Leading from behind is still leading : Canada and the international intervention in Libya

For Canadian policymakers, Libya presented four key issues: i) the evacuation of Canadians; ii) determining the nature of Canada’s support for the UNSC resolutions and NATO missions; iii) the consequences of Libyan involvement for future humanitarian interventions; and iv) the implications of Libya for NATO and future NATO operations. [...] Given the statements by Gates delimiting the nature of the mission, the expansion of the mission’s goals was likely promoted by his European partners. [...] After several weeks of slow progress, in mid-April, US Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, referred to the situation on the ground as a “stalemate”.20 As a result, beginning 13 April coalition operations in support of the National Transitional Council (NTC)—the group Gadhafi representing the Libyan rebels—escalated significantly. [...] In June the French government admitted that NTC it was supplying opposition forces with small arms and were aided in this endeavour by both Qatar and the UAE.22 While some accounts of the Libyan mission argue that it demonstrated the virtues of NATO airpower, the critical role played by SOF demonstrates that this appreciation of the mission is incomplete.23 Although NATO air operations were certai [...] Of paramount importance is avoiding the mistake made in Iraq of disenfranchising all members of the old regime, which fuelled the subsequent insurgency while simultaneously reducing the competency of the post-invasion administration.39 Gaddafi’s death under dubious circumstances following his apprehension has already cast doubts on the NTC’s ability to adhere to international legal standards.