UN Security Council Resolution on Libya Lacks Foresight

Brett Schaefer / March 07, 2011

The United Nations has responded in several ways to the Libyan regime’s terrible acts over the past few weeks. None of those actions, including the premature referral of Libyan to the International Criminal Court, have seemingly given Muammar Qadhafi much concern. Attacks continue, people are dying, and Qadhafi remains intent to stay in power. The carnage has increased calls for the United States and other countries to intervene in Libya by imposing a no-fly zone or undertaking more robust actions. Indeed. The U.S., France and the United Kingdom are reportedly working on a new Security Council resolution that would authorize a no-fly zone over Libya.

This raises a fair question. Why didn’t the U.S. envision this possibility when it was negotiating Security Council resolution 1970 that imposes sanctions on Libya, which passed last week? NGOs and governments raised the possibility of a no-fly zone for Libya even before the text of resolution 1970 was finalized. Yet, the text of resolution 1970 specifically does not authorize military intervention, even to protect civilians or prevent atrocities. On the contrary, the resolution reaffirms the Security Council’s “strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.” (more…)