Everyone probably knows by now that several countries including France, Britain, Italy, Spain, Canada, the United States, and even some Arab countries have formed a coalition to impose a no-fly zone over Libya after the passage of a U.N. resolution calling for the establishment of one.
I’m watching the events in Libya with some interest because there are a few things that I think could potentially transpire in the coming days, weeks, and months. Today I discuss some of the things I’m watching for during this ongoing event.
One important thing that I think we will have to watch for is the potential for the scope of the military intervention in Libya to expand beyond enforcing a no-fly zone. The initial goal of the coalition appears to be the implementation of a no-fly zone to protect innocent civilians from being massacred.
- It is fairly easy to establish a no-fly zone over Libya given the vastly superior military resources that the coalition possesses.
- However, protecting innocent civilians from being attacked is going to be a much more difficult objective to achieve. Gaddafi is likely going to need to be ousted from power to protect the Libyan people in the long-run since he is willing to order attacks on innocent civilians to remain in power. It’s unclear at the moment whether the anti-Gaddafi forces are capable of ousting Gaddafi on their own with a no-fly zone in place, so a risk is that the coalition may have to expand their military participation in Libya to enable the anti-Gaddafi forces to defeat the pro-Gaddafi forces.
Libyan Oil Sabotage
Another thing that I think we’ll have to watch is for the potential for Gaddafi to order the sabotage of Libya’s oil fields and oil equipment as a way to punish foreigners for taking action against him and his military forces.
- There was a rumor a few weeks ago that Gaddafi had already ordered his security service to sabotage Libya’s oil facilities.
- Gaddafi has already shown a willingness to risk Libya’s oil infrastructure during his recent attempts to retake the key oil areas of Libya.
Oil prices would likely remain elevated for an extended period of time if Gaddafi’s forces actually destroy Libya’s oil fields and oil equipment.
Further Unrest and Future Dilemmas
The military intervention in Libya has set a precedent in the region which could have long-term consequences in the region. One thing I think we’ll have to watch for is the potential for further instability in the region.
- According to Freedom House, Gaddafi’s regime rivals North Korea, Syria, and Saudi Arabia as one of the most oppressive regimes in the world. If Gaddafi’s regime can be challenged then virtually every other authoritarian regime can be challenged as well...
- The military intervention in Libya may encourage people living under very oppressive, authoritarian regimes who have not yet protested against their government to finally do so. The military intervention in Libya may give these people the hope that they too could receive foreign military assistance if their government uses violence to suppress their uprising.
Conversely, the military intervention in Libya may create future dilemmas for the participants of this coalition. Like in Libya, many anti-government protesters in Yemen and Bahrain have endured violence as they seek to oust their respective rulers. Coalition members may eventually be forced to confront the following questions about the situations in Bahrain, Yemen, and potentially other countries in North Africa and the Middle East:
- Should we come to the aid of these protesters or should we stay out of these countries’ affairs? If we prefer to stay out of these countries’ affairs, how do we justify our non-involvement when we helped the anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya?
The creation of future dilemmas may or may not alone increase the likelihood for future conflict because each country can decide how they want to act in a certain situation. However, how each country deals with these dilemmas could impact how they are perceived in other countries around the world.
- For instance, some people in the future might question whether Country X’s participation in Libya was self-serving if Country X decides to not intervene in another country where anti-government protesters are being oppressed violently by an unpopular regime.
- I might have more to say about this in the future…
Daniel 11:40-45?
Finally, some people believe that the military intervention in Libya by a coalition of several countries may be connected to Daniel 11:40-45, which says the following:
- Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
- Dan 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
- Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
- Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
- Dan 11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
- Dan 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
I do not believe the current military intervention in Libya is fulfilling Daniel 11:40-45 for the following reasons:
- Daniel 11:40-45 suggests that Egypt is decimated by attackers around the time when Libya is threatened. Egypt has not been attacked by any military force nor has attacked anyone coming from the north. The Egyptian Army is intact and in control of the Egypt at the moment.
- The events of Daniel 11:40-45 take place during the seventieth week of Daniel. If you believe that Daniel 11:40-45 is being fulfilled right now you have to accept the idea that the seventieth week of Daniel has already begun (and the covenant with many in Daniel 9:27 has already been signed). I personally do not believe the seventieth week of Daniel has begun yet…
- Again, the initial goal of the coalition appears to be the implementation of a no-fly zone to protect innocent civilians from being massacred. I do not see any indication at this moment that the coalition will seek to colonize Libya like Antichrist is likely going to do.
I do not rule out the possibility that the ongoing military intervention in Libya could lead to something that may have Bible prophecy implications later on. Right now it’s hard to gauge what might happen since we are just in the early stages of military intervention in Libya…
