Legal Commentary

Ecstatic crowds in Libya celebrating imminent use of U.S. military force against Gaddafi

By David Kopel

U.N. Security Council Resolution passes 10?0. Live feed from Benghazi on Al Jazeera English. The Resolution authorizes ?all necessary measures? except military occupation of Libya. By my reading, the authorization includes destruction of Gaddafi?s anti-aircraft defenses, and of his air force and its mercenary pilots. As President Reagan once said, ?We begin bombing in five minutes.? I hope.

UPDATE: Wall Street Journal reports that Egyptian army is shipping arms to the Libyan ?rebels.? Which is to say, to the legitimate government of Libya. As the Declaration of Independence affirms, the only legitimate governments are those founded on the consent of the governed. Accordingly, the Gaddafi gang was never a legitimate government, merely a large gang of criminals who controlled a big territory. The French government?s diplomatic recognition of the legitimate Libyan government reflects this fact. @liamstack reports that France says it will be ready within hours to fly over Libya. @lilianwagdy says that Libyans in France are chanting ?Zanga Zanga, Dar Dar, We will get you Muamar!? Vive la France! Vive Sarkozy! Vive les droits de l?homme!

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on March 17, 2011 (boomark / email).