Will Gaddafi go?

COLONEL Gaddafi’s pariah status is illustrated by the European Union agreeing, unanimously, to impose even tougher sanctions against the Libyan dictator than those envisaged over the weekend. An unprecedented move, it is indicative of the scale of the tyrant’s crimes against humanity – and the need for him to face the full force international justice.

After the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions split the world order, it is striking that not one country is prepared to speak out in defence of Gaddafi as Britain continues to rescue those workers who were left stranded in the desert as the uprising saw Libya quickly descend into a civil war.

That the world is committed to isolating Libya and holding its ruling family to account does, indeed, send a very powerful message to those who are fighting – literally – to end Gaddafi’s four decades of tyranny. Yet, as the humanitarian crisis inside the North Africa country escalates, world leaders – like David Cameron – will note that the dictator is unlikely to take any notice of the EU, United Nations and others, despite the prospect of a no-fly zone being belatedly imposed to protect Libya’s citizens.

Their dilemma, if the bloodshed persists, is whether the West can justify military action to remove Gaddafi when considering the consequences that this could have across the wider Middle East, and for the war on terror. For, like it or not, the Prime Minister’s message to Colonel Gaddafi – “Go now” – is unlikely to be heeded by a deranged leader who has promised to fight to the bitter end.