Former PM is responsible for today’s Libyan crisis, according to report
http://www.politico.eu/article/british-mps-slam-david-camerons-ill-conceived-libya-intervention/
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to intervene in Libya in March 2011 was not based on accurate intelligence, turned into an opportunistic exercise in regime change and led to a humanitarian crisis, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.K. parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
The intervention was meant to protect civilians from attacks by then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s troops, but that threat was “overstated” and rebel forces “included a significant Islamist element,” the report said.
Instead of helping, the U.S., French and British forces led to “political and economic collapse, inter-militia and inter-tribal warfare, humanitarian and migrant crises, widespread human rights violations, the spread of Gaddafi regime weapons across the region and the growth of ISIL in North Africa,” according to the report.
Crispin Blunt, the committee’s chair, said in a statement that the allies should have tried other options before intervening militarily. “Political engagement might have delivered civilian protection, regime change and reform at a lesser cost to the U.K. and Libya,” Blunt said.
He added that the U.K.’s actions in Libya were “ill-conceived,” and the fallout was still playing out today.
http://www.politico.eu/article/british-mps-slam-david-camerons-ill-conceived-libya-intervention/
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to intervene in Libya in March 2011 was not based on accurate intelligence, turned into an opportunistic exercise in regime change and led to a humanitarian crisis, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.K. parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
The intervention was meant to protect civilians from attacks by then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s troops, but that threat was “overstated” and rebel forces “included a significant Islamist element,” the report said.
Instead of helping, the U.S., French and British forces led to “political and economic collapse, inter-militia and inter-tribal warfare, humanitarian and migrant crises, widespread human rights violations, the spread of Gaddafi regime weapons across the region and the growth of ISIL in North Africa,” according to the report.
Crispin Blunt, the committee’s chair, said in a statement that the allies should have tried other options before intervening militarily. “Political engagement might have delivered civilian protection, regime change and reform at a lesser cost to the U.K. and Libya,” Blunt said.
He added that the U.K.’s actions in Libya were “ill-conceived,” and the fallout was still playing out today.