It's an idea that's been kicked around for quite a while - the use of military force to thwart climate change migration. To some it's a matter of doing what's necessary to keep the barbarian horde at bay. Underlying it is this element of self-defence, self-preservation - necessity.
The European Union is now at this point.
The European Union has drawn up plans for military attacks in Libya to try to curb the influx of migrants across the Mediterranean by targeting the trafficking networks. It is to launch a bid on Monday to secure a UN mandate for armed action in Libya’s territorial waters.
Britain is drafting the UN security council resolution that would authorise the mission, said senior officials in Brussels. It would come under Italian command, have the participation of around 10 EU countries, including Britain, France, Spain, and Italy, and could also drag in Nato although there are no plans for initial alliance involvement.
...This would entail having EU vessels in Libyan territorial waters, including the Royal Navy flagship HMS Bulwark – currently in Malta – and deploying helicopter gunships to “neutralise” identified traffickers’ ships used to send tens of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East on the short but highly risky voyage from the Libyan coast to the shores of southern Italy.
Libyan militias, jihadi groups, and Islamic State affiliates believed to be in cahoots with the trafficking networks are said to have heavy artillery and anti-aircraft batteries deployed close to the coast. Attacks on EU vessels and aircraft could trigger an escalation and force Nato to get involved, said policymakers in Brussels.
Oh great, we can get into another war in Libya. That'll show those damned Muslims. We'll kick hell out of them. They'll start sending zealots over here to retaliate. Just like ping-pong only with bombs and guns.
Closer to home, the Pentagon is looking at its own options to seal off America's southern borders to climate refugees out of Mexico and Central America. In his book, "Climate Wars," Gwynne Dyer discusses some of the ideas being considered including the establishment of robotic weapons systems to make the American border an automated killing zone. That sounds inconceivable except to the people who are conceiving it.
It's the old lifeboat theory. If too many climb into the boat it sinks. There are too many people in dire circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly rings true today, Toby. Europe, especially the northern "destination" countries fear becoming overwhelmed with mass climate refugee migrations. Governments, in this austerity era, see military force as their best (cheapest) way of dealing with this perceived threat.
ReplyDeleteGlobal warming and all the other crises coming our way are already affecting the tropical areas. The very areas with the expanding populations are in the most trouble. It will get worse. We may see a day when almost everyone south and east of the Mediterranean wants to move to Europe. The means to absorb them isn't there.
ReplyDeleteWell, Toby, wildlife - plant and animal - is well into migration toward the poles so why would we expect anything else from humans beset by climate change impacts? The closer you're situated to the equator, the more likely you are to have a very hard time just getting by. That said, we've become a species with little taste for strangers, especially when it comes to accepting less for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is essentially the basis of the resource wars current and those we'll face in the future.