And now the Frenchies are supplying the rebels with "defensive" arms.
Maybe the Russians and Chinese could provide some decent SAM's to the Libyans.
After all SAMs are completely defensive weapons (unlike dual use assault rifles, machine guns and missile launchers).
It actually would be completely legal under the NATO interpretation of the UN resolutions:
- Defensive weapons are ok of they're used to protect civilians.
- NATO has killed civilians. As the UN resolution is about protecting civilians, it's ok for Libyan SAMs to blow NATO jets out of the sky over Tripoli.
- Furthermore as there is no official declaration of war and NATO jets could be viewed as mercenary elements (they're working for the rebels by providing air support), it's perfectly legal to torture shot down pilots, kill them and drag their bodies through the streets Mogadishu style.
Gaddafi was stupid in dismantling his WMD program and not updating his Air Defence network (basically it was not only outdated Sovet 1970s rubbish, it was also not operational).
He had the money for both.
The WMD program is a deterrent. With Libya's location, even shorter range missiles would be in range of Italy. The threat of gassing Palermo would've been enough to deter NATO (hence they just posture against Iran).
Investing in latest Russian and Chinese SAM's would allow you some sort of chance of taking out NATO planes.
Westerners don't like pictures of their troops being paraded around or of piles of scrap that used to be expensive warplanes.
I hope the other dictators of the world are watching. Better a stable dictatorship than a civil war. I learned that one in 1991.