Ideals and interests coalesce in Libya

That Washington has been unable to stem popular uprisings (not the first in recent history) threatening a region of US-backed despots signals that the end of American hegemony in the region is drawing near.

It is with this understanding, thus, that we must distinguish Libya from the Iraq invasion. The conflict in Libya arose from a local push for reform and democracy. Much credit must be given to the domestic agents in the Arab world that have risen against their tyrants en masse out of frustration at a lack of freedom and economic opportunity.

Western intervention has been aimed at reinforcing such a drive in Libya that was extremely close to total annihilation at the hands of Gaddafi.

This differs significantly from Iraq, where the project was initiated, drafted and implemented completely by external forces. Little engagement of domestic agents was sought, as the Bush administration pushed to impose his New Middle East agenda on Iraq.

There is no such imposition in Libya, but instead a unique union of ideals and interests that have enabled military intervention to take place.

The Libyan conflict is a rare occasion where Arab popular demands and Western idealism and interests are on the same side, thus highlighting the need to contextualise each case. One does not and should not expect the West to apply a similar policy in the Persian Gulf as it does in Libya, as each conflict presents its own opportunities and consequences, which need to be weighed individually.

Regardless of what interests are at stake for the West in Libya, it appears an old perception of its role as the world policeman is part of the driving force in its decision to intervene. It is also a signal to other emerging powers that the West is determined to ensure its liberal democratic values continue to underpin international norms and expectations in the 21^st century.

Although the notion of a Western global policeman might be dismissed as outdated international political logic in Moscow and Beijing, it appears to be doing its job in Libya – albeit a rare occasion of commendable action by the West.