New York Times (August 27)
The talks between Ukraine President Poroshenko and Russia’s Putin produced little. “The problem is that Ukraine has little interest in a cease-fire now, and Russia is pretending that it is not in the fray. Ukraine is steadily gaining ground against the Russian-backed rebels, and knows they would use a pause in fighting to rearm and consolidate.”
Tags: Cease-fire, Poroshenko, Putin, Rearm, Rebels, Russia, Talks, Ukraine
Financial Times (August 22)
“It is premature to celebrate the end of the fighting while Colonel Gaddafi remains at large and diehard supporters of the regime continue to fight in Tripoli. But the outcome now seems clear…. the regime is – thankfully – finished.” While this is just the beginning, so far the rebels have performed in an encouraging manner. For example, “the Benghazi-based National Transitional Council has been largely successful in maintaining order in the towns and cities that it has liberated from Col Gaddafi.”
Tags: Gaddafi, Libya, Rebels, Regime change
Boston Globe (March 8)
The U.S. should avoid setting up a no-fly zone in Libya unless this becomes “absolutely necessary to prevent a bloodbath.” Obama should resist making this “big commitment” because of myriad pitfalls and complications. Moreover, the rebels will eventually “be forced to build a government out of a nation of divided and sometimes hostile tribes.” Success will be easier if the victory is entirely their own. “The best result for the United States would be a stable, progressive Libyan government built by Libyans on their own.”
Tags: Libya, No-fly zone, Rebels, U.S.
