CAF Says "NO" to another Libyan Intervention

As Canada and the coalition continues to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria, ISIS is starting to take a hold of parts of Libya.

Egypt recently deployed air strikes against ISIS positions in Libya as retaliation against the murder of 21 Coptic Christians. With the Libyan Civil War wagging, and continually getting worse, ISIS is advancing through the country. Egypt has approached the United Nations for an international coalition against ISIS in Libya. Italy has seconded the call, for fears that refugees running from the civil war will include ISIS members looking to get into Europe.

Canada, and the CAF will not be part of any military coalition to Libya it seems. The 2011 ousting of Gadhafi was Canada's effort to help Libya, but that military intervention only seems to have propelled the country deeper into a Tribal war, which is turning into a full blow civil war.

Canada is not alone in standing this possible military coalition out - The United States, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom have all called for a diplomatic solution to the problem, and not a military intervention.

The 2011 ousting of Gadhafi was a major political win for NATO and Canada, who touted its role in the victory, which saw CF-18s in combat for the first time since the Gulf War (1990-1991). Perhaps the political situation that Libya has fallen into since the previous military intervention is causing some doubts about limited military (aerial) interventions.

Despite France's call for a diplomatic solution, France has recently announced several large military sales to Egypt, including its Rafael fighter jet - perhaps this is France's way of helping fight ISIS in Egypt, indirectly.


Original Article:
Ottawa Citizen/National Post