Source: SkyNews

Over recent days and weeks, the conflict in Libya has been further escalating and continues to make headlines throughout the world. It is truly heartbreaking to witness the destruction of a people’s hopes for freedom.

Stories of atrocities against the rights and dignity of human beings have been steadily emerging from within Libya. Leaders from throughout the world have voiced their condemnation of those acts of violence and have urged the United Nations to intervene. Late last week, the United Nations voted on and approved Resolution 1973, which has given the United States, France, Great Britain, and other world powers the approval to use military force in order to prevent further atrocities.

“Operation Odyssey Dawn” began on March 19th as French aircraft began assaulting military targets around Benghazi. Following this initial response, missiles from U.S. and U.K. naval vessels began hitting targets throughout Libya. Within the next few days, aircraft from around the globe will begin participating in the operation.

In the second day of the offensive, however, some world leaders have begun to insist upon the immediate enactment of a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in the North African country. This comes after reports began surfacing about the coalition going “beyond its U.N. mandate to protect civilians.”

This brings up an important question: is the use of force being exhibited by the coalition justified?

According to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (483), the use of military force is only justified when:

• the suffering inflicted by the aggressor is lasting, grave, and certain;
• all other peaceful means of resolving the conflict must have been shown to be ineffective;
• there are well founded prospects of success;
• the use of arms, especially given the power of modern weapons, must not produce evils graver than the evil to be eliminated.

Credit: REUTERS

Applying those points to the current conflict in Libya, it is definitely understandable that the suffering being inflicted upon the Libyan people by Qaddafi and his forces is lasting, grave and certain. It is quite clear that Qaddafi is deliberately trampling on the dignity and respect of human life.

Throughout the last few weeks, world leaders have been calling upon Qaddafi to recognize the wishes of the Libyan people and cease the atrocities being carried out against human dignity. They have insisted Qaddafi step down in an effort to promote freedom and democracy. Those calls have gone unheeded. However, have international leaders done everything in their power to resolve the conflict peacefully?

I believe that more could have been done to resolve the conflict that has erupted. There are a variety of other options that could have been carried out by world leaders to quell the violence. For example, world leaders concerned about the escalation of aggression may have been able to further unilateral or bilateral talks with Qaddafi and the Libyan government in order to devise a plan to bring an end to violence and promote social change in the country.

Because we are unaware of the actual diplomatic solutions attempted to stop the violence within Libya, we must approach this area with a bit of caution. If these types of talks were carried out and reached an impasse, then U.N. intervention would be necessary. However, whether or not that action should include military force is something we should all question.

Is there a high prospect of success for this resolution?

Shortly after the resolution was approved by member nations of the U.N., Qaddafi issued a statement:

This is blatant colonialism. It does not have any justification. This will have serious consequences on the Mediterranean and on Europe…There must be safe air or sea navigation whatever the case. In 2011 they are colonizing us, massacring us, and imposing one no-fly zone after the other and one military attack after an other. What is this racism? What is this hatred?

In response to the use of force by coalition countries, Qaddafi has stated that this “war” will be long-lasting and have consequences. It is clear that Qaddafi will make the success of the U.N. resolution very difficult.

In terms of the use of modern weapons: I highly doubt coalition forces will produce evils graver than what are currently being produced. Nonetheless, we must be vigilant.

In the end, all we can do now is pray and ask the Lord to watch over and protect all those in harm’s way. As Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his solidarity with and prayers for those who have been affected by the atrocities inflicted by pro-Qaddafi forces, we must also be united in their suffering and pray for a peaceful solution to this conflict.