"I think it's very important that this not be a US-led effort, because this comes from the people of Libya themselves. This doesn't come from the outside. This doesn't come from some Western power or some Gulf country saying this is what you should do, this is how you should live." – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (on plans for a no-fly zone over Libya)
"France, as well as many of its partners, is not in favour of any Western military intervention in Libya, which would have absolutely negative effects." – French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé
"What we are working on is elements of a resolution on a no-fly zone. We are working on that with France at the UN Security Council. That is still contingency planning of course. But clearly it is unacceptable that Colonel Gaddafi unleashes so much violence on his own people and we are all gravely concerned about what would happen if he were to try to do that on an even greater basis." – Foreign Secretary William Hague
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"No, I would not [invade Libya]. I think it would not necessarily be a way to stop that. In the last analysis these people have to make their own choices." – former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, speaking on Piers Morgan Tonight "I have spoken to Gaddafi and he told me that he accepted [the Venezuelan proposal of a peace commission] but that he hoped it would be a United Nations one, so that people can see what is really happening before they condemn and start thinking of invading Libya. The United States wants to kill Gaddafi." – Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez "They are accusing him [Gaddafi] 24 hours a day of firing on unarmed citizens who were protesting. Why did they not explain to the world that the weapons and, above all, the sophisticated machinery of repression possessed by Libya, was supplied by the United States, Britain and other illustrious hosts of Gaddafi? "I strongly oppose the cynicism and lies currently being used to justify the invasion and occupation of Libya. The Revolution in the Arab world so much feared by the United States and NATO is that of those who lack all rights in the face of those who flaunt all privileges, and thus is destined to be more profound than the one unleashed in Europe in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille." – former Cuban President Fidel Castro "We all tolerated Gaddafi, both the EU and the United States. One could criticise this as amoral, but it was also realpolitik. He renounced terrorism, which meant that one continuous source of insecurity had been pacified for the time being. And, of course, enormous energy-related interests were part of the motive behind the cooperation with Gaddafi. What's completely lacking is a long-term plan to foster civil society, both in Libya and also where it is currently coming into existence, namely in Egypt and Tunisia. That should be the EU's top priority." – Martin Schultz, head of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, interviewed in Der Spiegel "With the horrific carnage in Libya, the flames of revolution burning in Yemen and Bahrain, and protests for political change in Jordan and Morocco, there's a danger that the United States and Europe may lose sight of what still has to be our highest priority in the region: helping the people of Egypt complete their transition to democracy and a new chance at prosperity… "Whether the Arab Spring succeeds or fails is ultimately up to the peoples of the region. But that is no excuse for the United States and other democratic nations not to help in every way we can. The Egyptian people harbour justified resentment that the United States backed the repressive and often-brutal Mubarak regime for so long; they question our commitment to helping them enjoy the same freedoms that we do. The United States should make sure that we aid the transition now underway so that there is no room for doubt. History will not be kind if we blow this opportunity." – US neo-conservative Robert Kagan and Michele Dunne, in the Washington Post "If Gaddafi is insane enough to bomb the oil facilities you could have an environmental disaster of very large consequences." – US Republican Senator John McCain, speaking on Newsnight "With [Italy's] presence and historic ties there is potential for a former colonial power to have a bigger influence. But there is also the disadvantage of being seen as a former colonial ruler and therefore be more exposed to accusations of interference." – Ettore Greco, Institute of International Affairs, RomeDonate to us: support independent, intelligent, in-depth Scottish journalism from just 3p a day
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