I kinda saw this coming.
On March 23 I pointed out the potential problem that since we were acting in Libya under a U.N. Resolution requiring the protection of civilians, we would face the dilemma that if the rebels started attacking pro-Gaddafi civilians, we might have to attack the rebels, Are Some Libyan Civilians More Equal?:
“If the rebels start attacking pro-Gaddafi civilians, will we intervene to protect pro-Gaddafi civilians pursuant to the U.N. Resolution?
If the U.N. Resolution is the template, then I don’t see how non-Libyans avoid putting boots on the ground, unless the civil war becomes civil, which is unlikely.”
This wasn’t hard to see coming, because I’ve studied revolutions, not for revolution.
And thus it comes true, via HotAir, NATO warns Libyan rebels: If you attack civilians, we’ll bomb you too:
“We’ve been conveying a message to the rebels that we will be compelled to defend civilians, whether pro-Qaddafi or pro-opposition,” said a senior Obama administration official. “We are working very hard behind the scenes with the rebels so we don’t confront a situation where we face a decision to strike the rebels to defend civilians.”…
But we already are seeing rebels not obeying this advice, and brutalizing civilians thought to pro-Gaddafi.
No one could have seen this coming, right?
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