Russia’s Ambassador (click title to entry - thank you) to the UN Vitaly Churkin called on Monday for a probe into the deaths of peaceful Libyans killed by NATO air strikes during its military campaign, the Russian NTV channel reported on Tuesday.
Churkin’s statement came after the New York Times published its investigation on Sunday, claiming up to 70 people were killed in Libya during NATO’s eight-month military operation....
NATO cannot pretend these deaths didn't happen. They did. There is no dishonor to NATO as the UN Resolution was clear; the civilians were being targeted by the Gaddafi regime and it had to be stopped. The NATO intelligence was incredibly good to have only 70 civilians dead, but, they are dead none the less.
The people of Libya fought a very difficult war and I am sure there are many who fought the war that are also dead, through at the very least snipers on rooftops. But, NATO has to admit there were errors in their intelligence while they were attempting to the people. War reparations are in order to help Libya rebuild and in those reparations should be assistance to the family members still alive carrying the greatest loss and hardship having lost loved ones.
The West is a civilized and it is difficult for us to consider acting to rescue an entire nation while having caused casualties, but, there is nothing civilized about looking the other when mistakes are made. Those people are important people and we should recognize those lost and the pain families are still sustaining with their loss. It is far more civilized to honor those dead and those that survived than to excuse ourselves for being heroes and nothing more. The Libyan people are the heroes and we have a stronger ally today then we ever did with Gaddafi. I think we should keep it that way.
