lol, there is a large amount of ignorance on this thread, from both sides (for and against)
personally, i feel a middle ground should be reached, so to cover some points:
yes, this does have some similarities to iraq:
action taken by a western country, to get rid of a dictator
oil rich country (not The sole reason we took action as some people like to think, but certianly a motivating factor - over helping other countries)
But it also has a lot of differences, which have to be aknowledged:
Backed by the UN, (this does not moraly justify it, but it does make it legal, and internationaly ok(to use a terrible phrase))
Lybia has a full scale rebellion, which aims to establish a democracy, and over throw a dictator (iraq didnt have this... Very key point)
Lybian rebellion, (arguably half the country) has said multiple times, that They want us there (much different to iraq)
No matter how bad the bombing is, it is not a ground invasion (yet... but still)
....
Now, onto the other big debate, OIL.
my opinion, is that we didnt invade purely for oil, however it would be nieve to say that it wasnt a motivating factor.
when waying up a pro-con list, it definatly helps, that we could potentially secure oil reserves,
however it is by no means the large issue that people make it out to be... gadalfi said himself, that if the west doesnt interviene, he will honor all trade agreements, and continue trading as normal... so we have no real reason to invade, other than the benifit of having more control + oil not in the hands of a mad dictator...
As for the point, about why should we get involved from a moral point of view... I hardly think the goverments of the world should sit by and do nothing as innocent people are killed by their own goverment... It is always argued that why not help other countries in need, zimbabwe, etc... and I agree, that it would be great for the international comunity (not just the uk) to help more countries, rid them selves from cruel dictators, HOWEVER, that does not make this intervention any less good...Helping one country is still better than helping none, after all... (even if it makes us slightly hypocritical)
So the situation as a whole: to sum up:
its partly about oil,
its partly to get rid of a dictator
its partly to help the people avoid slaughter
its partly, because lybia holds a very strategic position
its partly the various goverments, trying to look good by 'saving inocent people'
its partly hypocritical, as we could have helped many other countries
it partly has similarities to iraq, (but also quite a few major differences)
and im sure ive left out many other things....
but thats just to point out, that its not as simple as: ITS ALL FOR THE OIL!!!!!111!!!!... or ITS ALL ABOUT SAVING THE INOCENT!!!!1111!!11!