The News Journal

By Esteban Parra

The U.S. missile strike against Libya's air defenses Saturday was endorsed by some Delawareans who said the United States needs to show support for those fighting Moammar Gadhafi's decades-old regime.

At the same time, members of Delaware's congressional delagation stated concerns about getting involved in another extended international crisis.

"It's high time we did it," said Muqtedar Khan, an international relations professor at the University of Delaware. "We're just in the nick of time because if Benghazi had fallen, then I think Gadhafi would have committed egregious human-rights violations."

In the hours before the no-fly zone over Libya went into effect, Gadhafi sent warplanes, tanks and troops into the eastern city of Benghazi. Then the government attacks appeared to go silent.

"He would have massacred people there because he wants to ensure that the rebellion is permanently destroyed and he would have been brutal in his oppression and the world would have watched," he said, adding that if this revolution fails, it would more than likely end many of the calls for change in the region.

"It's a good thing to see democracy spread around," said Ahmed Sharkawy, an electrical engineer and University of Delaware research associate who was born in Egypt. He pointed to Egypt's first fully free vote in decades Saturday in which people got to decide whether to accept the ruling military council's proposed reforms.

S. Ismat Shah, a UD professor of materials science and engineering and physics and astronomy, said he, too, was happy to learn of the efforts by the United States and others. But he is concerned about what happens next.

"If the goal is to save those people, OK, so you've saved them," Shah said. "If that's the end, then everybody can go home. But Gadhafi is still going to be there."

Rep. John Carney, D-Del., said he has a "deep concern about another extended military commitment in the Middle East," but this appears to be a short-term mission with clear goals and limited scope.

"He would have massacred people there because he wants to ensure that the rebellion is permanently destroyed and he would have been brutal in his oppression and the world would have watched," he said, adding that if this revolution fails, it would more than likely end many of the calls for change in the region.

"It's a good thing to see democracy spread around," said Ahmed Sharkawy, an electrical engineer and University of Delaware research associate who was born in Egypt. He pointed to Egypt's first fully free vote in decades Saturday in which people got to decide whether to accept the ruling military council's proposed reforms.

S. Ismat Shah, a UD professor of materials science and engineering and physics and astronomy, said he, too, was happy to learn of the efforts by the United States and others. But he is concerned about what happens next.

"If the goal is to save those people, OK, so you've saved them," Shah said. "If that's the end, then everybody can go home. But Gadhafi is still going to be there."

Rep. John Carney, D-Del., said he has a "deep concern about another extended military commitment in the Middle East," but this appears to be a short-term mission with clear goals and limited scope.

"The situation in Libya is troubling," Carney said. "[Gadhafi] ... and the Libyan military are murdering civilians and defying the international community's call for a cease-fire.

"I am supportive of U.S.-assisted and U.N.-sanctioned military action to assure the safety of innocent Libyans."

He added it is important for the U.S. to work with European allies to enforce the U.N. Security Council resolution and protect Libyans.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said actions taken by American allies and Arab partners are consistent with the U.N. Security Council resolution that was approved Friday.

But Coons said this could be a drawn-out event.

"This will be a difficult and challenging situation," he said, adding there will be a need for humanitarian relief as well as the financial challenges of imposing a no-fly zone and creating space for the rebels.

That's why he was happy to see that other countries are taking the lead in condemning Gadhafi.

"The best way for the United States to secure our future is to act in multilateral partnerships with our allies and partners where they take the lead in securing peace and stability in their region and where the United States is sole leader or the main leader only in those cases where there is a clear and direct connection to American interests," he said.

Vice President Joe Biden, who had been in Wilmington earlier in the day, did not issue a statement. His spokeswoman, Elizabeth Alexander, referred The News Journal to the president's statement.

"Our consensus was strong, and our resolve is clear. The people of Libya must be protected and in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act, and to act with urgency," President Barack Obama said in Brasilia, Brazil, on the first day of a three-country Latin American tour.

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said the United States is the "greatest beacon of democracy on Earth" and it would be hard to imagine it standing by while a ruthless dictator harms his own people.

"That's why it is so important that this operation has been sanctioned by the United Nations, NATO and a number of Arab nations," he said. "I'm encouraged that we're on the right track with a broad-based coalition approach to dealing with Libya. I'm not supportive of putting boots on the ground in Libya. Rather, our role should be a supportive one, working in concert with our coalition partners."

Sally Milbury-Steen, executive director of the Wilmington-based Delaware Pacem in Terris, said she opposed the attacks on Libya because Gadhafi was not given enough time to see if he kept his word on the cease-fire. She also said this could lead to retaliation.
"The problem with using the military power at this point is that it's going to escalate things," Milbury-Steen said. "You don't know what sort of terrorist responses might be up Gadhafi's sleeve in the future."