wait for the united nations to do something i do not think that we should get that majorly involved because the last thing we need is a war. i think its crazy that the people are shooting on the protesters and that needs to stop soon.
ReplyDeleteTravis-I believe that the people of those african nations are the ones who are right not the government. The united nations is responsible for coming in and keeping people from getting killed. the united nations should bring in forces to protect the people from getting killed if many more people are killed. nothing. we should do nothing.
ReplyDeleteLuke-I believe that the United States doesn't have to get in any more war then we are already in. we should just let the Egyptians and people of Libya fight for their country. Althrough it is unreasonable to let people get killed its not our fault. GHADAFI(IS A CRAZY CANNIBAL WITH A BEARD ON DRUGS!) he scares me... so we should do nothing.
ReplyDeletekaed- right now i think that Africa is messed up right now with all that is happening. nobody is listening to each other. I think that personally I think that the president should just leave. He is going to get stuck in a corner and suffocate because the protesters are out of control. I think that the U.S should just sit back and let them decide what they are going to do. I don't want the u.s in this situation because it is a HUGE MESS.
ReplyDeleteHalle- I think that these nations have been very hectic recently. They need a good leader to take control and meet the needs of the people. In a way i think it is good that the people want change and they are ready for someone new to take control. I think the United Nations and the United states to take charge and help out. If they nations aren't taking control and the leader is killing people, someone needs to step up and help out.
ReplyDeleteMarya- These three nations have been very crazy. the leaders need to listen to the people and SEE why they are protesting. Gadafi is crazy. so i don't think he will see anything important. but i admire the protestors for standing up against their leaders to make a change. i think if it gets any more out of hand, the UN and the US should reach out and help
ReplyDeleteRyan M- I think that the presidents are just crazy. The libya president should settle things nicly and not have to kill anyone. the united nations are trying to keep libya under control and they are supposed to do something if kadafi goes crazy. The united states should stay out of it unless they have boats trying to keep things in libya but if we do anything we might start another world war. I think we should wait for the united nations because they are the ones who are the closests to them.
ReplyDelete