That group of 27 disparate nations that form the European Union have fallen out between themselves over the Libyan affair, just as they tend to fall out over any crisis. The Bosnian war was a very clear example of how the EU seems incapable of united action even when its own backyard is on fire. This is inevitable because the 27 member states have different interests and priorities. Since the first duty of government is to protect the interests of the people it represents, it is not easy to reconcile such a number of conflicting interests. It is only in time of conflict that reality surfaces. I shudder to think what would happen should Malta face a crisis it is really unable to handle. And that crisis may be lurking round the corner and we all know how much help to expect.

Government has acted rightly

But let me get this off my chest. I have some business interests in Libya but I wouldn’t involve my country in that particular mess for the sake of any business. I think our Prime Minister has been very wise to keep Malta out of the fray despite some voices actually asking him to jump in. Only time will tell what future fruit our government’s actions will yield, but in the present tempestuous and uncertain times when the way forward is far from clear, caution must be the password. And it is good to see that both sides in Parliament are co-operating on this matter. Where some people got the idea that most of Malta demands some sort of intervention in the Libyan affair beats me. Mighty Germany refuses as usual to be involved, while the EU is reluctant to get embroiled and Baroness Ashton only offers words. The USA cannot wait to pull out and, since most of the Arab states are themselves sitting on powder kegs, Libya ranks very low on their list of priorities. When asked what help Malta would get should the immigration bubble burst on our doorstep the British Secretary for Defence was deafening in his silence. It is of course understandable, for Britain has her own huge immigrant problems to solve.

Doubts about intentions

There are many who genuinely doubt how legitimate it is to intervene in a country’s civil war. After all the Horn of Africa has seen oceans of blood spilt in local conflicts and there hasn’t been any massive military intervention by the Western powers. When the Congo dissolved into a sea of blood, the Western world stood and watched as it did in Srebrenica. Saudi troops are killing Bahraini citizens but there is no talk of intervention. Mugabe still rules, as do many others of his ilk around the globe. In international politics principles are generally conspicuous by their absence. I say this because I believe that Malta has no reason to be embarrassed by its decisions so far.

Was Sarkozy keen on saving Libyan lives or did he want to be seen as giving his country what it treasures so much – a slice of la gloire – ahead of the impending presidential elections? Tony Blair had hoped to reap glory from his Iraq adventure. Then too there was talk of freeing the Iraqi people from the clutches of Saddam Hussein. That particular involvement has only reaped thousands of body bags for the UK and the USA. President Obama seems to have learnt the lesson only too well and hence his obvious desire not to be too deeply involved in the Libyan civil war. That war cannot be won unless there are military boots on the ground, and this time round those boots will not be American. And if not American, whose? After all, Libya only produces two per cent of the world’s oil supply and while the loss will be felt it won’t bring western industry to a halt.

The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, who initially supported the policy of a no-fly zone but now seems to be wobbling, is busy trying to get himself elected President of Egypt. As such he is highly susceptible to offers of help on one side and public opinion in Egypt on the other. According to well-informed sources, he is backed by those who hope to roll back the Egyptian revolution. The Arab League has often been accused of being a tool in the hands of the dictators of the Arab world. So far only Qatar seems to have sent a token military force. If the Arab/Muslim world cannot be bothered, should the West be?

Italy is the greatest consumer of Libyan oil in Europe. It is also under tremendous pressure from the influx of many hundreds of Tunisian and Libyan immigrants and is dreading the arrival of more boats. Luckily for Italy, being on the mainland means that once transferred from Lampedusa the immigrants can melt away into the rest of Europe, something they cannot do so easily from here. The agreement that Berlusconi struck with Gaddafi had helped contain those boats heading towards Italian shores – and ours. Italy will have to be cautious. Like us, its options are limited.

There is no doubt that the winds of change are blowing through the Arab world. What it will sweep away, if it does, is still very uncertain. But more and more people around the globe are demanding a significant role in the running of their country. The questions arising from this UN sanctioned intervention in Libya are many and the answers are few. Until we can see our way clearly it behoves us to be as circumspect as circumstances allow us. It is solely the national interest that should and must guide us.