SODOM & GOMORRAH: The United States and the United Nations are both united in their support of opposition groups in Libya. President Obama is worried that Gaddafi will stay in power. Rebel leaders want a no-fly zone. We’re told this is a democratic movement, a peaceful movement, and that Gadaffi is the aggressor. As Mr. Moldbug has pointed out, it’s practically unheard of to launch airstrikes on protestors. Gaddafi is clearly the bad guy in the scenario: the UN reports that he’s even recruiting child soldiers to fight rebel forces. This is a war crime, according to the UN.
If you’re curious, the Paris Principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups (from UNICEF) in February 2007 gives this definition of child soldier:
“A child associated with an armed force or armed group refers to any person below 18 years of age who is, or who has been, recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, spies, or for sexual purposes. It does not only refer to a child who is taking, or has taken, a direct part in hostilities.”
In the narrative the White House and liberal groups have told, the revolutions throughout the Middle East are cases of good vs. evil. The evil people are always those in power – the dictators, the torturers, the people who recruit child soldiers. The good people are the opposition forces who always stand for human rights, democracy, and freedom. Never mind that Gaddafi’s regime is attempting an Arab version of democratic socialism. Never mind that nobody in the west understands what the opposition stands for. And certainly never mind that the opposition is recruiting child soldiers which are simply reported as “recruits” by the Economist. Human rights only apply to the good people, or more insidiously, to humans.